Choosing A Bike You Will Love To Ride
How To Choose A Bike
I am often asked, mostly by people who have never ridden a bike before, how to choose a bike. While there is no simple answer to this question, there are some basic things to keep in mind. The first consideration is function, the second consideration is fit. Price is also something to consider, but with bikes, you often get what you pay for, within reason: a good bike will cost more, but will be made of better materials, work better, last longer and hold it's value longer. If you buy a good bike, even used, you may not need to buy another bike again unless your needs change.
Bike Function (what kind of riding a bike is best suited for)
Mountain Bike
A large number of the bikes in Calgary are mountain bikes, or based on a mountain bike style. This is what most people will visualize when they think of a bike. In short, though there's some variations, a mountain bike has a "basic" shape, handlebars are typically at or below the seat when properly adjusted, and it has wide but not fat tires for traction on dirt, gravel and other uneven terrain. There may be suspension elements on the rear wheel which can make a mountain bike look very different from other types of bikes: rear suspension is not necessary for most urban cyclists and may make learning how to ride a bike more challenging for those who have never ridden before.
Road Bike
Not recommended for those who have never ridden a bike, road bikes are built for speed and typically have curved/dropped handlebars, skinny tires and a very aerodynamic riding position. New cyclists will find it difficult to operate brakes and cope with the more sensitive balancing needs, but an excellent choice if your goals are going as fast as possible on smooth pavement.
Cruiser
A true cruiser bike can be recognized by it's upright position with handlebars being higher than the seat and sometimes with a backwards curve, low range of gears, broad tires and coaster (pedal) brakes. Not all true cruisers meet this definition, but most do. Many have a crank-forward design, allowing for the ability to put the feet on the ground while sitting on the seat but still have the seat at an appropriate height. Great bikes for those who don't ride in hilly areas, these bikes are often used for quick rides to the corner store or library and often come equipped with a basket for exactly this purpose.
Hybrid
Hybrid bikes, or bikes that are named something like "urban" or "comfort," cover a broad range of styles and shapes, but can be grouped here by their similarities: they do a little bit of everything acceptably but excel at nothing. Hybrids are your all-purpose bikes. They often, but not always, have the more upright position of a cruiser (higher handlebars than seat). They may or may not have a slight crank-forward design, allowing an easier reach to the ground. They should have a wide gear range, though it may not be as broad as either a mountain or road bike. Hybrids may have narrow road bike-style tires or wider mountain bike-style tires depending on their target market. These bikes will always have hand brakes, not pedal brakes. In short, I highly recommend bikes in this category for anyone who is just starting out, or not interested in specializing in a particular style of biking.
Other Bikes
Other styles of bike include folding bikes, fat bikes, BMX, gravel bikes, track bikes and more: these are typically very specialized for a singular purpose and may not be suitable or comfortable for riding around the city for recreation or transportation. Feel free to do your own research on these! You may also want to explore tricycles, e-bikes, cargo bikes, recumbent bikes, tandem bikes or unicycles: there's a whole world of possibilities.
Bike Fit
Some key aspects of bikes are universal: it truly doesn't matter whether you have a high-end road bike or a bargain-store cruiser for most aspects of fit.
Basic Fitting Rules
Stand Over Height
Stand over height is exactly what it sounds like: the height of the bike when you are standing over it, with the bike upright between your legs. Necessary to check only on bikes that have a horizontal (or near horizontal) frame tube between the seat and the handlebars, there should be sufficient room to stand with your feet flat on the ground and at least 2 finger-widths of vertical space between your crotch and the frame of the bike. On bikes that have a sloped top frame tube, including low step-over bikes, this fit element is irrelevant.
Frame Length (size)
The length of the bike is generally determined by the frame size of the bike but some adjustments can be made here. You want to ensure that there is enough room to turn the handlebar significantly one way without your knee/leg being in the way on that side, while also ensuring that the bike isn't so big that the opposite hand can't stay on the handlebar. You may be able to reposition the seat or use a different handlebar stem, but this fit element should be close without having to adjust anything.
Seat Height
The most important aspect of bike fit is the seat height, and the vast majority of people don't know how to figure out what height their seat should be. In short, for those who are new to cycling, including children, it is important to be able to sit on the seat and touch the ground with both feet. However, once balancing is mastered and experience grows, it is essential that the amount of bend in the knee is analyzed. For efficient muscle use, greater endurance and lower risk of injury to the joints, it is important that the seat be adjusted such that there is only a slight bend in the knee when the ball of the foot is on the pedal at the lowest/farthest point of rotation. In this position, riding a bike feels little different from walking, minus the impact with the ground. A word of caution: unless you have a crank-forward bike, do not attempt to raise your seat to this position before you have learned how to start and stop without remaining seated.
Other Considerations
- weight of the bike, especially for transporting by auto
- frame materials: durability, ease of maintenance, etc
- shape of the frame, especially if you have hip challenges
- option to add accessories, including a kick stand, rear rack and/or basket if desired
- cost of a new bike, but buying used can be concerning
- colour of the frame.
Children's Bikes
Buying a bike for a child presents other challenges as children may outgrow their bike every year or experience a mid-season growth spurt. Unless you want to spend a large amount of money, there aren't many options for type of bikes (function) for children either, which is fine unless your child is competing. It is, however, critically important that a child's bike is an appropriate size for safety: a bike is too big for a young child if they are unable to sit on the seat and have both feet touch the ground at the same time; a bike is too small if a child is unable to turn the handlebar without hitting their knees with it. A child who develops a sore back while riding is probably riding a bike that's too small.
In Conclusion
Finding the right bike for you or your child's cycling desires can be challenging, but the rewards are worth it. Compared to a bike that doesn't fit well, finding the right size bike will mean you can ride for more time and cover longer distances without causing damage to your knees, back, wrists or neck. Finding a bike that's designed for where and how you want to ride will mean you're not fighting your bike, struggling up hills that would be easy on a different bike, or having crashes that hurt you or your bike because it's not suited to the conditions. Buying a good quality bike helps to reduce frustrations with gears that don't change smoothly, brakes that don't work well, or bikes so heavy you can't get it in your car. In short, you will ride more, be safer and enjoy your rides more, if you get a good quality, right size bike for the right purpose for you.
Bikes must also be maintained in order to function properly and be safe. Feel free to explore our maintenance page for more information on keeping your bike in excellent condition.
If you have any questions, or are unsure what kind of bike would be best for you, feel free to get in touch! I have a much more detailed information document that I will send to you (for free) and can even make some suggestions on bikes to consider (for a small fee).
- Melissa Malejko, Owner of Safer Cycling Calgary
Summer Camp!
Do you worry about your child's safety when they're riding their bike?
Are you unsure how to teach your child how to use their bike for transportation?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, we can help! We offer a 5 day summer camp for youth to learn how to ride their bike for transportation and recreation in order to safely ride to school, friend's homes, parks, restaurants and more!
