Bike Types

There are as many types of bicycles as there are places to ride and terrain to ride on. The three biggest and broadest categories are mountain bikes, road bikes and recreation bikes. As in nearly every other aspect of cycling, these three categories are divided into many other subcategories. There are city bikes and comfort bikes. There are hybrids and BMX bikes. And there are bikes that transcend categories to create their own niche.

The best bicycles are designed with a single purpose in mind. Every detail and every component is made to the highest standards to perform a single function. These bikes fit best into the main categories, specifically road or mountain bikes. A typical road bike is designed to be ridden on the road. It is made for smooth pavement and long distances. Your typical MTB is designed to be ridden off road exclusively. It is optimized for varied terrain and inclines/declines and geared to slightly lower speeds and shorter distances. From there you get into more specialized machines (e.g. time trial road bikes and downhill mountain bikes).

Road bikes
The term "road bicycle" is typically employed to describe a "road racing bicycle," or a bike optimized to be ridden on the road, at high speeds, over long distances, with few extra features. A more general, and perhaps more accurate, definition of a road bike would be any bicycle that is designed to be ridden primarily on the road, no matter the makeup of the bike itself. For our purposes, we will use the retail industry's definition of a road bike, being primarily a road racing bicycle. When you see an advertisement for a road bike you will typically see a bicycle built around 700c wheels with thin tires and dual pivot brake calipers. It will have drop bars with aero brake levers and be designed for a fairly aerodynamic, stretched-out riding position, like the type of bike you will see at the Tour de France or your local road race.

Mountain bike
The type of bicycle designed to be ridden off road is referred to as a "mountain bike." These bikes generally have 26-inch wheels, flat handlebars, wide and knobby tires, and lower gearing for off-road use. Most mountain bikes built today have an aluminum alloy frame, suspension front fork, 9-speed rear cassette and three chainrings in the front. They either have disc brakes or linear pull, V-type, brakes. Again, there are variations to all of the features of a MTB, but this is a good broad description of what you will see advertised as a mountain bike.

Commuter bike
In today's ultra-green, ultra-active society, people are looking for more and more ways to help the environment and live healthier lives. Using a bicycle for transportation is a great way to achieve these goals and save a lot of money while doing it. Typical commuter bikes are designed for varied road qualities and maneuverability in town and through traffic. While many different styles of bikes will do, they should all have some key characteristics: fender-ability for inclement weather, lights for safety, good riding position for comfort and speed, adequate tires for potential rough roads and off-road routes, and cargo space to carry the essentials.

Fixed gear/track/SS
"Track bikes" have become synonymous with fixed gear and sometimes single-speed rides. This has become one of the most common misnomers in cycling today. All true track bikes are designed to be ridden on the Velodrome. They are designed with no brakes, extremely tight clearances, upright and stiff angles, lower bottom brackets, and a single, fixed gear. A "fixed gear" bike can be built using any type of frame, a single chainring and a single, fixed cog on the rear hub. It can be a mountain bike, a commuter bike, a road bike, or any sort of vintage bike. The only qualification is that it have a fixed gear. A "single speed" is just that: a bike with a single speed. An SS is usually a bike with a single freewheel on the rear hub that allows the wheel to roll forward independent of the cranks. Technically, track bikes and "fixies" are both single speeds.