> road bikes These are built for speed and endurance. The kind of bike you’ll see in the Tour de France, with skinny tyres and curved handlebars. Also called ‘racers’ or ‘racing bikes’. Road bikes are fast, and allow you to travel long distances efficiently. They usually have either a traditional frame shape, with an almost horizontal top tube, or a semi-compact frame shape, with a top tube that slopes away from the handlebars. Most road bikes have two chainrings at the front and eight, nine or 10 cogs on the rear, however some road bikes have three chainrings on the front allowing a greater gear selection, and more importantly, smaller gears for climbing steep hills.
> great for… riding long distances (30 km plus), road racing, triathlons, fitness training
> comfort factor… the riding position on a road bike is all about aerodynamics, with handlebars either level with or slightly lower than your saddle position. This means that your back is horizontal, with your head down low, when your hands are positioned ‘in the drops’ (i.e. on the lowest part of the curve of the handlebars). Drop bars give you the option to move your hands around a bit to stay comfortable, and give you a slightly higher sitting position.
> cost… start from around the $1000 mark with something like the SUBzero 1 (pictured above left), and the sky is the limit for those with no budget constraints! You’ll pay a bit more for carbon fibre frames, and better quality componentry (gears, brakes, wheels etc) – check out the SUBrosa (above right) or the Specialized Ruby (above centre) range.
> mountain bikes Often shortened to MTB, these bikes are the four-wheel-drives of the cycling world. Chunky, knobbly tyres and suspension mean they can traverse a variety of terrains – hence the name. MTBs come in a variety of forms for specific purposes: with or without front suspension, both front and rear suspension, lightweight for cross country racing or extra long travel suspension forks for downhill riding, just to name a few. MTBs generally have more of a compact frame design than road bikes (that is, with a top tube that slopes down from the front of the bike), which makes it easier to dismount quickly when riding over obstacles. The gearing on a mountain bike makes it easier to ride up steep hills, as they have three chainrings on the front (whereas most road bikes have two). Mountain bikes have flat handlebars, which can also have bar-end extensions added to them. Can have either disc brakes or V-brakes; disc brakes are good for braking in all conditions, such as mud or rain. Wheels have a diameter of 26 inches (smaller than road bikes).
> great for… riding on a variety of surfaces, including unsealed roads, gravel, rocky terrain, singletrack, sand and more. A real go-anywhere bike. Also good for general riding and commuting, and the knobbly tyres can be replaced with semi-slick tyres for easier rolling on sealed roads.
> comfort factor… depending on the type of mountain bike you choose, the riding position is generally a little more upright than on a road bike.
> cost… start from around $400 for a hardtail with front suspension, such as the SUBtrax 1. With an increase in cost you’ll get better quality suspension forks, disc brakes rather than V-brakes, and then hydraulic disc brakes rather than mechanical disc brakes, and better quality components. From around $3000 (give or take a bit) you can get a lightweight full suspension mountain bike with a women’s specific design, like the Specialized Myka (above left), Safire or Era (above right).
> hybrid bikes These bikes are built for comfort, and are great for riding shorter distances on reasonably flat or gently undulating terrain. Hybrids usually have wheels with a diameter of 700C, the same as a road bike, along with slightly wider tyres with tread for traction on sealed and some unsealed surfaces, such as rail trails or gravel roads. Front suspension forks and a suspension seat post give a more comfortable ride, softening any bumps. Riser handlebars and an adjustable headset are mean that you sit in a more upright position when you ride.
> great for… riding along bike tracks, to the café, shops, with the kids or to your friends place... If you haven’t ridden a bike in years, or if you like the idea of riding in a more upright position, this is a good type of bike to consider. Great for rides up to around 20-30 km.
> comfort factor… hybrids are queen of the comfort stakes. A nice, wide saddle, suspension and high-rise handlebars mean that sitting on one of these bikes feels natural even if you haven’t been on a bike in years.
> cost… You’ll pay between $400 and $800 for a great hybrid bike, such as the Avanti Discovery (above, in step-through model).
> flat bar road bikes If you feel like you need to go a bit faster than a hybrid or mountain bike could take you, but you’re not necessarily interested in racing, then a flat bar road bike might be just what you’re looking for. To look at, if you think a flat bar road bike appears to be a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike, then you’re probably not far off. With the lightweight frame and 700C wheels of a road bike, and the flat handlebars and triple chainring of a mountain bike, this new breed of bike is perfect for commuting, city riding and building up fitness. Flat handlebars make manoeuvring in traffic safer, semi-slick tyres roll reasonably quickly on sealed roads and a suspension seat post softens any bumps.
> great for… fitness, commuting, city riding, bike tracks, riding medium distances (up to 40-50 km, or even further!) > comfort factor… flat bar road bikes give a riding position somewhere between a road bike and a mountain bike – with the handlebars either level with or slightly higher than the seat position. Suspension seat post gives a softer ride.
> cost… This kind of bike will cost somewhere between $450 and $1200. Check out the SUBlime 2 (above left) or the Specialized Vita (above right).
Of course, bikes come in many other shapes, styles, colours and sizes than the ones listed. Hopefully this gives you a bit of help in terms of a starting point. I know that walking into a bike shop for the first time can be a little daunting, especially if you haven’t looked a bike in years.
Here are a couple of websites which may help you out in terms of brands and styles…
www.sarahulmerbrand.com/bikes
www.avantibikes.com
www.specialized.com
Find out more about the brands and models listed, as well as Recommended Retail Prices at an Avantiplus store near you. Find your closest store by visiting www.avantiplus.com
Got a question about bikes? Have something to share about your bike buying experience? Want to know more about something to do with bikes? Add your comment to this post or email us your question.
In the meantime, happy riding!
N.B. Prices listed in this blog are to be used as an indication only. For actual RRP please contact your nearest Avantiplus store or Avanti dealer.
No comments:
Post a Comment