If you want to get in shape, biking is a great way to go. Not only is biking a great way to get around, it also a great form of exercise. As you might expect, there are many different disciplines within cycling. In the following paragraphs, you will learn out the different types of bikes out there, and what they can do for you.

Let’s look at commuter bicycles to start. Commuter bikes, as their name suggests, are bikes designed just to get around town. These can be anything from old mountain bikes, road bikes, fixed gear bikes, or any other comfortable inexpensive bicycle. More and more people are getting fed up with gas prices, and giving bicycle commuting a try. If you want to replace your car with a bike as much as possible, this is the way to go.

If you like things a little rougher, give a mountain bike a try. Mountain bikes are rugged bikes intended for off-road use. These bikes have large, knobby tires that make them ideally suited for off-road use. The two main styles are hard tail and full suspension. Today, full suspension bikes are by far the most popular. However they’re also the most expensive. If you’re looking to save money, hard tails might be the way to go. You can also save money by going for a used mountain bike.

Want to go fast? Road biking is your sport. These fast, sleek bikes are very fun to ride for long distances. Road cycling is also a great aerobic exercise, and a means of transportation. Today’s road bikes are made of many high-tech materials, such as carbon fiber. Buying a carbon fiber road bike can set you back a bit, but the result is worth it for many. Buying a road bike can be a little tricky for new riders, but if you get somebody at the shop to help you, it shouldn’t be too bad.

If you’re looking for more of a hybrid bike, a cyclocross bike might be in your future. A cyclocross bike is basically a road bike with knobby tires and a slightly different geometry. These bikes closely resemble road bikes, but have knobby mountain bike like tires that allow them to handle basic off-road. Cyclocross bikes are great for competing in cyclocross events, as well as getting around town. They are fast, yet rugged, so they are suited for a broad range of different activities.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 4th, 2009 at 4:01 am and is filed under Types of Bicycles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.