Cycling is growing in India very fast and every day there are lots of people doing their research to buy a new bike. Here are the few helpful points you can look for before buying your first bike.
There are different types of bikes available for different types of use and terrain.
Have look on some of them:
Road bike: as the name suggests road bikes are for roads
Racing Bikes :
There are light and aerodynamic bikes are meant for racing and going faster. Made from carbon fiber or aluminium. They have steep angles for more aerodynamic built to go faster. They are very sleek and lightweight with drop handlebars. Lighter it is more expensive, it becomes. Good for racing, group ride with friends on the road.
Endurance Bikes :
Endurance bikes are more like road bikes but with an easy sitting position. Meant for long distances and riding long hours on the saddle.
The frame geometry is comfortable. They have a taller head tube, wider wheelbase and slope on top tube to reduce strain on your back and neck.
Cyclocross :
These are lightweight and have a race geometry with a drop handle bars to race on rough tracks of cyclocross. Cyclocross track has grass, gravel, slush, dirt trails and pavements. These have wider tires with grooves.
Gravel Bikes :
A simple definition of a gravel bike would be the combination of a road bike and cyclocross bikes. You can use it on a road as well as gravel/soft trail. More versatile bike with a wider range of tyres use. For gravel, you can put wider tyres and for road use, you can put sleeker tyres for speed. They have endurance geometry and good for the whole day ride. You can use it for touring as well.
Touring Bikes :
More like endurance bike with heavier frame to carry load on them. They have slots to install luggage carriers on them. They have a wider tire. And good for multi day tours.
Mountain Bike :
“Designed with shock-absorbing features and better braking mechanisms, mountain bikes can handle dirt trails and the stones, roots, knocks and trenches that accompany them.” They usually feature lower gears than most road bikes to better handle steeper terrain with a flat handle bars.
Hybrid Bikes :
A combination of road, hybrid and mountain bike with wide range of use. They come with sleeker tires of cyclocross and easy upright sitting position. There are whole range of different types of hybrid bikes are available. Some of them are with shockers and disk brakes and a pure city hybrid bikes comes with sleek tyres and no shockers. So if you are looking for one you can choose from a wide range available for your kind of use.
Electric Bikes :
New in India and market is still developing these bikes here in India. Electric bikes have battery in them to assist you climb steep routes. Built in sensors sense how much pressure you are putting on the paddle and assist you with the inbuilt motor.
Folding Bike :
These bikes can be folded and placed in a carry bag, that makes them handy for commuters with less storage space at home or office. They are lightweight nevertheless sturdy and can be folded up quickly and simply. Folding bikes also are a great choice for those who wish to travel with their bike.
After buying a bike it is very important to have a bike fit to make it comfortable according to your body specification.