Bicycles - Transportation or Fun?

Bicycle selection is based on many needs and/or desires. Some folks are looking for economical transportation while others view biking as a means to get away from the pressures of daily life by taking a cruise on the open road or biking in the mountains.

It's hard to try and define what types of bicycles are available on the market today. Manufacturers and magazines all seem to use their own terminology to help you understand the selections that are available. I've included a brief description of the major bike types below.

Road bicycles are designed for open road riding and come in different flavors. There are performance road bikes that are made for getting you there fast - when sprinting, hill climbing, descending and cornering as fast as possible is your mission. Then there are road bikes made for natural, upright riding where comfort is the primary concern. And finally, there is the time trial road bike that is aerodynamically streamlined to get you the best times in your triathlon.

Mountain bicycles are great when you want to escape into the back country. There are full suspension mountain bikes that let you take on those really rough terrains. In addition to the full suspension models, there are hardtail mountain bikes that are lighter, faster off-road bikes that come without the active suspension, but they are extremely durable and are ideal for climbing. Just make sure you size your bicycle to fit you properly.

City bicycles are designed for pedaling on city streets and on smooth bike paths. They provide comfort and the ability to cruise on the streets. The major decision here is all a matter of comfort with seat positioning being a big factor.

Specialty bicycles include folding bikes that fold up for easy storage and transportation, bicycles built for two (tandems) and recumbent bicycles. There are cruiser bikes that are designed for comfort while biking, touring recumbents and even folding recumbent bikes where they solve the issue of not having enough space to store your bike. A recumbent bike lets you continue to ride even if you are recovering from injury.

BMX bicycles are small bikes that are made to get big air during dirt jumps or off freestyle bike ramps.

Completely custom bicycles are also an option for the rider that wants the absolute best in riding performance.

There are many quality manufacturers of bikes that include Bianchi, Burley, Cannondale, Carrera, Cirrus, Columbia, Davinci, Diamondback, DK Bicycles, Electra, Epic, Felt, Fuji, Gary Fisher, Giant, GT Bikes, Jeep, Haro, Huffy, Honda, Jamis, K2, Kestrel, and KHS.

With all the choices available to you, you can be assured that the bike you select will conform to your riding style and budget.

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Sites of Interest

PDA Phones
Need to keep in touch when you're out cycling?

Contact Lenses Here
Sometimes it makes more sense to wear a quality set of contact lenses in place of your normal eye wear.