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Well,
the real question you should probably ask yourself is, "What kind of riding
do I want to do?" Of course, even that question isn't so easy to answer.
That's why I have two bikes! Hopefully you can narrow down the choices
for yourself better than I managed to do. You should ask yourself the
following questions:
Will
I ride my bicycle on paved roads, or on trails or fire roads? If you plan
on doing serious off-road riding, you need a serious off-road bicycle.
Get a mountain bike! Only with a decent mountain bike will you be able
to competently maneuver your bike along single-track, down a mountainside,
or over rocks. On the other hand, if you are going to stay on well paved
streets, you probably don't want to be slowed down by the weight and rolling
resistance of a mountain bike and should look for something else.
Do I
want to ride distances greater than ten miles? If your going to ride more
than about ten miles on the road, stay away from mountain bikes. Sure
they're great off-road, but you'd be more comfortable and faster on a
bike built for the road.
Do I
want to carry my own equipment while touring? If the answer is yes, try
to get a touring bike. Although fewer manufacturers are making touring
bikes these days, they can still be found if you're willing to look. Bikes
built for loaded touring are usually more comfortable than other bikes,
are more stable (they turn more slowly), and also come with eyelets in
the frame and fork for attaching racks. Touring bikes also come with a
triple crank to accommodate smaller gears.
Would
I rather sit in a comfy chair or on a skinny bicycle seat? Sure we've
all seen them. Those strange recumbent bicycles. And we've all stared
at their owners like they were out of their minds. Well, they probably
are out of their minds, but recumbent riders don't get sore butts or backs
like the rest of us. Recumbents are just as fast as road bikes as far
as I can tell, which make them good choices for fast club rides.
Do I
live where there are an abundance of steep hills? You might want to consider
a sport bike -- a road racing frame with a triple crank and, often, more
relaxed geometry. These two enhancements are simply more physically forgiving.
The lower gears you get from adding a triple crank will save your knees
by allowing you to keep a higher pedaling cadence up those annoyingly
steep hills. This is probably a requirement for those cyclists with bad
knees or a few extra pounds to carry around. A more relaxed geometry will
make your ride more comfortable on long rides and will make climbing hills
easier. You pay for these benefits by losing some aggressiveness.
Do I
want to ride with a full-time partner or child who doesn't ride at my
level? Then you should get a tandem. They are not cheap, but it may be
your only hope of keeping up with your spouse or pre-teen child. Of course,
before shelling out the big bucks for a tandem, you have to ask yourself,
"Can I really stand to be attached to this person for hours at a time?
Will they cooperate? Do I trust this person to be my tandem partner. Keep
in mind that you'll want to purchase a road tandem (one with 700c wheels)
rather than an off-road tandem (with 26" wheels) to get those speed advantages.
The off-road bikes might look cool, but where are you going to ride that
monstrosity off-road?
Will
I primarily take leisurely rides on paved streets or bicycle paths? If
you just want to relax on your bike on short rides at a comfortable pace,
you might want a hybrid. They're not so great off-road and not so great
on fast road rides. However, you usually get to sit more upright and have
lots of small gears for riding easily.
Am I
a kid who doesn't need an expensive mountain bike to destroy? You can
buy an inexpensive BMX bike to beat up that will accommodate your smaller
size.
Do I
just want to look cool riding on the sidewalks and bike paths in the cool
part of town? Then get a new piercing and hop aboard a groovy cruiser.
They look like your grandmother's old Schwinn, but these days you can
put fancy componentry on that funky little frame, including various internally
shifting rear hubs. This is a bike that just looks like it belongs riding
up and down busy city streets. After all, if you don't feel look and feel
great on that bike, why bother?
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