How to choose a bike for outdoor cycling

What are the benefits of cycling outdoors

There is no doubt that cycling is one of the healthiest, safest, sustainable and environmentally friendly  means of getting about, not only helping to reduce pollution, but also helping to strengthen our bodies. It can also soothe the emotions and nurture the soul as you ride through the natural landscape. Cycling, as a relatively traditional way of getting around, is becoming even more of a healthy way of getting around in times of epidemics.

In addition, cycling outdoors can also relieve tension, anger and depression, helping you to achieve a feeling of well-being and calmness that benefits your mental health.

More and more people are falling in love with getting around by bike, and perhaps that’s why bike buying guides are becoming more and more in demand. So if you’re planning to buy a bike in 2022, whether offline or online, it’s helpful to know the tiniest details that will make your decision-making process more feasible and easier.

Firstly, what are the most important questions you’ll be asking on your way to buying a bike? What is the purpose of buying a bike? Firstly, you need to find out what the purpose is. Why do you want to ride a bike? Because there’re different types of bikes and if you know the real objective, you can significantly narrow down your search.

There are many different types of bikes and many different types of people with different riding requirements. Some people like tricks, some like to race and some like speed control. When choosing the right bike for you, you need to consider your needs and preferences. To know how you should choose the best type of bike for you, you need to find out where you want to ride, how far you will typically ride and what your approximate budget is.

What are the different types of bicycle

There are 3 different types of bikes that most people commonly use: road bikes,mountain bikes,hybrid bikes. You can also choose from commuter bikes, fat bikes and folding bikes.

1. Road bikes

These are manufactured for driving at high speeds on paved roads and are also known as racing bikes. These road bikes come with thin tyres and curved handlebars. The Roadbike is ideal for those who like speed and have good handling skills.

Key features of road bikes:

1) Thin tyres (usually between 23-28mm) – Drop handlebars that allow a wide range of hand positions. Stronger frame

2)Large range of ratios (easy to ride uphill and fast on flat roads)

Tip: For beginner cyclists, a mountain bike is a reasonable choice.

2. Mountain bikes

This type of bike is suitable for rugged roads. Also known as MTBs, these mountain bikes are ideal for off-road riding, with features that ensure durability and high performance in rough terrain. These MTB bikes are perfect for fitness, commuting and off-road use. My personal favourites are precisely the mountain bikes.

Key features of mountain bikes:

1) Equipped with front only (hardtail) suspension or full suspension with flat handlebars.

2) Heavier than road and hybrid bikes, lowered gearing for climbing steep slopes and motorcycle-style disc brakes.

Tip: Expensive bikes are expensive to maintain. On the other hand, bikes like single speed bikes have fewer moving parts and are cheaper to run.

3. Hybrid bikes

Hybrid bikes are usually a fusion of road and mountain bikes. These hybrid bikes allow you to travel long distances in comfort and also allow you to follow your fitness regime.

Key features of hybrid bikes:

1) Suitable for urban riders and commuting

2) Not suitable for off-road

3) Ideal for those who like mixed terrain

4. Other bike types

1. Downhill: This is a variant of the mountain bike, made for downhill racing.

2.Cyclocross: This type of bike is designed for cross-country use. With knobby tyres, disc brakes and a more robust frame, this type of bike is ideal for off-road use.

3.Fat bike: This type of bike has extra wide tyres and is designed for riding on rough surfaces (such as snow and sand).

4. Gravel bikes: Higher in the front and more comfortable than road bikes, Gravel bikes have a wider gear ratio. Ideal for off-tarmac roads.

5. Jump bike: This bike is somewhere between a mountain bike and a BMX bike (made for performing stunts).

6. Electric bikes: These electric bikes are equipped with a built-in motor that can be recharged to give you extra power.

7. BMX bikes: Bicycle motocross or BMX bikes designed for off-road racing and stunt riding.
You can also check out the different multi-speed bikes for yourself.

Choose by considering performance and cost factors

You don’t have to figure out every technical component on your bike, but some features and advanced components can add to the price. When looking for a bike within your budget, you need to be aware of these main factors that can lead to an increase in price.

1. Shock features

Full shock bikes (front and rear shocks) typically cost more but also offer a smoother ride and the ability to take on the roughest trails. Hardtails (front suspension only) still absorb bumps, but do so at a lower price.

2. Frame material carbon vs aluminium

Lightweight carbon frames offer excellent performance and ride quality, but of course carbon frames will be considerably more expensive. In contrast, aluminium frame bikes can be found at every price point.

3. Electric or not

Electric bikes provide you with a boost to help you ride further afield. Electric bikes expand the rider’s riding horizons and are an added price factor.

4. Quality of components

The components of a bike, basically all the major systems other than the frame and wheels, are usually part of a layered group. As you increase the price in the bicycle category, the corresponding component groups will be adjusted more sensitively and increase the total cost of your bike.

1) Transmission

Bikes vary in the number of gears, the range of gears (lower gears are easier on the pedals) and the available gear ratios. Typically, most models in a given bike category have similar gearing, so you can ignore this factor.

2) Wheel size

Wheel size is another bike feature that depends heavily on the bike category you choose, with one big exception: most mountain bikes come with 29″ or 27.5″ wheels. From a cost point of view, the difference is not significant. So your choice is very much a matter of performance nuances.

3) Type of brakes

Over the last few years, rim brakes have been the norm and disc brakes the exception. However, disc brakes have always provided excellent braking power in all conditions and because the cost of disc brake technology has come down over the years they now dominate the market.

Rim brakes work by squeezing the brake pads onto the side of the rim and remain an economical option.
Disc brakes, which feature brake pads that clip onto a brake rotor mounted on the wheel hub, are available in two versions.

Hydraulic disc brakes provide more progressive and powerful braking with less finger force, and they are self-adjusting for pad wear. Mechanical disc brakes require manual adjustment as the brake pads wear.

4) Bike size and fit

It’s important to choose a frame that fits your height. Most bike manufacturers have size charts that correspond to your height to find the best frame size for you. The most important aspects of bike fit, stance height (the distance between your body and the top tube when straddling) and reach (the distance from the seat to the handlebars) can then be fine-tuned with a few minor adjustments.

In summary

This is all the information you need to know on the subject of how to choose the right bike for you. As a general rule, you should choose the type of bike you favour according to your usage scenario, then select some models within your budget, and finally make a trade-off in terms of performance and price fluctuation factors.

When you’ve chosen your preferred bike, you may need a week or so to get used to it. You need to take care to wear appropriate clothing to ride more comfortably, such as loose fitting sportswear and shoes that are suitable for cycling. May you choose a satisfactory new bike and have a pleasant riding experience!