When choosing a bicycle, there are several factors to consider to ensure you get the right one for your needs. Some important things to think about include:
- The type of cycling you plan to do. Different bicycles are designed for different types of riding, such as road cycling, mountain biking, or commuting.
- Your height and weight. Bicycles come in different frame sizes, and it’s important to choose a bike that fits you well to ensure a comfortable and safe ride.
- Your budget. Bicycles can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, so it’s important to decide on a budget before you start shopping.
- The quality and durability of the bicycle. Consider the materials used in the construction of the bike and its components, as well as the brand and reputation of the manufacturer.
- Any additional features or accessories you might need, such as a helmet, lights, or a rack for carrying items.
When Bike Guru is with friends over coffee catchups, there is always one common topic brought up about bicycles, surrounding these two questions:
- What type of bicycle are you intending to buy?
- What type of bicycle are you riding?
Hence, I will be sharing with you the twelve types of bicycle from my knowledge.
- Toddler Bicycle
- Children Bicycle
- Commuter Bicycle
- Electric Bicycle
- Foldable Bicycle
- BMX Bicycle
- Mini Velo Bicycle
- Mountain Bicycle
- Dirt Jump Bicycle
- Hybrid Bicycle
- Road Bicycle
- Time Trial Bicycle
Toddler bicycle is for children aged 1 to 3 years old. It is also known as a balance bike. It does not have any pedals as the main focus is to train the toddler to learn the technique of kick and balance before riding a bigger bicycle. The popular brand is Strider which is seen in the photo below. For adults who are picking up cycling and do not know how to balance, you can remove the pedals and the adult bicycle will perform the same as a balance bike.
Children bicycle is suitable for kids aged 3 to 12 years old. Depending on the height of your child, a certain wheel size will be suitable for him. Wheel sizes range from 16 inch, 18 inch, 20 inch and 24 inch. Do bring your child down to the bicycle shop to let him try out the different bicycle options before purchasing.
Commuter bicycle is for people who rides from Point A to Point B whether for work or grocery shopping. Usually, a small basket is found at the front of the commuter bicycle for you to store items. In the recent years, there is an increase of cyclists commuting to work using their road or mountain bicycle. The working attire and documents are stored in backpack and carried over their shoulders during commuting.
Electric bicycle is for people who prefer the use of electric motor built into the hub of the wheel to assist them in pedalling. The speed and distance of the electric bicycle will depend on the size of its rechargeable battery.
In Singapore, electric bicycles are classified as Power-Assisted Bicycle (PAB). It is mandatory to have your electric bicycle approved and registered with Land Transport Authority.
Foldable bicycle is similar to a commuter bicycle except that it has folding capabilities. It is widely used by cyclists who have a primarily concern in storage space. Popular brands in the market are Dahon, Tern, Strida, Bike Friday, Brompton. The first three brands are for budget cyclists while the latter two brands are exclusive for cyclists with deep pockets. Wheel sizes range from 16 inch, 20 inch, 24 inch, 26 inch and 700c.
BMX bicycle is for people who like to do stunts and tricks in urban or off-road enviroments such as skate parks and dirt parks. BMX stands for Bicycle Motorcross. It was invented by Scot Alexander Breithaupt in the 1970s. The bicycle is lightweight and comes with single speed gears.
Mini Velo bicycle is for people who like to ride a road bicycle in a compact form for the ease of storage. It is often seen being ridden on pavement or road. The wheel size is 20 inch. Drivetrain components are similar to those in road bicycle. Popular brands are Tyrell, Ascent, Soma Fabrications and more…
Mountain bicycle is for people who prefer to hit the trails or cycling in off-road terrains. It can be divided into two categories: Hardtail and Full Suspension. The wheel size of mountain bicycle has evolved from 26 inch to 29 inch to 27.5 inch. There are pros and cons to each wheel size and I will be sharing with you in future. In my photo below, I am using the mountain bicycle with 26 inch wheels.
Dirt Jump bicycle is for people who enjoy doing stunts in the air while riding in off-road terrain. The frame is usually made of aluminium or steel. It has a low standover height to allow easy manuevering. The common configuration is single speed gears. In this photo, the cyclist has configured his dirt jump bicycle to multi-speed gears. Wheel sizes ranges from 24 inch or 26 inch.
Hybrid bicycle is for people likes to ride on PCN and road who prefers an upright riding posture with flat handlebar. The wheel size of a hybrid bicycle is similar to the wheel size of a road bicycle. For friends who are planning to upgrade from a foldable bicycle to a road bicycle, consider having a hybrid bicycle as a step up plan. The wheel size of hybrid bicycle is 700c. The width of the tires run between 28mm to 38mm depending on the fork clearance, seat stay clearance and chain stay clearance.
Road bicycle is for people who prefer to cycle on the roads. It can be divided into three main categories – Climbing, Endurance and Performance. Depending on your intended usage, you should buy a road bicycle that suits you well. The wheel size of a road bicycle is 700c. I will be doing reviews for these three categories of road bicycles in the future.
Time Trial bicycle is for people who take part in triathlon and time trial cycling events. There are several factors to distinguish between a time trial bicycle and a road bicycle. Factors such as the shape of the handlebar, frame geometry and the type of wheels used.
The handlebar is usually in bull horn design with aerobars fitted on it to allow the cyclist to be in an aero-dynamic posture. The frame geometry is more aggressive compared to the road frame. Deep section wheels such as disc wheel, 100mm, 80mm are preferred in a time trial bicycle. The wheel sizes of the time trial bicycle are 650c and 700c.
It’s also a good idea to try out several different bicycles to see which one feels the most comfortable and suitable for your needs. You can visit a local bike shop and ask for help from the staff, or you can borrow a bike from a friend or family member to try it out.
If you are new to cycling, you can consider checking out Decathlon’s bicycle department. Decathlon carries a wide range of value-for-money bicycles to suit most cyclists’ needs. They have road bicycles, city bicycles, mountain bikes, folding bikes and child bikes, with entry-level to intermediate bicycle components and specifications.
Disclosure: If you do intend to purchase anything from Decathlon, I hope you can support Bike Guru by making your purchase via my affiliate link. Bike Guru will receive a commission and your kind support will help me in the cost of running this website to provide bicycling tips and advice for the cycling community.
