A Beginner's Guide on How to Shop for a Bike: Part 1

My eyes are starting to cross from all the reading I'm doing on bikes recently. I feel like I'm about to make a down payment on a car. The comforting thing about bikes, though, is that they are relatively easy to understand - whereas I don't think I would ever fully understand the mechanics of a car.

Despite the simplicity of bikes in theory, however, the range of things to consider when shopping for one can be truly overwhelming. So, I am breaking down my new-found knowledge into several approachable sections to make your bike-shopping experience (as well as my own) as informed as possible.

The first thing to consider, of course, is what type of use you are expecting to get out of your bike. Are you wanting to get into trail-riding? Are you wanting a bike for commuting? Or perhaps for just running errands and basic fitness?
Here are some basic bike types with a short synopsis of each:

The Mountain Bike



(click on images to enlarge)
Mountain bikes are the most popular type of bikes (and thus, a high theft item). They are very durable and have tough, knobby tires. Super-low gearing aids with rough terrain. These bikes are ideal for trail riding/off-roading, and can also be used around town for short distances.

The Hybrid



Hybrids are a combination of road and mountain bikes. They are lighter and more efficient than a mountain bike on the road, and more durable than a road bike for off-roading. Conversely, however, they are not ideal for either. Basically, hybrids are good 'all-around' bikes for fitness, running errands, commuting, riding through parks, etc.

The Recumbent



Recumbent bikes are, by far, the most comfortable bikes. They also have a wide gear range which makes climbing hills easier than one would expect. Recumbent bikes are ideal for touring and commuting. However, they are still great for fitness and work lots of muscle groups that other bikes don't. There are also lots of recumbent bike races!

The Road Bike



Road bikes are made for speed. They are extremely lightweight and efficient for training and racing. They aren't the most comfortable ride in the world (though you can wear padded bike shorts to compensate for that), and are prone to flat tires. The dropped handlebars also demand a low rider position, requiring flexibility.
However, there are also road SPORT bikes. These bikes are a little heavier, but they also have padded seats, a less extreme seat position, and lower gearing options. They are great for longer commutes.


Obviously, since I'm training for a triathlon, my choice of a road bike is clear. Thus, the information provided past this point will solely concentrate on shopping for road bikes.


Frame/Fork Materials
While bikes have been made out of many things, the standard materials used are steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Many bikes will have 2 different materials, the frame made out of one material while the fork is made out of another. The fork of a bike is the part of the frame the front wheel attaches to. It needs to be particularly strong to absorb the shock from being the first part of the bike to hit bumps in the road.

Steel has long been used for its durability and strength. It makes a good fork material. It's inexpensive because it's easy to shape. However, you have to take extra care of your paint job since steel rusts, and it's also pretty heavy.

Aluminum is the most popular bike frame material, due to it being the lightest material and the fact that it doesn't rust. It's also more affordable than titanium and carbon fiber. Aluminum tubing is easy to distinguish because of the large diameter of aluminum tubing. The tube's diameter has to be larger to compensate for the material's low density. The drawback of these thicker tubes is that they crush easily, and aluminum isn't easily repaired.

Titanium rivals both steel in strength and aluminum in weight. However, it is difficult to fabricate and, as a result, very expensive. Titanium forks, in particular, are extremely difficult to make. Many bikes will combine a titanium frame with a carbon fiber fork to make it less cost-prohibitive.

Carbon fibers cast in resin comprise the last of the most widely-used materials. It's also very stiff and lightweight, but like titanium, expensive to produce. It's ability to absorb shock while still handling well makes it one of the most appealing fork materials.


So that's it for Part 1 of Bike Shopping! Stay tuned for Part 2 where I'll be covering gearing, components, and wheels.