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> A Word From
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Choosing A Bike Guide
WHAT KIND OF BIKE SHOULD I GET?
The type of bike you would purchase depends on many factors, the most important being what feels comfortable to you. The other important factors are where you will be riding, and how much you want to spend on your bike?
Road Bikes
These are transportation bikes. They generally have; drop down (curly) handlebars, 27 tires 1 ¼ wide or less, and shift levers on the handlebar stem or on the down tube of the frame. These are recommended if you are going to be riding distances over 10 miles at a given riding time. These bikes force you into an aerodynamic position and do not have as much cushion in the wheels, as a result riding can be rough on poor streets.
City Bikes
City bikes are a form of hybrid which more closely resembles a road bike than a mountain bike. They would have straight bar (or mustache) handlebars, shifters on the handlebars or the handlebar stem if a converted bike, and wider 27 tires (usually 1 3/8). The wider tires add minimal resistance, but help absorb the inconsistent city streets better. The straight handlebars help you ride a little more upright so you have a better field of vision.
Hybrid Bikes
This term usually applies to bikes more closely resembling a mountain bike. It has straight bar handlebars with thumb shifters, 24 to 26 tires that are usually 1.5 to 1.75 wide. The tires are more rounded, with less aggressive tread. These bikes are designed to give you the stronger frame of a mountain bike with tires that perform well on light off road or city streets. It is a versatile bike and can handle most needs for most riders, but I wouldn’t to ride it more than 10 to 15 miles at a time.
Mountain Bikes
These are designed for off road riding. Mountain bikes are similar to the hybrid bikes, but have wider tires (usually 1.75 to 2.125 wide) with aggressive tread. The wide tread adds more resistance to your ride and the aggressive tread can make the ride on streets somewhat bouncy and uncomfortable. The tires now are generally designed with a smoother center tread, and if it is pumped up to 60 pounds of pressure it will round out the tires resulting in a smoother ride. You will definitely feel resistance if you ride more than 5 to 10 miles on the streets. The wider tires make many people feel they balance better, but I think much of that is psychological. Some enhanced bikes are equipped with the ability to change the wheels between thick mountain bike tires and thinner road bike tires with a few quick minor changes to the brake systems and such.
