By Wanda Vivequin on May 9, 2014
Every spring our city streets gradually fill up with bikes of all shapes, styles and sizes. Riders are commuting, getting fit, going shopping, hanging out with their kids and grandkids or just letting off some steam. Your neighbours are on their bikes each weekend, co-workers arrive at the office unloading their saddlebags, sporting a healthy glow and a trimmer waistline, and your regular Saturday morning coffee hangout is now overrun by Lycra-clad "roadies" back from a quick spin in the countryside. Now it's your turn.
We asked Janis Neufeld, '95 BPE - avid cyclist and owner of Nakusp, B.C.-based Shon's Bike and Ski - to give us some advice about how to choose the right bike for your needs. - W.V.
Commuter or hybrid bike
A commuter bike is perfect for riding to and from work, around town for recreation with family and friends or even for shopping. There are many different commuter bikes to choose from, so make sure yours can do everything you need it to do, whether that's accommodating a shopping basket or saddlebag, or hooking up to a child trailer. If you think you will eventually want to get into multi-day bike rides, you could also consider a touring bike, which meets all your commuter bike needs but is more robust and could pull loads in a small bike trailer.
Triathlon, touring or road bike
Your goal is to ride slightly longer distances, or perhaps even take part in a fundraising bike tour or race. Frame geometry is the difference in these bikes and fit is critical here - being too close or far from the handlebars can make for an excruciating ride. Triathlon cyclists spend more time tucked over their bikes, while road cyclists ride a little more upright. If you plan on riding in flat areas, choose a bike with larger gears; hill riding requires a few smaller gears (or stronger quads!). Start by riding with pedal cages and work your way to clipless pedals.
Mountain bike
So you've decided to let your inner daredevil out a bit and take to the trails to go mountain biking. Be prepared to have fun and see parts of your town and surrounding countryside you might never have seen before.
Bikes vary a lot in terms of what they are made of, wheel circumference, geometry, weight, brakes, gearing and amount of suspension. Go to a good shop and tell the clerk what kind of riding you plan to do: Wide-open trail riding? Technical single track? Lots of climbing? Racing long distances on wider, more open tracks?
All of these factors help determine the right bike for you.
There are also downhill bikes, which are heavier for more momentum and have huge suspension forks on the front to dampen the jarring that happens going quickly downhill over roots and rocks.
Cyclocross is gaining in popularity. The bikes for this sport are more heavy-duty. Their geometry is similar to that of road bikes, but these bikes have knobby tires that make them perfect for riding cross-country through rolling countryside.
