DEB-Which Bike Should I Buy(2)
Which Bike Should I Buy?
The first question any purchaser of a bike must ask themselves is surely 'what will I be riding my bike on and when'? Road, Mud, Track, Grass or a combination of the above, with partner and kids in tow on a leisurely Sunday afternoon hack or maybe a blistering commute along the shiney new London Super Highway?
Throughout this guide we'll try and explain the benefits and strengths of each main sub catagory so that you can zoom in on the right bike for you.
Road Bikes
The first thing to say regarding Road Bikes is to Do Your Research. Decide what you will be using the bike for, and more importantly, how you ride. This question dictates which size of bike is required. Road Racing, Club riding, Endurance, Cyclocross, Trail Riding or the sometimes equally competitive sub genre, Commuting! All areas are now bursting with a comprehensive choice for all price ranges.
Road Race
With aggressive, pure breed, contortionist friendly frame geometry, the whole Road Race package is focused on one principle...Speed. With lower bar stems and higher seat positioning, these machines will get you to the finish line rapidly.
Sportive/Endurance
A growing market across the Sportive community which allows riders to ride all day. With a more upright body position, shorter and wider top tubes with higher positioned bottom brackets allow for added clearance and stability. Compact gear geometry and wider, more aggresive tyres top this very appealling spec off. Commuters often pick these bikes over 'standard' road bikes for obvious reasons.
Once you have zoned in on the right type of bike for you, always buy the best bike you can afford. At E-Bikes Direct we stock many, many Road bikes for all requirements and are always just a phone call away to talk about your individual requirements
To have a closer look at what's on offer click below
Road Bikes
Mountain Bikes
The first thing to say is that there is no perfect MTB! Your perfect MTB depends on two main factors. What you intend riding on and how much you are willing to spend.
The three main MTB categories are...
Hard Tail
Hard Tails are a lightweight, fully rigid rear end bike used throughtout all applications of off road riding. If you're just starting out on your MTB adventure with function over finance being a factor, Hard Tails are where you should be. Hard tail bikes will generally have increased componant spec than equally priced Full Suspension bikes and, crucially, weigh less. A big factor to consider as weight saving on Full Suspension bikes comes at a cost.
Full Suspension
Does exactly what is says on the tin. Front suspended forks with a single rear suspension dampening system. Full Suss bikes offer a smoother, more controlled ride and will be needed for advanced trail terrain. Advantages to a nicely spec'd Full Suss over a hard tail bike would be higher downhill speed with improved control, less fatique on long, hard rides, oh, and they're great fun! As you look along the price range you will find the quality improve with weight saving top of the list along with fork lock outs, Hydraulic Brakes, adjustable dampening and suspension travel along with pre load adjustment. Sub Catagories which harbour mainly at the Full Suspension dock are Enduro, Trail Riding, Dirt Jumping, All Mountain and Downhill.
Rigid
Rigid bikes are found aimed largly at the leisure and urban sector, marketed at the entry level of MTB's and also the higher boutique end. Often spec'd with thinner road tyres more suited for less aggressive surroundings. The Hybrid bike and Rigid MTB share alot of features within their own definitions.
26 / 27+ / 29er
Back in the late seventies, when Tom Ritchey and Gary Fisher literally built the first MBT's 26" wheels were what took the bikes down the californian hillsides. Taken from the beach cruisers of LA, the 26" wheel stuck, for years. Today the industry standards are the original 26", the 27+ (27.5") and the 29er (29"). The 26" lends itself nicely to a lighter, more rigid feel with better acceleration on the hard stuff. The 29er is the direct opposite in that they feel heavier and harder to get going. The plus point to these larger rims is traction with slicker tyres and speed when your negotiating trails. Harness that with a smoother, more stable ride.
Mountain Bikes/Hybrid Bikes
Hybrid Bikes Wiki definition...."Hybrid bicycles blend characteristics from more specialized road bikes, touring bikes and mountain bikes. The resulting "hybrid" is a general-purpose bike that can tolerate a wide range of riding conditions and applications..."
See also Trekking, Cross, Commuter, City and Comfort!
As the names suggest, if you have a set of conditions in which you will be riding, you can simply chose the spec required to do the job in the most efficient way possible. This is the secret to the Hybrid success.
For example, if you are going to be riding on asphalt, to work lets say, you would look to blend a lightweight frame with straight bars for an upright, comfortable position alongside Compact gearing and 700c wheels.
A good indication to the ideal application of a Hybrid is the wheel size. If your looking for something that can handle light trails and paths you would find a 26" wheel favorable. Alternatively, road work would be more suited to a 27+ or 700c wheel giving you a faster, smoother ride.
For a closer look at our range click below.
Hybrid Bikes
Fixed Wheel
Fixed Wheel A 'fixed gear' bike traditionally has one fixed gear with no freewheel. This means that when the back wheel turns, the pedals are always turning. However, most fixies have a 'flip-flop' hub, which lets you have a fixed gear on one side and a freewheel on the other. If you want to be able to stop pedalling while you roll along, you can 'flip' between the two and still enjoy the benefits of single speed riding.
Due to the fact Fixies are gearless, they are lighter, easier to look after with less to go wrong. Being lighter and suited for urban living they're fast too! Oh, and they look great, which is nice...Have a look at our range to see whats on offer.
Fixie Bikes