| There are as many types of bicycles as there are | | | | generally have 26-inch wheels, flat handlebars, wide |
| places to ride and terrain to ride on. The three | | | | and knobby tires, and lower gearing for off-road use. |
| biggest and broadest categories are mountain bikes, | | | | Most mountain bikes built today have an aluminum |
| road bikes and recreation bikes. As in nearly every | | | | alloy frame, suspension front fork, 9-speed rear |
| other aspect of cycling, these three categories are | | | | cassette and three chainrings in the front. They |
| divided into many other subcategories. There are city | | | | either have disc brakes or linear pull, V-type, brakes. |
| bikes and comfort bikes. There are hybrids and BMX | | | | Again, there are variations to all of the features of a |
| bikes. And there are bikes that transcend categories | | | | MTB, but this is a good broad description of what |
| to create their own niche. | | | | you will see advertised as a mountain bike. |
| The best bicycles are designed with a single purpose | | | | Commuter bike |
| in mind. Every detail and every component is made | | | | In today's ultra-green, ultra-active society, people are |
| to the highest standards to perform a single function. | | | | looking for more and more ways to help the |
| These bikes fit best into the main categories, | | | | environment and live healthier lives. Using a bicycle for |
| specifically road or mountain bikes. A typical road bike | | | | transportation is a great way to achieve these goals |
| is designed to be ridden on the road. It is made for | | | | and save a lot of money while doing it. Typical |
| smooth pavement and long distances. Your typical | | | | commuter bikes are designed for varied road qualities |
| MTB is designed to be ridden off road exclusively. It | | | | and maneuverability in town and through traffic. While |
| is optimized for varied terrain and inclines/declines and | | | | many different styles of bikes will do, they should all |
| geared to slightly lower speeds and shorter distances. | | | | have some key characteristics: fender-ability for |
| From there you get into more specialized machines | | | | inclement weather, lights for safety, good riding |
| (e.g. time trial road bikes and downhill mountain bikes). | | | | position for comfort and speed, adequate tires for |
| Road bikes | | | | potential rough roads and off-road routes, and cargo |
| The term "road bicycle" is typically employed to | | | | space to carry the essentials. |
| describe a "road racing bicycle," or a bike optimized | | | | Fixed gear/track/SS |
| to be ridden on the road, at high speeds, over long | | | | "Track bikes" have become synonymous with fixed |
| distances, with few extra features. A more general, | | | | gear and sometimes single-speed rides. This has |
| and perhaps more accurate, definition of a road bike | | | | become one of the most common misnomers in |
| would be any bicycle that is designed to be ridden | | | | cycling today. All true track bikes are designed to be |
| primarily on the road, no matter the makeup of the | | | | ridden on the Velodrome. They are designed with no |
| bike itself. For our purposes, we will use the retail | | | | brakes, extremely tight clearances, upright and stiff |
| industry's definition of a road bike, being primarily a | | | | angles, lower bottom brackets, and a single, fixed |
| road racing bicycle. When you see an advertisement | | | | gear. A "fixed gear" bike can be built using any type |
| for a road bike you will typically see a bicycle built | | | | of frame, a single chainring and a single, fixed cog on |
| around 700c wheels with thin tires and dual pivot | | | | the rear hub. It can be a mountain bike, a commuter |
| brake calipers. It will have drop bars with aero brake | | | | bike, a road bike, or any sort of vintage bike. The |
| levers and be designed for a fairly aerodynamic, | | | | only qualification is that it have a fixed gear. A "single |
| stretched-out riding position, like the type of bike you | | | | speed" is just that: a bike with a single speed. An SS |
| will see at the Tour de France or your local road race. | | | | is usually a bike with a single freewheel on the rear |
| Mountain bike | | | | hub that allows the wheel to roll forward independent |
| The type of bicycle designed to be ridden off road is | | | | of the cranks. Technically, track bikes and "fixies" are |
| referred to as a "mountain bike." These bikes | | | | both single speeds. |