The right bicycle for you

Type

Choosing a bicycle that is suitable for the type of riding you do is an important decision that affects how much you will use your bike and enjoy cycling.

Here is a guide to the most common types of bicycles:

CITY/UTILITY BIKE: A comfortable, practical style of bike perfect for city trips under 15 km. They are very popular in 'cycle-friendly' european countries such as The Netherlands. These bikes often have a step-through frame for easy mounting, basket or racks for carrying things, mudguards, a chainguard, stand and are designed so that you sit completely upright. Gears will vary from 0 to 21-speed and the bikes are usually heavier than other bikes so are not for people who like to go fast!

HYBRID: Sometimes called a 'city' or 'cross' bike, as the name suggests hybrids combine features from road and mountain bikes. Gears vary from 15 to 24-speed, with 21-speed being the most common. They have smoother, narrower tyres than mountain bikes making them perform better on the bitumen. The riding position is slightly hunched over with some weight on the hands. They are lighter and faster than a city/utility bike and better if you tend to ride further than 15km. Mudguards, racks/baskets and stands do not come standard but are a good idea if you ride to work.

MOUNTAIN BIKE: Mountain bikes are designed for off-road cycling, and include other sub-types of off-road bicycles such as Cross Country, Downhill and Freeride bicycles. Also abbreviated as MTB or ATB (All Terrain Bicycle). These bikes have thick, knobby tyres for extra traction and shock absorption and sturdy frames and wheels. These usually have front and rear suspension to sustain the jolts and bumps of rough dirt trails. Special slick tyres can be fitted to make road riding easier.

ROAD RACING BIKE: These bikes are designed for speed with lightweight frames and components, limited accessories, dropped handlebars for a hunched forward aerodynamic riding position, multiple gears and skinny high pressure tyres. They are not as structurally strong as other bikes, but if you're a serious cyclist, like going fast and/or are into racing this is the bike for you.

POWER-ASSISTED BIKE: Usually powered by an electric motor and by Australian law must have an output of no more than 200 watts. A power-assisted bike (PAB) allows the rider to travel on a flat surface or slight incline without pedalling, and makes pedalling much easier on sharp inclines. They are heavier than standard bicycles and cannot be ridden on shared paths unless the engine is switched off.

FOLDING BIKE: These bikes are becoming increasingly popular for people who like to combine cycling with other forms of transportation such as car or train (unfortunately they are not allowed on trams) or have limited storage for a bike at home or work. The wheels, handlebars and frame hinge and fold together into a neat little package that takes up less than half the space of a standard bicycle. The wheels are usually smaller than other bikes so are not really suitable for long distance riding.

You may like to take this quick 6 question "test" to determine the type of bicycle that best matches your needs and preferences. Which bicycle is right for me?. When you've answered the questions click on "vis min cykel" at the bottom. Warning: The website you are redirected to is based in Denmark and some of the content is in danish only.

Size

You also need to make sure that the bike is the right size. Here are a few quick tests:

When you straddle the bike, with your feet flat on the ground, there should be at least a few centimetres between your body and the bike's top tube at its highest point (near the handlebars)
The distance between the front of the seat and the handlebars should be no more than a few centimetres longer than the length from your elbow to fingertips.
When you sit on the seat with one foot on the peddle, your knee should be slightly bent when the peddle is at its lowest point.