What’s My Style?
There’s a bike out there to match any riding style these days. There are bikes made for the road, the trail, the beach, the city. Bikes for fitness, for racing, for commuting or for tooling around. And there are bikes, called hybrids, that can do a mix of all these things.
Here’s an overview of the different types of bicycles to help you match your needs with the right bike:
Road and Pavement bikes
The lightweight versions are made primarily for distance and speed riding. Great for charity rides, for racing, touring. Specialty road bikes are made for the specialist in track (or velodrome), triathlon and cyclocross.
Mountain bikes
The more heavy-duty of these come with fat, knobby tires. They are basically the equivalent of off-road vehicles—built tough and durable for riding on hard-core trails, over rocks and logs, through streams, you name it. There are basically two types:
- Dual Suspension or full suspension bikes help turn the trail into a road ride. Or, as the textbooks say: “Front and rear suspension absorbs opposing energy so you can maintain your trajectory.” Great for gnarly off-road riding.
- Traditional mountain bikes are called Hardtails. These bikes have front suspension but a rigid rear end. These bikes, still equipped with heavy-duty components and knobby tires, are fast, efficient and nimble. Best used on off-road trails without too many nooks and crannies.
Hybrids
A hybrid is basically a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. Some are more suited for road with a little bit of off-road riding; some are suited for light off-road riding but are also fine on the road. And, there are many versions in between. A hybrid is usually the best choice if you’re thinking you like the solid feel of a mountain bike with fatter tires but you’ll mainly be riding it on the road and trail.
Comfort bikes
These bikes are designed around one thing – your comfort. The idea being, if you’re comfortable on your bike, you’ll want to ride more. Equipped with suspension forks, wider tires and cushy seats, comfort bikes absorb road shock making your ride smooth and relaxing.
Single speeds
Think bike messenger. Or just minimalist. Single speed bikes are scaled down versions of road bikes. One gear, skinny tires, basic steel tubing. They are perfect for darting around campus or quick jaunts around town.
| Fuji model | Category/type | Description | Where to ride | Car equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newest 3.0 | Road bike | Sporty. Multiple gearing options for fitness & commuting. | Road, bike path. | Audi A3 |
| Sunfire 3.0 | Hybrid | Ultimate in versatility and adaptability – half road/half mountain. | Road, bike path, trail, light off-road. | BMW X5 |
| Nevada 4.0 | Mountain bike | Knobby tires and a suspension fork for easy transition from road to dirt. | Best on trail or off-road. Slower going on-road. | Jeep |
| Crosstown 3.0 | Comfort bike | Functionality, comfort and a smooth ride. | Road, bike path, hard-packed trail. | Volvo XC90 |
| Absolute 4.0 | Pavement bike | Flat bars give you easy, heads-up visibility. | Road or smooth bike path. | VW Passat |
| SE Draft | Single Speed | No fancy derailleurs on this one-speed city bike. | Road, bike path. | NYC taxi cab |