June is here, and with it comes summer
vacation and an increase in outdoor activities. With more people staying home as
opposed to traveling, biking becomes even more attractive.
A lot of people come into our shop wanting a bicycle, but aren't aware
that there are different types of bikes for different needs.
Comfort Bikes These are now the
general-purpose bicycles. An upright seating position, shock forks and shock
seat posts, wide-comfortable saddles: these all give truth to their name
'comfort. Some also offer adjustable stems so you can decide how high you want
the handlebars. Comfort bikes come with 26" wheels with wide, street tread
tires that are fine for both paved and trail riding. They're perfect for riding
all of the rail-trails that are abundant in PA.
Hybrid (Cross) Bikes These bikes offer all
the same features of the Comfort bicycles but with 700c wheels and a narrower
tire that's made for paved or hard packed dirt only. Some trail riding is
possible, as long as the surface is crushed stone (no gravel). These bikes are
favored by commuters or for people that just want to ride around their
neighborhood and don't plan on doing very much trail riding.
Mountain Bikes Designed for trail and off
road use, these bikes offer 26" wheels with wide tires with deep tread
designs to allow traction in a variety of surface conditions. Front shocks
absorb vibration and higher end models are available with rear shocks (full
suspension). These bikes are great for trail riding or blazing your own path
through the woods or mountains!
Road (racing) Bikes The Ferrari's of the
bicycle world! Their skinny tires make it easy to go long distances at good
speed. These bikes are designed for road use only. Though sometimes used for
commuting, these bikes are mainly used for exercise, touring, pleasure riding,
or racing.
Besides these general styles of bikes, there are many other specialized
types available. Also, there are a great variety of children's styles available.
We'll cover these in the future.
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|