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What kind of bike should you buy?

Posted May 13, 2008 at 09:00 AM by Martinique Haller

Section: Her Fitness, Athletics, Her Gear & Apparel

Everyone knows you can’t buy running shoes for looks.  You can’t get the blue ones instead of the green when the green ones work for you. It’s the same for bikes. You have to buy the right kind of bike for how you plan on using it, one that fits you well, and is in your budget.

The first rule of thumb, do not buy your bike at a huge retailer. I’m not naming names here, but if the place you buy your bike also sells laundry detergent and bathing suits, look further. Go to your local bike shop and tell the employees there what you’re looking for.  If it’s an intimidating environment or you feel like someone is working on commission and is trying to sell you more bike than you need or can afford, go to your other local bike shop.

There are four major categories of bikes: cruiser/Amsterdam style bikes, hybrids/commuters, mountain bikes, and road bikes.  Many people have a style that they like the look of.  Some people think road bikes with their sleek frames, thin tires and drop-bar handlebars are ugly and head straight for the mountain bikes. Other people veer away from the burly tires and bulk of mountain bikes, and other head straight for the vintage-inspired cruisers.  But each category serves a different purpose, so here are some questions to ask yourself.

What will you mainly use your bike for?
1. Riding off road in parks and on paths
2. Training for a triathlon or century, or just serious road-riding
3. Commuting to work long-distance almost every day
4. Getting around your neighborhood to the video store, grocery store, the library
5. Cycling with your baby or kids*

If you answered 1, and you’re not lying, then get a mountain bike. If, on the other hand, you just think you’ll be riding off road but are really going to get around the neighborhood, then don’t. The wide tires with lots of tread will slow you down immensely if you ride on pavement, and those shocks are a complete waste of space if you’re not jumping logs.
2. If you’re a serious rider, or want to be, get a road bike or a cyclo-cross bike. These bikes are built for speed – think the difference between a mini-van and a sports car. Think about bikes that are built for women’s bodies. Specialized and Giant both have good women’s lines.
3. If you’re going for long rides on pavement everyday think about a road/touring bike you can put a rear rack on, or a solid hybrid bike built for commuting like the Specialized Globe City.  These bikes will have an in-between tire that can handle some dirt, but will still be speedy. You can also find these bikes with straight handlebars or drop-bars like the Surly long haul trucker.
4. If you just want to drive a little less, and be more active but don’t have your sights set on log-jumping or the iron-man, get a great commuting bike with a rack on the back, or have fun with an Amsterdam-style bike like the series from Electra. These bikes come with chain guards, lights, and bells – no spandex required.

When you’re buying your bike, ask a lot of questions.  Ask what material the bike is made of because that will affect your ride.  The material will also affect how smooth your ride is, if it handles rain well, or if it’s light enough to carry upstairs to your apartment.  Make sure the bike fits by asking the bike shop folks what’s best for you, and finally – take it for a spin.  If your bike shop doesn’t let you test ride, then go to another shop.  Test a few bikes to get a feel for what you like. A new bike can be a big investment and you want the right one for you.  Most importantly, know that you get what you pay for.  Too many bike shop employees have told me that they’ve seen many a boyfriend and girlfriend or husband and wife come in and spend twice as much on his bike than hers.  If his bike is twice as nice, it will be twice as hard for her to keep up (remember mini-van vs sports car) and your cycling experience won’t be fun if you’re struggling the entire time on the wrong bike.

*If you want to know how to get your baby on your bike, or ride with kids, look for next week’s column.

That’s Martinique Haller on her 2008 Specialized Dolce Elite.

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Tags: bicycle commuting, biking, choosing a bike, cruisers, cycling, hybrid bikes, martinique haller, mountain bikes, right bike for your needs, road bikes, specialized

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