On this page we have put together a list of the most common types of bicycle currently available. In the past categorising a bike was easy. Your choice was as simple as choosing a road bike, a mountain bike, a shopper or a tourer – easy! But these days there are categories within categories and the lines are blurred between what is designed to do what. Cube Bikes, for example have 152 separate bikes in their range! Hopefully this section will help demystify some of the industry jargon and give a better idea of what is right for you.
Road Bikes
Typically, road bikes are built for traveling at speed on paved or tarmac roads. Compared to other styles of bicycle, road bicycles share common features:
- The tires are narrow, high-pressure, and smooth to decrease rolling resistance.
- They usually use multiple derailleur gears; however, single-speed and fixed-gear and hub gear varieties exist.
- The bicycle is of a lightweight construction.
However, as mentioned earlier there are many different styles of road bike available. Here are just a few: Road ‘Racing’ Bike – Typically this will be a very lightweight machine with an emphasis on speed & efficiency rather than comfort. If you race or are looking to get into racing and or club riding then this is the bike for you.
Recommended bikes…
Scott Foil
Cube Litening
Road Racing bikes. Sportive, Audax, comfort……In essence very similar to a ‘racing’ bike in that they are light and fast but this time more emphasis is put on producing a bike that is a bit more comfortable to ride. This makes them ideal for people who want to cover longer distances or take part in Sportive or Audax type events. For most people wanting an introduction to road riding this is a great place to start. Designed for the cyclist looking for all day comfort and stable, reliable handling.
Recommended Bikes…
Scott CR1 (the ‘classic’ Sportive bike)
Another option is the Cube GTC Agree
Fitness Bikes, Urban bikes – a relatively new style of bicycle. It is usually (but not always) a road bike fitted with MTB-style shifters, brake levers and a flat handlebar. This combination provides a light, fast bike with a more upright and neutral riding position. A flat bar road bike is most commonly used for commuting, urban and fitness riding.
Recommended bikes…
Scott Speedster FB, Cube Hyde
Town Bikes – designed for utility cycling: a traditional bicycle for commuting, shopping and running errands in towns and cities. Town bikes will normally feature a more upright riding position which will give greater balance and visibility when riding in traffic. They usually come fitted with mudguards, rack, lights and stand.
Recommended bike…
Cube Town
Trekking / Touring Bikes – Touring bicycles may appear similar to road bicycles if they have drop handlebars. However, they greatly differ by typically having a much longer wheelbase and more stable steering geometry, with numerous attachments for luggage racks, mudguards, lights, high capacity water bottles, tools and spare parts. Built for cycling extra long distances in comfort while carrying all your luggage with you.
Recommended bikes…
Sabbath Silk Route
Mountain Bikes
A mountain bike (abbreviated MTB or ATB (all-terrain bicycle)) is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and steep declines, on dirt tracks, logging roads, and other unpaved environments—activities usually called mountain biking. These bicycles need to be able to withstand the stresses of off-road use with obstacles such as logs and rocks. Most mountain bikes use wheels with rims which are referred to as “26-inch”, although the term is inaccurate as it covers too many rim and tire sizes to be meaningful. Wheels used on mountain bikes usually use wide, knobby tires for good traction on uneven terrain and shock absorption. Since the development of the sport in the 1970s many new subtypes of mountain biking have developed, such as cross-country (XC) biking, all-day endurance biking, Freeride-biking, downhill mountain biking, and a variety of track and slalom competitions. Each of these place different demands on the bike requiring different designs for optimal performance. MTB development has included an increase in gearing, up to 30 speeds, to facilitate both climbing and rapid descents. Other developments include disc instead of rim brakes. Entry level mountain bikes will feature front suspension while more expensive offerings will have both front and rear suspension. This will give much greater control and comfort on bumpy surfaces. Disc brakes are also commonplace on mountain bikes over £500 and this gives more powerful braking and the ability to brake in the wet.
Cross Country (XC) Mountain Bikes – Cross-country cycling is defined by the terrain on which it is performed. XC courses and trails consist of a mix of rough forest paths and singletrack (also referred to as doubletrack depending on width), smooth fireroads, and even paved paths connecting other trails. Riding or racing is also only deemed cross-country if the technical complexity of the trails is easy or moderate. XC mountain bikes are the lightest lightest mountain bikes, typically between 7-16 kilos (15 and 30 lbs). They usually feature suspension forks and suspension in the rear. In both the front and rear, most XC bicycles have approximately 100 millimeters (4 inches) of suspension travel, though some riders prefer 125-150 millimeters (5 to 6 inches) of travel as bicycle frame strength and technology advance. The geometry of the frames generally place the rider in a little more upright position than on a road bicycle but incomparably less so than on a downhill bike.
Recommended bikes…
Cube Comp, Ltd and AMS ranges, Scott Aspect, Scale, Genius and Spark ranges.
