Looking for a new bike? There’s probably never been a better time to buy one. In the past decade, bikes have gotten more functional, more reliable, and more fun to ride. That’s partly because the variety has bloomed from a few basic styles (e.g. road, mountain, city) to now include all manner of niches and categories-within-categories, as bike makers diversify their offerings to appeal to the many ways that people enjoy riding.
But that profusion of options presents you, the eager buyer, with a challenge: How do you know which kind of bike is right for you and the riding you’ll do? Well, that’s what this guide is for. Use the handy quick-reference section up top to narrow down between broad categories, then jump down to learn about different options within those.
A Quick Guide to the Types of Bikes:
Road Bikes – Lightweight, efficient bikes with drop handlebars and narrow tires for recreational riding on pavement. Styles include race and endurance.
Mountain Bikes – Rugged machines with flat handlebars and wide, knobby tires for riding narrow dirt trails. Styles include hardtail, full-suspension cross country, full-suspension trail, and full-suspension enduro.
Gravel/Adventure Bikes – Drop-bar bikes with clearance for multiple tire sizes for a range of riding experiences on- and off-road. Styles include gravel, bikepacking, and cyclocross.
Utility Bikes – Bikes designed for utility, such as commuting or errands, including some that haul kids or cargo. Styles include commuter, fixie, mid-tail, and cargo.
Comfort/Fitness Bikes – Everything from beach cruisers to flat-bar bikes for weekend spins on multi-use paths. Styles include hybrid, fitness, comfort, and cruiser.
E-Bikes – Electronic bicycles can be bikes from almost any of the other categories here, designed with a small, lightweight electric motor to assist the rider. Styles include commuter, cargo, mountain, and road
Fat Bikes – These head-turning bikes feature 3.8-inch wide or wider tires for flotation and traction often for sand, snow, or trail. Styles include mountain and cruiser.
Triathlon Bikes – Road-style bikes built to optimize aerodynamics a with wing-shaped frame, wheel cross-sections, and aggressive rider positions.
Tandem Bikes — Tandems are bicycles built for two riders, and thus are often built with reinforced frames and components to handle the extra weight. The rider in front is called the pilot; the rear is referred to as the stoker. Tandem bikes come in several styles, including road, mountain bike, and cruiser, but road is the most common.
Park Bikes — These purpose-built machines are made for various different uses, but two commonalities link them: They’re made for use in groomed terrain like bike park trails or skate parks, and they’re all great at catching air. The three main styles are dirt jump, BMX, and slopestyle.
Kids’ Bikes — Get your little ones into the action witha great kid’s bike. Once you move past department-store junk, there are all kinds of options, even dedicated road and full-suspension mountain bikes built for small riders. Higher quality means lighter weight and kid-friendly parts, so your child has more fun riding. And you can start them earlier than ever now that pedal-less “balance” bikes have largely replaced tricycles as a toddler’s first ride.