What type bike should i buy

Knowing what type of cycling you're looking to do will be a big decider on narrowing down your purchase points. If you're looking to do regular cycling then a specialist bike store is likely the best option.

There are also some online retailers who specialise in quality bicycles, but you'll need some basic knowledge to ensure you get the right size and have it set up correctly. If your budget is a little more restricted, then there are plenty of options out there for a cheap bicycle. You may find a good deal at general sporting goods shops and buying used is also an option.

It's important to work out how much you want to spend on your bike. Using BikeExchange will give a clear idea of what type of bike is within your price point. Don't forget to budget for additional parts and accessories that you may need. Finding the correct bike size is paramount to comfortable and confident cycling. With many bike types available in five or more sizes, there should be no guesswork.

An incorrectly-sized bike can make for awkward or uncomfortable riding and could be unsafe too. Based on a number of factors including height, inseam length, riding experience, and flexibility, determining the right size bike is something that often requires experience. If buying from your local bike store, this is something they will help you with.

Once a correct bike size is chosen, ensure it's correctly fitted and adjusted for you. The most common adjustment is saddle height, however, handlebar height and reach to the handlebars may need to be fine tuned too.

Often a bike is sold only with the parts required to ride it and nothing more. Some common additions include cages holders for water bottles, lights, pump, lock, cycle computer and a different saddle or pedals. In Australia, a helmet is required by law, and other accessories such as gloves or padded bike shorts can greatly enhance your cycling experience.

Now to take a look at the different types of bikes on the market and the sort of cycling they deliver. Designed for use on sealed roads, road bikes are one of the most efficient bicycles. Road bikes can be spotted by the skinny tyres and 'drop' handlebar that curls back toward the rider at the bottom. There are multiple types of road bikes, but they will typically fit into one of two categories: competition or endurance.

Competition bikes are built with speed in mind. They typically feature harder gears, stiffer frames and a more aggressive position to keep you out of the wind. Endurance bikes can come in many forms but typically feature slightly more upright riding positions, easier gearing and a smoother ride.

They're best picked for more social and fitness-based road cycling. Most brands will sell more endurance road bikes than competition models. To learn more about these fast bikes, head on over to the blog to see our comprehensive guide to buying a road bike. They are focused on aerodynamics which makes them the fastest road bike in a straight line and against the clock.

Such speed comes at the expense of handling and long-distance comfort. Many who own this type of bike will also own a road bike for training and social purposes. To learn more about these wind-cheating bikes, check out our comprehensive guide to buying a triathlon bike for more information. Flat Bar Road bikes combine the flat handlebar position of a mountain bike with the speed of a road bike. Due to the more upright riding position, flat bar road bikes are not as fast as traditional road bikes but offer a more upright riding position and greater visibility in traffic.

This type of bike is a popular choice for commuting to work and general fitness cycling. They're best kept to sealed roads, although some flat bar road bikes offer wider tyres that can handle light gravel use too.

To read more, check out our guide comparing flat bar road, urban and hybrid bikes to learn more. Arguably no category of bicycle offers you more choice than mountain biking. While choice is a good thing, it can also be overwhelming.

If you're set on wanting to ride off-road, then read our complete guide to mountain bikes. Choosing a mountain bike will come down to the type of terrain you want to ride, whether you're looking to compete and your current ability.

Suspension is a common theme on mountain bikes, with more suspension provided as the terrain becomes more difficult. The suspension commonly dictates the name of the mountain bike too. Mountain bikes with no suspension are referred to as 'rigid'.

Mountain bikes with front suspension are called 'hardtails' as the rear is rigid. We'll help you navigate the types of bikes available, choosing the right size, components such as gears and frames, and the accessories worth considering. First up, choose a bike that's a good fit for the kind of riding you'll usually do. For example, if you're going to be riding mainly in the city you might not want a mountain bike. Likewise, a road racer might not be the best pick if you just want to ride to the shops on the weekend.

For cycling newbies, we recommend an upright bike style. It's more comfortable and gives you more awareness on the road. While it's common to see riders with speedy drop-handlebar road bikes on the commute, they're not designed for stopping and starting. Their low riding position also makes it much harder to keep an eye on the traffic. You will often see the label "hybrid bike" applied to the various types below. They are hybrids in the sense that they are part road bike and part cruiser, or part commuter and part casual.

But the hybrid term is used rather loosely and one store's hybrid might be another store's cruiser, or flat bar, or even a drop-handle road bike. Often come with accessories such as a rack, mud guards and lights. Similar to a drop-handlebar road bike, but with flat handlebars, these are suited to a longer, speedier commute.

Also sometimes called "urban" or "sit up and beg" bikes, these are good for relatively short, relaxed rides. These are good if you're commuting by train and only want to ride part of the way. See more in our folding bikes buying guide. These usually have shock absorbers and fatter tyres to handle off-road riding, from dirt tracks to hardcore downhill trails. However they can be quite good for casual and city riding too, and their robust design makes them good at handling bumps such as kerbs and potholes.

Some riders might prefer them to the usual urban bikes listed above. The seemingly simple task of choosing a new bike can quickly become a head-scratching affair, thanks largely to the dizzying amount of subgenres out there.

Not all bikes are created equal. You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

When shopping for a new bike, one factor trumps everything else: the fit. If a bike isn't the correct size for you, it's going to be uncomfortable and make it impossible to achieve a good riding position. Sizes will usually be either numbers — 48, 50, 52, 54, etc — which usually denote the length of the seat tube or less commonly top tube, or the standard S, M or L format. The chart will give you a rough idea of which to pick based on your height.

But it's worth noting that this really is a rough idea. Things like inseam length and arm length all factor into it. The good news is that most of these variables can be addressed easily with small adjustments to the bike, like altering the saddle height or using a different stem the bit that connects the handlebars to the steerer tube.

For total peace of mind, get booked in for a professional bike fit at your local bike shop. Aside from a good fit, there are a few key factors to consider when choosing a new bike. These are the details that will determine performance and they vary greatly depending on a specific bike's intended purpose. Brakes tend to come in two distinct varieties: rim and disc. Rim brakes are cable operated and work by pinching the rim of the wheel between two rubber pads.

Disc brakes can be either hydraulic or mechanical hydraulic is much more efficient and work by pinching a metal disc attached to the hub of the wheel between two pads. The best braking setup depends largely on how you intend to use your bike. For example, traditionally rim brakes have been the go-to for road cyclists as they tend to be lighter although disc brakes are becoming increasingly popular , whereas disc brakes are the smart choice for mountain bikers as they offer more reliable performance when muddy or wet.

Groupset is the term used to describe all of the moving parts involved in braking, gear shifting and running the chain. It's essentially the engine of a bike and plays a massive role in determining performance and ride quality.

We're talking handlebars, saddle, seat post and stem. These are the bits that can be easily swapped out or adjusted to achieve a better fit or increase comfort, so don't let something like an uncomfortable stock saddle put you off an otherwise great deal.

What you're rolling on plays a massive part in how a bike feels and how it performs in certain conditions. Again, what to look for in a set of wheels hinges on their intended use.

A pair of deep-section carbon wheels with 25mm slick tyres is all well and good if you're racing along tarmac, but not so much on a muddy mountainbiking trail. Generally, some key things to look for in wheels are weight lighter is better , material carbon fibre is king but comes at a premium, opt for alloy to save money and size wheel size coupled with the frame's tyre clearance is important if you want to use fatter tyres.

In big cities like London where space comes at a premium, not everyone has the luxury of being able to store a full-sized bike. The solution? Get one that folds up small enough to pop in a cupboard. A folding bike is the perfect companion for urban commuting. Taking the crown in our review of the best foldable bikes , chat to any cyclist about folding bikes and the name Brompton will soon come up.

They have been built in London since to a design that has hardly changed. The smaller wheel size also means they are strong — important on potholed roads.