Best bike: our buyer's guide to the best bicycles to buy in 2021
Choosing the ideal bike for your needs might be difficult. The bicycle is the ideal instrument for commuting, staying in shape, or simply exploring the countryside. However, there are a bewilderingly large – and growing – number of various types of bikes from which to pick.
So, if you're wondering, "What type of bike should I buy?" keep reading as we walk you through the various bike models available today to help you select the perfect one for your needs.
It's crucial to consider what you want to accomplish with your bike and where you want to go because the greatest bike for you is entirely dependent on this.untain bike
Your bike of choice will also be determined by your own preferences, as well as the distance and terrain you intend to ride. There are numerous styles of cycling and bicycles available to help you achieve your objectives.
There's a bike out there for everyone, whether you're an urban commuter, a lightning-quick road racer, a trail center hero, a downhiller, a fixed-wheel devotee, a gravel path explorer, or something else.
Best road bikes for riding fast on tarmac road
Road bikes, as the name implies, are designed to be driven on paved roads as quickly as possible. Lightweight frames and slim tyres are designed to let you attain maximum speed with the least amount of effort.
They have dropped handlebars (those that loop down and backwards) that let you get into a more efficient and aerodynamic riding position, as well as gearing designed for maximum speed.
They'll allow you embark on big-mile rides with friends under the pretext of slightly more relaxed 'endurance' bikes, but they'll also lend themselves well to commuting thanks to their capacity to cover ground rapidly.
However, some riders may find the speed-oriented riding position uncomfortable, and the lightweight wheels and tyres are vulnerable to damage from kerbs and potholes.
Many specialized road bikes, particularly those at the racier end of the spectrum, lack the capacity to carry luggage, so if you need to transport a large load, a pure-bred road bike may not be the best option.
Source: BikeRadar
Pros: It's quick, efficient, and enjoyable.
Cons: More easily damaged and less comfortable for casual riders.
Mountain bikes: best for rough terrain
Mountain bikes are made robust with aggressive knobbly tyres designed to find grip on practically any surface and are designed to take on the most challenging off-road terrain that nature has to offer.
They also have powerful brakes in the center of the wheels, with car or motorcycle-style discs, and more expensive machines will have suspension on both ends for greater control over uneven terrain. The gearing is designed to bring you up and down hilly terrain with a wide variety of gearing to handle the different gradients.
Mountain bikes, with their more comfortable riding position, can be a suitable choice for general leisure riding even if you don't want to conquer mountain ranges.
Suspension is wonderful for true off-road riding, but it adds weight, costs more, and might be inefficient if you plan to spend the majority of your time on the road.
Source: Scott-sports
Pros: Excellent braking, upright position, toughness, and versatility
Cons: On the road, it's heavy and slow.
Hybrid bike: best for casual riders and short commutes
A hybrid bike is best described as a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike, with the comfortable riding posture of a mountain bike combined with a lighter frame and fast-rolling wheels like those seen on a road cycle.
They're ideal if you need to travel a long distance on the road but don't want to squirm into an unpleasant riding position. While sitting in a more upright position is less aerodynamically effective, it allows you to see further ahead, which is a big benefit in congested city traffic.
This is the way to go if you want to go fast on decent roads but prefer a more upright position or don't like drop handlebars. The single big disadvantage of a flat-bar bike, as previously stated, is that you are not as aerodynamic as you would be on a race bike, and so you are not as speedy.
More powerful disc brakes are commonly used on hybrid bikes, which provide more consistent performance in wet weather at a modest weight penalty. They also come with a variety of mounts for carrying additional gear, such as specialty pannier bags.
Pros: Relatively swift, adaptable, and upright
Cons: They are typically heavier and slower than road bikes.
Touring bike: best for carrying luggage and travelling far
While a hybrid bike is great for city riding, a touring bike can handle anything from a commute to a continent-crossing trip.
They typically have the same fast-rolling 700c wheels as road and hybrid cycles, but with larger tyres that allow you to comfortably tackle a variety of terrain.
Some ‘hardcore' touring bikes designed for super-heavy loads will have 26in wheels because parts are often easier to come by in remote areas.
A touring bike's more comfortable riding position and stable shape allow you to tackle practically anything, whether it's a mountain pass loaded with groceries or a simple commute to work.
Pros: It's tough, has a lot of load-carrying capacity, yet it's still swift.
Cons: Not quite as speedy as a race bike.
Gravel / adventure / all-road / bikepacking bikes: best if you’re in a hurry on bad roads
Gravel bikes, also known as adventure bikes, all-road bikes, or bikepacking bikes, are becoming increasingly popular and fashionable, and it's not hard to understand why.
Gravel bikes combine road bike appearance and speed with enough of frame space for fitting big, knobbly tyres that may be up to 35mm wide to get you through practically any terrain, including crappy tarmac, gloopy mud, bridleways, gravel paths, and more.
Adventure bikes are available in steel, aluminum, carbon, and titanium, with prices ranging from cheap to aspirational. Many will have eyelets for mounting mudguards and pannier racks, disc brakes (hydraulic if you're lucky), and a more relaxed geometry than a road bike to improve handling on a variety of surfaces.
They're also a terrific choice for winter road riding; simply add some puncture-resistant tyres and you're ready to go.
Bikepacking, which is essentially touring but with a better fashion sense and hashtags, is done on adventure bikes that can carry luggage (usually frame bags, saddle bags, and bar bags).
Source: Carousell
Pros: Fast, comfortable, practical
Cons: Sometimes on the heavier side, attractive to thieves
Cyclocross bikes
Cyclocross bikes are similar in concept to the bikes listed above, but are designed for the racing discipline of cyclocross.
This means that although they’re going to have fat tyres, drop handlebars and in many cases disc brakes, they may not have fittings for mudguards or panniers.
Their geometry is often more severe than that of dirt and adventure bikes, which makes them less appealing for prolonged rides.
Source: Canyon.com
Pros: For racers, it's a quick and devoted option.
Cons: Not as adaptable as gravel/adventure bikes.
Fixed gear / single speed bike: best if you want a simple bike
The fixie (or ‘fixed wheel,' if you're being traditional) is the ultimate in simplicity, and it's the only option if you're riding on a velodrome.
Because a real fixie has no freewheel, you must always pedal to keep moving. Once you get used to it, it gives you a unique sense of connection and control, but fixies aren't for the faint of heart.
In the hands of a skilled rider, they're lightning quick, and their simplicity means they're low-maintenance. They're fantastic for confident commuters who don't mind suffering since they live in a mountainous area and want complete control at all times, but they're not for the casual cyclist.
Once you've mastered the art of riding a fixie, they're among the best commuting bikes. This is why they're so popular with bike couriers, who appreciate their dependability – a legal-minimum fixie with only a front brake has absolutely nothing to go wrong with.
Source: Wired.com
Pros: It's light, simple, and fast.
Cons: Some talent is required, and it is difficult when the terrain is hilly.
City bike: best for hassle-free riding
In flat communities, a Dutch-style city or town bike (or a'sit-up-and-beg') provides excellent short-range transportation. The simplicity, practicality, and toughness of this model of bike appeal to many people.
When you only have one gear, there's not much that can go wrong, and hub gear variants with up to 11 gears are still very durable.
Chainguards and flat pedals are standard on city bikes, so you can ride in your everyday clothes. You won't need many additions because self-powered dynamo lamps and a lock are commonly included.
Potholes aren't a problem, and the upright riding position provides you a commanding view of the road. The biggest disadvantage is that they are often fairly heavy, and while the riding position is pleasant, it is inefficient, so you won't want to tackle any steep slopes.
Pros: Great appearance, comfortable riding position, practical, ideal for wearing regular clothes, and often long-lasting.
Cons: The game is heavy and slow.
Folding bikes: best if you’re short on space / best for public transport
There's nothing better than a foldable bike if you need to combine some riding with city portability. They're perfect for short rides – especially where storage space is limited on both ends – and their portability makes them ideal for when you need to catch a train or a bus to get where you need to go.
As a result, foldable bikes are quite popular among commuters in big cities. The smallest ones will fit beneath your desk and are easy to transport.
Because of the unavoidable concessions, a folder will not ride like a traditional bike, yet the best current folders are surprisingly capable.
Source: BMW Group
Pros: Extremely easy to store, can be transported on public transportation, and small wheels speed quickly.
Cons: Not as stable or pothole-proof as a big-wheeled bike, and heavier and slower.
Editor: Oil Woodman
Content Curator: Evelyn Chew
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