Types of Bikes: The Ultimate Bike Buying Guide (2024)

Welcome to the Co-op's own 'I'm new to cycling and I don't know what type of bike I should buy' guide. Here you'll find the main types of bicycles that people tend to speak about,demystified. Think of it as the ultimate bike types guide for new riders and experienced riders alike!

Bike Buying Guide: Different bikes for different activities

We usually recommend that you buy a bicycle for the kind of activity you want it for - although if you want to buy a bike just because you like the way it looks, that's fine too! Do you want a bike mostly for acommute? Do you want a versatile bicycle that can handle both tarmac anddirt trackswell? Do you want to dress head-to-toe inlycraand attempt road racing at greater speed?Many people who are new to cycling often opt for mountain bikes, purely because they somehow sounds like the most familiar.However, there's really no need to buy an mtb unless you a) really like mountain bikes or b) want to go mountain biking. Here at the Co-op we tend to divide our different types of bicycles into the following categories based on the activity they're used for:

Types of bikes:

Road bikes: Generally speaking, these are bicycles that are designed to be as efficient and fast as possible when riding on tarmac roads and smooth surfaces. Within this are the sub-sections; endurance bikes, aero bikes and road racing bicycles.
Mountain bikes: Bikes that are designed to take on the roughest terrain and steep ascents and descents. Can come with either front suspension only (hardtail) or will front and rear suspension (full-sus).
Hybrid/commuter bikes: A bit of everything. An excellent urban bike for bike paths and leisure rides.
Gravel Road bikes:A bit of everything, but with drop handlebars for a road bike feel. The adventure bike and cyclocross bikes also come into the gravel bikes category.
Folding bikes: Commuting, leisure or touring with the added bonus of being foldable to allow easy storage at home or in the office or for taking on public transport.
Electric bikes: An electric-assisted bit of everything from the hybrid electric bicycle to e mountain bikes.
Electric Cargo Bikes: Bikes designed for carrying extra loads or up to two passengers on the back. These bikes tend to be a partial or even full replacement for car journeys.
Touring bikes: designed for carrying loads over longer distances while remaining comfortable for the rider. These bikes are designed for bicycle touring over long distances carrying a lot of luggage.
Women’s bikes: Any of the above, designed specifically for women.
Kids Bikes:We sell Specialized, Giant, Whyte and Kids Frog Bikes
Single Speed Bikes: Single speed bikes are exactly as they sound - they only have one speed but allow you to freewheel. This ability to freewheel is what separates a single speed from a 'fixie'.
Fat Bikes: Normally hardtail mountain bikes that have an extra wide tyre for more extreme terrain such as sand and snow.
Triathlon Bikes: A very specific bicycle for racing triathlon or time trials. Not normally a bike that the leisure cyclist would choose.
Tandem Bikes: A bicycle built for two.
BMX Bikes: A bike designed for tricks and stunts or racing bicycle motocross (this is where the name BMX comes from).
Tricycles: A bicycle with three wheels and is perfect for people who are not confident with balance or for people who lack mobility or motor function.
Recumbent Bikes: A bicycle that puts you in a laid-back position and takes pressure off your lower back, shoulders, arms and wrists.
Track Bikes: A bike that is designed for racing indoors on a velodrome track. These are fixed gear bicycles (fixies) that usually do not come with brakes.

We’ll look at each of these in turn so you can get a better idea of what bikes are used for what.

We have one of the largest selections of bicycles UK

ROAD BIKES

What are they for?

As the name suggests,road bikes are designed to ride on the road. Can't all bikes ride on the road, you wonder? They absolutely can. But road bikes are optimised to make road cycling as efficient as possible, and because of thatthey'd perform terribly on a mountain dirt track.

Curious about the different types of road bikes? Check out our road bike blog exploring this question.

Instead, road bikes are designed to help cyclists get the most out of the road, including the particular geometry (i.e. frame shape) of the bike, the width of the tyres, and the weight of the components. And just in case you were wondering;Youwon't be able to buy a road bike with skinny tyres and transform it into an offroad bikeby putting big, knobbly tyres on. Mountain tyres just won't fit on, full stop.

Defining characteristics: Road bikes generally come with lightweight frames, skinny tyres, drop bar bikes (those are handlebars which curve back down underneath themselves), a high gear ratio (i.e. The gears are set up to favour the ones that help you go really fast, if your legs and lungs are up to it.) and a more aerodynamic riding position. It is important to get the sizing of road bikes correct - check out the road bike size chart here.

Get a road bike if:You want fast, efficient cycling on tarmac roads for commuting, competing, or for fun.

Don't get a road bike if: You want to take it off the road. Skinny tyres means you won't really be able to use a road bike on anything other than tarmac. Icy roads can also be a problem for road bikes.

Price Ranges

Road bikes will usually start at a higher price point than, say, a hybrid bike. This is down to the technology required to house the brakes and gear shifters in the same mechanism. Road bikes start at around £799 for an aluminium frame and carbon fork. The price for full carbon frame and forks will start from approximately £2000 but some of the top of the line models will go for in excess of £10,000.

MOUNTAIN BIKES:

Mountain bike subtypes:-

Hardtail mountain bikes
Full suspension mountain bikes
Electric mountain bikes

What are they for?

Mountain bikes are designed to go onmountains or off-road trail riding, which means they're chunkier, have knobbly tyres on them, and a frame geometry which makes an MTB better suited for seriously uneven terrain.

Defining characteristics:Wide, knobbly tyres for traction, and a wide range of gears to help you get up and over mountains or across fields. Some MTB ranges have front suspension but are rigid at the back (hardtail) and some have front and rear suspension for cushioning jumps and drops (‘full suspension' or ‘full sus'). Others have neither. Here's ourGuide to full suspension vs hardtailmountain bikes.

Hardtail mountain bikes are generally a little cheaper and more efficient on the climbs whereas full suspension bikes are more focused on the downhill riding to the sacrifice of uphill efficiency.

Get a mountain bike if: You want to go mountain biking or mainly off road.

Don't get a mountain bike if: You want to go fast on tarmac roads, cycle long distances, or mostly knock about town.

What size do I need? See our men's sizing and women's size guide here

Price Ranges

Aluminium hardtail mountain bikes will start from approximately £425 and come with a coil-sprung fork. As you spend more on a hardtail, you start to get better and more responsive front suspension forks and will get air-sprung forks on mountain bikes over £1000 as well as much improved brakes and gearing.

Full suspension mountain bikes will start at a significantly higher price due to the extra technology involved. Full-sus MTB's will start in the region of £2000 for your entry level bike and as you spend more you will get better suspension (front and rear), smoother, more robust gearing and more sensitive and powerful brakes. At a certain pont you will also find MTB's with carbon frames. These start at approximately £4000.

HYBRID/COMMUTER BIKES:

Types of hybrid bikes:-

What are they for?

Hybrid bikes, Commuter bikes or city bikes as they're also known, are essentiallya mixture between road bikes and mountain bikes. They give you the versatility to do a bit of everything. What you sacrifice in terms of speciality, you gain by being able to do what you want, when you want.

What are hybrid bikes:Hybrid bikes have flat handlebars instead of drop handlebars. Some models have front suspension to cushion bumps in the road or on the track, and others don't. They're designed with versatility and comfort in mind, so they have the comfortable riding position of mountain bikes but with slicker, narrower tyres. The tyres can be changed for more offroad tyres if you want to do a bit of off-roading, or slicker tyres if you're commuting on tarmac, or something in between.

Get a hybrid bike if:Your main use for the hybrid bike will be commuting and/or knocking about town, as well as occasionally going off road or mountain biking.

Don't get a hybrid bike if:You want to go full lycra and ride as fast as possible on roads, or tear down mountain bike trails as dexterously as possible.

Price Ranges

Hybrid bikes will start at around the £500 mark for a reliable and safe bicycle. As you spend more money, you get better gears, brakes and a lighter frame. You can find some carbon hybrids which start around £1500.

Gravel RoadBIKES:

What are they for?

Also simply known as‘Gravel Bikes'(Also, adventure bikes or cyclocross bikes), these are bikes which follow the tradition of road cyclists in the olden days, who would swap their slick road tyres for knobblier tyres and continue to train during the winter months.A gravelbike could be the perfect year-round bike for youif you're looking for a fast road bike that will cope with off-road excursions. We have a blog on road bikes vs gravel bikes which takes a look at the differences.

Available in men's and women's frames. For a women's specific frame, see the Liv Gravel bikes

The difference with cyclocross bikes is that these are designed specifically for racing off-road on designated courses and adventure bikes are designed to be used more for bike packing with wider handlebars and more space on the frame for luggage. If you are looking for a steel gravel bike then check out Genesis Gravel bike.

Defining characteristics:The easiest to spot is the drop handlebars like a road bike, instead of the flat handlebars of a hybrid. Like a hybrid, there's also enough clearance (space around the wheel) for knobblier tyres and mudguards. A gravel bike has more of a road bike feel than a hybrid does.

Get a gravel bike if:You'd like a road bike with drop handlebars but you want to go on the odd off-road excursion.

Don't get a gravel bike if:You want a really fast road bike, or a rugged mountain bike, or a hybrid with flat (instead of drop) handlebars.

Price Ranges

Gravel bikes are similar to road bikes and will usually start at a higher price point than more basic bikes. Gravel bikes start at around £799 for an aluminium frame and carbon fork. The price for full carbon frame and forks will start from approximately £2000 but some of the top of the line models will go for in excess of £10,000.

FOLDING BIKES:

What are they for?

These bikes are for convenience and practicality. Fold it up and keep it under your desk at work or leave it folded in a corner of your room. Perfect for those that do not have easy storage at work or home or are concerned with their bike getting stolen.

Folding bikes, of which theBromptonbrand reigns supreme, are designed to fold up into a compact size so that you can store them away when you're not using them, or cycle to the train or bus station and fold them up once you get there. Folding bikes also fit neatly into a car or hall cupboard.

Defining characteristics:A folding bike frame folds up into a compact size aided by a small rear and front wheel. A more upright riding position.

Get a folding bike if:You want to start cycling on your commute but it's a bit far, or you want to own a bike but have very little storage space.

Don't get a folding bike if:You want to go off road or go really fast.

Price Ranges

For a good folding bike, you will start in the region of £850 for a Tern folding bike. Brompton folding bikes start from around £1500 for the C-line models (steel frame and forks) whereas the top of the range T-Line models with Titanium frame and forks will start from around £4250.

ELECTRIC BIKES:

Types of electric bikes:-

Electric Hybrid Bikes
Electric Road Bikes
Electric Mountain Bikes
Folding Electric Bikes
Electric Cargo Bikes

What are they for?

Put simply, they are designed to make cycling a bit easier whether that is on a commute, road or mountain. You now can find an excellent range of folding electric bikes also.

Price Ranges

The prices of electric bikes depends on what type of motor they have. For a front or rear hub motor, you can find some electric bikes in the region of £1500 and for centre driven motors, prices start at approximately £2000. Brompton folding bikes use a front hub driven motor and they start from £2900. Cargo electric bikes start from around the £2700 mark.

Electric Cargo Bikes:

What are they for?

Essentially electric cargo bikes can be a car replacement and can be used for transporting passengers or carrying your weekly shop or deliveries. Adding that extra boost of a motor hellps you carry all this extra weight.

Electric Cargo Bikes are becoming ever more popular due to the amount of luggage you can carry and that you can replace cars journeys. These bikes can be used for the weekly shop, taking the kids to school or for deliveries. These bikes from Tern and can be kitted out with a wide ange of accessories to cater them to exactly what you want to do with them.

Supplied with powerful Bosch motors and batteries for effortless transport and for long range.

Defining characteristics: A long bed at the front or rear that can carry cargo or passengers. A powerful motor for carrying the extra luggage or passengers and a large battery so you get a long range off one charge.

Get a cargo bike if: You are wanting an alternative to taking the car and are looking to seat passengers or heavier luggage.

Don't get a cargo bike if: You don't have the requirement to carry that much. In that case, an electric bike might be more suitable.

Price Ranges

Prices for electric cargo bikes start from around £2700 and the price rises as you opt for more powerful motors and larger batteries for extended ranges. The average price of an electric cargo bike is approximately £4500.

WOMEN’S BIKES:

What are they for?

In a nutshell, they are designed for comfort and efficiency for women due to women having different bodily proportions. A lot of manufacturers are opting for a unisex frame but brands such as Liv still offer a female specific geometry.

Ladies bikes are designed for women, insofar as they come insmaller frame sizes and a different frame geometryto that of a mens bike. Sometimes they have a step-through frame, which were originally designed for their advantage to riders wearing dresses or skirts although step-through bikes are very much unisex these days. See our women's bike size guide here.

We encourage riders of any gender to ride what feels comfortable and fits well; we provide a range of women's bikes, but that doesn't limit women to only those models. Women can choose to ride a men's bike, and men can choose to ride a woman's bike if it suits them.

We have a blog on the best women's road bikes.

Defining characteristics: Smaller and lighter frames with a shorter top tube (crossbar), a wider and shorter women's saddle, and often narrower handlebars with grips that are narrower in diameter.

Get a women's bike if:It offers you the best combination of fit, comfort and style.

Don't get a women's bike if:The geometry doesn't suit your requirements.

TOURING BIKES:

What are they for?

Touring bikes are like road bikes that have been specially adapted to carry loads over longer distances. They're designed for long days out wherestability, practicality and rider comfort are as important as performance, and they take pannier racks, mudguards and slightly wider tyres. Often, they double come with steel frames for comfort and strength.

Defining characteristics:Touring bikes can havedrop bar or flat bar with wider tyres, space for mudguards and panniers, and designed with long-distance comfort in mind due to a more relaxed riding position.

Consider touring bikes if:You plan on going long distances, you want a commuter with the option of touring one day, or you want to load your bicycle up.

Don't consider touring bikes if:You think you'd do better with either a road bike, mountain bike, hybrid bike or gravel bike.

Price Ranges

For a good quality steel frame flat-bar touring bike, you would be likely to spend around the £1000 mark. Depending on the grade of steel used and the handlebar configuration, prices will then start to rise.

KIDS BIKES:

What are they for?

Kids bikes are for kids, but you can get one for yourself just for fun and we won't tell anyone. Whether you're looking for a balance bike for a 2-year-old (i.e. no pedals), a trail centre-competent junior mountain bike for an 8-year-old, or a road bike for a 12-year-old, we've got a superb range of bikes for boys and girls of all ages at the Co-op. One of the questions we get asked most is: What size bike does my child need?

Defining characteristics:Small with components designed for smaller hands.

Get a kid's bike if:You're a kid or there's a kid in your life who wants a bike! (What kid doesn't, right?)

Don't get a kid's bike if:A small adult bike might suit you better.

Price Ranges

You can certainly find some cheap kids bikes around but we choose to only stock lightweight and good quality bikes that children will enjoy riding. For this reason, the kids bikes we stock start from around £270 but this very much depends on the age of the child and the size required.

Single Speed Bikes

What are they for?

Simplicity or getting fit, quick!

A single speed bike has one speed with one chainring and only one cog on the back. A single speed bike will still allow you to freewheel when you are going downhill. The advantage of having a single speed is the lack of maintenance required as there are no gears to shift and therefore your chain and cogs will last longer due to vastly reduced wear. This makes them excellent commuter bikes of leisure bikes for winter time when there is much more salt and moisture. For our full blog on single speeds, see here.

A great example of a single speed is the Genesis Flyer that is affordable, robust and low maintenance that can take full mudguards and a rack if required.

Bonus fact: The difference between a single speed and a 'fixie' is that a single speed can still freewheel whereas a fixie cannot.

Fat Bikes

Fat bikes are a type of mountain bike that basically has wider tyres - usually a minimum of 3.8" wide. The extra width gives excellent traction on loose surfaces and can even allow you to cycle on sand and snow. Most fat bikes are hardtails but you do occasionally get full suspension fat bikes also.

Triathlon Bikes

Triathlon bikes can also be known as TT, or time trial bikes. These are bikes designed to put you in the most aerodynamic position in order to go as fast as possible on tarmac. They normally feature skinnier road tyres but have an aerodynamic frame and TT bars on the front. If you watch the Tour de France then you will see the riders use these on the time trial stages.

Tandem Bikes

A bicycle built for two riders. Great if you want to cycle with a significant other or you want to share the load over a set distance - you will be much faster than just on your own (assuming the other person is putting in their fair share of the work).

BMX Bikes

BMX bicycles get their name from 'Bicycle Motocross' where they race around a dirt track with jumps and technical corners. These are also great bikes for stunts and tricks and for taking to bike parks. The features of a BMX are small wheels and a compact frame to prioritise manoeuvrability for a nimble and responsive bicycle.

Tricycles

Tricycles are come with three wheels which makes them perfect for people who maybe struggle with balance on two wheels and would like the three wheels to keep them upright. These bikes are also ideal for people who have injuries or have an impairment that affects their ability to get on and off bikes easily or struggle to get up the speed required to keep their balance.

Recumbent Bikes

A recumbent is a bicycle that looks and feels different from almost all bikes on the market - you are in a laid back position while you cycle and on some, you are almost flat on your back. Great for people who do not want any pressure on their lower back, shoulders, wrists or hands (or all of the above).

Track Bikes

For fans of Chris Hoy (who isn't?) - you will be familiar with the bike that won him numerous gold medals. We are, of course, talking about track bikes. Track bikes are designed for indoor velodrome style circuits. Track bikes are fixed speed meaning no freewheeling and they do not come with brakes. Any regulation of speed is done with your legs.

From a personal point of view, I would highly recommend track cycling as it's the most fun I have had on two wheels, and that is saying something - Editor