How to Choose the Right Bike with Ease

It’s important to choose the right bike; otherwise, you won’t have a good time as a cyclist.

If you choose the wrong bike for the wrong type of cycling, riding it will likely be problematic for you. The wrong bike size can lead to pain and injuries that you don’t want to experience. Choosing the wrong bike is also a waste of your money.

In this guide, I’ll show you everything you need to know about how to choose the right bike so that you can focus on the enjoyment and benefits of cycling rather than the nightmare of selecting the wrong equipment.

Choose the Right Bike at a Local Bike Shop

The best way to choose the right bike for your needs is to visit your local bike shop.

Get on Google or ask around in your local cycling community to find out what the better and more reputable bike shops are near where you live. Visit these local bike shops and tell them what kind of cycling you want to do. If you don’t know what type to try, they will usually be able to help you decide, as well.

Employees of a local bike shop are going to know more than sporting goods stores.

No offense to the big chain retail stores, but local bike shop employees are going to know dramatically more about bikes than the chain stores with a bike department in them. Sure, bikes are cheaper at the chain stores, but you’ll get what you pay for, and usually, it won’t be something that lasts that long. Besides, I’ve seen competitive pricing at most local bike shops when compared to what you’ll find at a big chain retailer store.

A local bike shop is going to be the best way to choose the right bike over anyone else.

Choose the Right Bike Based on the Right Budget

Make sure you consider your budget and choose the right bike based on how much you’re willing to spend.

There are three categories of bicycle pricing. The low end is around $80 to $300, which is great for little kids or people who will just occasionally use their bikes, but these bikes don’t often last that long. The mid-range is around $300 to $1,000 and is great for beginner cyclists, but high-end bikes are typically over $1,000 but will last forever if you take care of them.

If you know your size, you might be able to get a mid- to high-end bike for a bargain when buying it used from an individual or local bike shop.

You should consider sticking with reputable brands. Ask your local cycling community what brands they would suggest based on their experience. Most reputable brands will include Trek, Specialized, Giant, Salsa, Canyon, Santa Cruz, Cervelo, Cannondale, Pinarello, Surly, and others. 

Before deciding on the brand or pricing of your bike, ask questions to local bike shop employees and local cyclists to get all the information you need to make your decision.

Different Types of Bikes for Different Types of Cycling

One way to help you choose the right bike is to know what types are available.

E-bikes—These are also known as Electric Bikes. They use electric components for pedal assist, and some have a throttle that can be used to make the bike move without pedaling. There is an E-Bike for just about every type of bike out there, and they’re popular for older cyclists and those with limited mobility.

Road Bikes—A road bike is designed to be ridden on roads with smooth surfaces such as pavement and concrete. These bikes are lighter in weight and use various components geared for riding on the road. Most road cyclists ride on the roads with traffic, and this is a very popular form of cycling.

Endurance Bikes – These are a lot like road bikes but built to be ridden longer and with more comfort in mind. Many people will choose endurance bikes for time trials, racing, and triathlons. If speed and competition are why you want to bike, an endurance bike might be for you.

Gravel Bikes – A gravel bike is a mix between road biking and mountain biking. It has all the looks and style of a road bike, but the tires and components are made for riding off-road on gravel, dirt, and even some trails. If you want to practically go anywhere and do nature-styled bikepacking, a gravel bike will be one of your best options.

Touring Bikes—A touring bike is like a road bike but set up to be more comfortable for long-distance travel. If you’d like to go bike touring, where you bike across your state, multiple states, or the country, a touring bike will be one of your best options. Most touring bikes also come with many areas for mountain bags and panniers.

Mountain Bikes—A mountain bike is designed for riding on rugged trails in the woods or in a mountain environment. Most of these bikes have rugged components and bigger tires with grippier threads. They can have partial, full, or even no suspension.

Cross-Country Bikes—A cross-country bike is a mountain bike designed for speed. These bikes are typically lighter in weight and can go faster and climb hills much better. If you need a mountain bike that weighs less, a cross-country bike might be right for you.

Cyclocross Bikes—A cyclocross bike is a lot like a gravel bike, but it has more road bike components than anything else. The tires are often like those of a gravel bike. These bikes are primarily used for cyclocross racing and are quite niche to that.

Fat Tire Bikes—These types of bikes come with larger and fatter tires, hence the name Fat Tire Bikes. They’re meant to handle better in snow or sandy conditions. Cycling in areas with deep snow or beaches/deserts with a lot of sand would make these bikes the best choice.

Hybrid/Fitness Bikes—A hybrid or fitness bike is a mix between a road bike and a comfort bike. You can typically ride these bikes on the road or an easy trail such as a rail trail. They’re a good choice if you’re just looking for an outdoor exercise bike without anything too fancy, and they’re usually cheaper, too.

Specialty Bikes—A specialty bike is a special bike made for a specific activity. These bikes are often custom-made and tend to be rather expensive, so they are rarely the choice of those getting into cycling.

Cruiser Bikes – Cruiser bikes are often used for easy riding conditions. Many people will use these bikes with bigger tires to ride at beaches or on easy bike trails and roads. A lot of bike rental businesses will have cruisers as their main bike to rent.

Cargo Bikes -Cargo bikes are designed to carry cargo. Some can carry a little bit, while others can carry a lot. Bike couriers and delivery folks usually use these types of bikes.

Folding Bikes—A folding bike is suitable for different types of cycling, such as road, mountain, and commuting. These bikes are designed to fold up for easier transport and storage. If you’re a traveling cyclist, this bike might be a great choice.

BMX Bikes – These are smaller framed bikes often used for competition and stunt riding. Many children will ride bikes similar to BMX styles. These are bikes you’d commonly see a skate parks being ridden on the ramps and courts.

Recumbent Bikes—These bikes typically allow the rider to sit lower to the ground with back support. The seats are usually very comfortable, and the bikes may be two, three, or even four-wheeled. This is often a choice among senior riders or those with mobility and balance issues.

Tandem Bikes—A tandem bike might be any of the bikes mentioned above but is meant for multiple riders. Most tandem bikes have two sets of seats and pedals, but some could have more. These bikes are great for couples or teams that want to share the riding responsibility.

Unicycle Bikes – These bikes feature one wheel and one wheel only. They made them for casual cycling, gravel, mountain, and road biking. It often takes a learning curve to be able to ride one of these types of bikes.

Choose the Right Bike Features for Performance

When trying to choose the right bike, make sure you consider the important features of how you need the bike to perform based on the riding style you wish to do.

Suspension – This is especially important for mountain biking. Some bikes have full suspension, which is great for highly technical trails and downhill. Others have partial suspension in the front (hardtail) or even no suspension for less technical and hilly trails.

Frame Material—Most frame materials are either aluminum (cheaper) or carbon fiber (expensive). Many people want to go with carbon because it weighs less. However, carbon should not be chosen for weight but rather to help reduce shock.

Electronic Components—Some bikes have full electronic components, such as throttling (no pedaling required) or electronic assist (E-Bikes). Others may have electronic components, such as gear shifting. Traditional bikes do not have anything electronically controlled and are typically cheaper to purchase.

Components—The quality of a good bike doesn’t really focus on the frame or the material used to make the frame. The quality is mainly focused on the components. There are more expensive bikes available mainly because they have better components, such as the drive train.

Gearing—Different bikes have different types and numbers of gears. Some people need as many gears as possible to climb hills easily, while others want only one gear on their bike.

Wheel and Tire—There are different wheel and tire sizes to choose from as well. For example, on many gravel bikes, some riders may want a size 40, while others might want upwards of a size 50, depending on the terrain they will be riding on. This is really a question you should ask the local bike shop based on your needs.

Brakes—There are also different types of brakes to choose from. The most popular brake is the disc brake, which is harder to change but also more efficient at stopping your bike. Rim brakes are also available, but most bikes are switching to disc brakes.

Pedals—There are different types of pedals to choose from. Most cyclists switch to pedals that require special shoes and cleats that clip into the pedal for a more secure and efficient ride. Some prefer to use traditional flat pedals that do not need to be clipped in.

Get a Bike Fit

One of the most important things you need to do is get a bike fit.

This is when you’re measured precisely for the size of the bike you need. Other measurements may also be made to ensure that the components and different parts of the bike will fit you properly. A proper bike fit can really only be done by a reputable local bike shop or a professional who specializes in bike fits.

Ask your bike shop, but many bike fits are better when you wear tight-fitting cycling shorts or leggings. This will allow them to give you a more accurate fit based on your true size.

Getting a bike fit is important for many reasons. A properly fitting bike will last a lot longer and require less part replacement because it fits you properly. A proper bike fit will also reduce the chances of becoming injured due to a poorly fitted bike.

You should even get a bike fit if you plan to buy used so that you know at least you’re buying the right bike for your size and fit.

Choose the Right Bike Based on Your Needs

There are a few other needs you might need to address when you wish to choose the right bike.

Make sure the bike is comfortable. Give it a test ride and see how it feels on you. An uncomfortable bike isn’t going to be fun to ride.

Make sure you understand what terrain you plan to ride on. If you plan to ride on a paved street, then you need to get a road bike or a hybrid fitness bike. Get a bike that matches the terrain you will be using it on.

Consider your bike’s carrying capacity. Do you need it to be able to carry things? Does it have features that allow you to add additional carrying bags?

Will you be using the bike for racing, recreation, fitness, or commuting? Different types of bikes are available for each of these settings. You want to choose the bike that will perform the best without breaking the bank.

Your weight matters. Some bikes are not made for heavier people, and getting the wrong bike for your weight capacity could be dangerous. Make sure you consider your weight, but don’t worry—they have a bike for every weight.

Your gender also matters in most cases. There are bikes made for males and bikes made for females. Riding a bike designed for the opposite gender might result in discomfort and injury for you.

Final Thoughts

This concludes this article, which shows you how to choose the right bike based on your cycling needs. Use the information above to make your decision a whole lot easier.

After you decide on a bike, please come back and comment on this blog telling me what bike you’ve chosen. I’d love to know!

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