So you’re ready to hit the trail and feel the summery breeze on your face. What pair of wheels is right for you? Drew Boss, lead mechanic at the Iowa City Bike Library, broke down eight types of bicycle he’s fixed up over the years for a quick guide to common bikes.
Illustrations by Jordan Sellergren
Comfort Hybrids
Featuring an upright position for the rider, riser handlebars and padded saddle, these utility bikes are good for short rides around town, running errands or a daily commute. They have a full range of gears and usually rim brakes. All in all, a very practical bike for the “every person.”
Sport Hybrid
These bikes have a more aggressive posture, leaning the rider slightly over the handlebars. They are lighter and have more nimble riding characteristics — great for exercise or getting to your destination faster. The flat handlebars keep you engaged with the other road uses and traffic. Some might say these make the perfect commuter bikes. Just outfit with fenders and a rear rack and away you go!
Road Bikes
Do you have the need for speed? Want to ride long distances on paved roads? Then this is the category for you. The road bike is characterized with drop handlebars, light frames and narrow tires. The aggressive position gets you out of the wind and is aerodynamic for efficiency. Great tool for exercise and staying fit.
Touring Bikes
Designed for long distances and carrying cargo, these bikes have drop handlebars with a more mild riding posture, letting you ride all day in comfort. Often setup with racks, fenders and lights, these bikes are built with durability in mind over speed. You will get to your destination in comfort, just maybe not in the nick of time.
Full Suspension Mountain Bike
When the trails are steep and chunky, this is the best bike for the job. Flat bars, wide tires, disc brakes and suspension on both wheels characterize this machine. The Midwest is quite flat, making this more of a destination bike: When you travel to Moab, Utah or Bentonville, Arkansas you are bringing this bike along!
Hardtail Mountain Bike
Hardtail means only the front wheel has suspension. Most mountain bikes fit into this category; these are some of the most versatile bikes. You can ride single track trails off-road to commuting and lots in between. They can be ridden year round with the same maintenance as a hybrid. The wide tires give traction in the dirt and snow. If you want versatility and only have the need for one bike, this may be your best choice.
Recumbents
Recumbents and trikes offer a full layer back seated position for the rider. They come in many configurations for the steering and pedal positions. If you are in the market to buy one, try as many as you can before buying. These are great machines to get out and exercise, or just to ride for fun. Choose your routes carefully as they are significantly heavier, making hills more of a challenge. They may not take corners as fast as a traditional bicycle.
E-Bikes
Need a little assistance when you are out for a ride? Want to get somewhere fast without breaking a sweat? An E-bike may be the answer. E-bikes come in almost all cycling categories nowadays, but most commonly a comfort hybrid. They allow the rider to work a bit less and achieve their cycling goals with some help. Multiple levers of assistance put the rider in control of how much output the motor and battery will supply. This is one of the newest and fastest growing categories in cycling, and it’s in its boom stage.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s April 2024 issue.
