How to choose a bicycle
Need a bike for shopping trips or sport? Want to race down the road or zigzag through the woods? Read on for a few tips how to choose the right bike for you. And if you already know what type do you want, make sure you choose the right size.
Choosing a bike?
Electrobikes
Electric bikes are great if you need to ride uphill and can stretch your leisure rides by dozens of kilometers.
Universal means of transport
Kids' bikes
Children's bikes are designed to be durable and easy to use.
For young cyclists
Mountain bikes
Mountain bikes are the most versatile bike type. They can cope with paved roads and rough off-road terrain equally well.
Universal bike
Cyclo-cross bikes
Cyclo-cross bikes excel on bike paths. They are designed for roads, but they can also cope with wooded trails and grassy plains.
Sports bike
City bikes
City bikes are suitable for everyday riding, shopping, or work and school commute.
Comfortable travel around the town
Folding bikes
Folding bikes don't take up much space and are easy to fold before boarding a bus or tram.
Universal folding bikes
Glossary - Bikes
Gear
Featured on most bikes, gears allow you to select the degree of difficulty when pedaling. At low gears (e.g. when cycling uphill), pedalling is easier, but the pedal frequency increases at the same time. Conversely, when using a high gear (e.g. on a flat road), you pedal less but more forcefully. Gears are essential for anyone who plans to cycle on mixed or hilly terrain.
Frame
An ideal bike frame is lightweight and sturdy. Frame sizes are measured in inches or units, or sizes S, M, L, XL. Bicycle frames are typically made from steel, aluminium or carbon fibre. Steel frames were once common but are now in decline; while being strong and relatively cheap, they are heavier and subject to rust. Alloy frames are cheaper but heavier than carbon fibre frames, which offer a lighter, more flexible, and yet equally strong option.
Fork
The front fork is a key component of any bicycle and determines its overall quality. Suspension forks use compressed air or a spring system to insulate the rider from the roughness of the terrain. Air suspension is the more common option, despite it being more expensive than spring suspension; moreover, the air pressure can be adjusted to the weight of the rider. Spring suspension is the cheaper option and provides a slightly more sensitive damping; however, one disadvantage is that the spring force depends on the weight of the rider, and sometimes the spring can harden at low temperatures.
Glossary