Chances are you already know riding a bicycle individually or with a group can be great exercise and fun. Whether you're making a long backroads trek or tearing up the trails on a mountain bike, the fact is cycling is easier on the joints than virtually all other forms of exercise which burn the same amount of calories. According to Harvard University medical studies, the specific way various muscles and joints are stretched on a bike is very beneficial to building bone mass underneath.
If you haven't owned a bike in a while and make all your trips by car, it's easy to forget how much sensory input you get out in the open on a bicycle. What we mean is, if you were suddenly given a bike to ride around your neighborhood, you'd be amazed to rediscover the many small details and goings-on you've become numb to. And you'd realize those vividly enjoyable smells, sights, and sounds are ones associated with youth - simply because a lot of it happened riding bicycles to get around then. When it comes down to it, a bicycle is something you should have access to. Whatever age you are, it can very well help you stay young.
There's every beneficial reason in the world to ride, and it doesn't matter if you're a beginner in search of a first bike or an experienced rider looking for a new cycle to push yourself to the next level. In this article, we'll guide you through the various types of bicycles we offer on our website. First, we'll cover a few basic features you may find worthwhile as you narrow your selections and decide which bike you can envision yourself on.
Common Types Of Brakes On Today's Bicycles
As you compare various bicycles, notice what type of brakes they are equipped with. Once you're familiar with the most common variations below, you'll be able to distinguish between them just looking at photos.
Rim Brakes
Traditional rim brakes have been the standard for simplicity and low weight on bicycles practically forever. Pads made from rubber or similar compounds are squeezed against the side of the rim to create stopping friction via mechanical steel cables connected to handlebar levers. Unfortunately, cable setups tend to suffer from wear, oxidation, and even stretching over time which weakens braking power until connections are re-tightened and adjusted.
Disc Brakes
Bicycle disc brakes work similarly to those on a car or truck. A caliper squeezes two brake pads against both sides of a metal disc that rotates with the wheel, creating stopping power. Compared to rim brakes, discs provide quicker and stronger response as well as more reliable performance in wet weather.
Most disc brakes on bicycles use a mechanical setup where a steel cable (triggered by hand grips) supplies braking pressure. As with rim brakes above, those steel cables must be tightened and adjusted as they wear and stretch over time. Unlike cars which may be equipped with different types of brakes on front and rear wheels, bicycles always have a match.
A few high-end bicycles use hydraulic fluid pressure to move brake calipers instead of cables. Since these systems are sealed against outside elements, corrosion and reduced performance are almost non-existent. Whether the fluid uses mineral oil or brake fluid, stopping performance is reliable and consistent. Pistons inside the caliper will adjust their travel as pads wear to ensure grip does not decrease. Periodically, brake fluid should be replaced as part of regular maintenance.
"Coaster" Foot Brakes
"Coaster brakes" are built into a bicycle's rear wheel hub and are activated whenever the rider applies pressure by pedaling backwards with their feet. These are typically used on smaller bikes with single speed gearing.
Additional Features To Consider
Mud Guards
Mudguards can take many different forms on a bicycle, but they serve the same basic function - to shield splashup of water, mud, and grit from tires below. Maybe you don't really need them if you're going to be riding on dry pavement 100% of the time, but chances are you'll wish you had them sooner or later.
Carrying Racks
This comes down to personal preference about how these will actually look on your bike. Maybe you prefer to carry things in a backpack as you ride, but that can become a cumbersome drag over time.
Shock Absorbers
Bicycles designed for off-road use typically have shock absorbers built in to the front fork that holds the front wheel. Shocks work well for smoothing the ride on any paved or unpaved surface - so if you like the idea of having them on your bicycle, a mountain bike may be for you. Even if you never plan to go off road, we've got a few mountain bikes geared toward civilized road use.
Below are the main categories of bicycles offered on our website.
Road Bikes
In our road bikes section, you'll find cycles geared toward everyday use as well as racing. Everyday ones typically have fewer gears and feature frames and forks made from steel alloy blends weighing between 9-10 pounds. Racing-oriented bikes feature a higher number of gears and favor aluminum frames & forks clocking in at 4-6 pounds. Of course, steel and aluminum bikes are not limited to either specific use.
Starting with steel frame bicycles, we've got the Gazzetta Della Strada Complete Touring Bike (rim brakes) that's a modern refresh of the classic French city bike look featuring wheel mudguards, two separate carrying racks, and handlebars with two sets of handbrakes designed for relaxed riding or a racing position. The Hobootleg Interail Disc Bike focuses on simplicity and lower cost while adding the bonus of disc brakes. The Vigorelli Road Bike is a street version of Team Cinelli's steel fixed-gear competition bike that's known for the aggressive feel of a track-only bike.
If you prefer the carrying convenience and performance benefits of lightweight aluminum frames, check out Cinelli's Experience Sora and Experience Tiagra (higher number of speeds). Both offer solid value with straightforward mechanicals and rim brakes.
For the ultimate in performance and handling, the Cinelli Superstar 105 Bicycle comes with a carbon fiber frame weighing just under 2 pounds.
Cruiser Bikes
Cruiser bikes are designed to provide the rider with a relaxed and comfortable riding experience along with classic styling and proportions. Seats are more padded, and on-pavement tires are wider for excellent cushioning without being too thick and heavy.
The ZF Bikes steel frame Civic Series Bike for men and women features the looks and basic mechanical layout of classic bikes - along with an old-school price. From the design of the handlebars, rack, seat, front & rear lights down to the general overall shapes, you'll be reminded of bikes from gentler times. Both men's and women's versions are available with 7 speeds, while the men's version can also be selected with a single-speed setup.
If you prefer a more modern take on the classic bike look with mudguards and carrying rack, Montague's Cruiser Bike offers a clean design and lightweight aluminum frame that folds for compact transport. Choose the Urban Cruiser Bike with 21 speeds and rim brakes, or the Navigator Cruiser Bike version with 27 speeds and disc brakes.
If you'd prefer a sportier-looking version without fenders, rack, bells and whistles, Montague offers the aluminum Cruiser bike in a basic form with the 7-speed Crosstown Cruiser Bike (rim brakes). Or, choose this same clean appearance with the FIT Cruiser Bike that adds disc brakes, an ultra-light carbon fiber fork, and 30-speed gearing configuration.
ZF Bikes offers a classic beach comber style bike with a simple configuration at a value price in the steel frame Cobra Bike. Wheels are adult-size 26-inchers, gearing is single speed, and coaster brakes are applied by foot.
Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes are extremely capable, well-equipped bicycles built to handle extremes on and off the pavement. Typically, they contain high-end features such as 20-30 speed gear setups, flexible shock absorber suspensions, wide beefy tires that can take a pounding, capable brakes, lightweight materials, and much more.
We're fans of the fold-up aluminum frame mountain bike series from Montague known as the Paratrooper. Starting with best-value pricing, the Paratrooper Express version provides front fork shocks, rim brakes, 18 speeds, and lightweight beefy construction. The Paratrooper Mountain Bike adds disc brakes, a rear mudguard & rack and 24-speed gearing, and the Paratrooper Pro adds a front mudguard.
Continuing up the ladder, the 20-speed Paratrooper Highline version deletes mudguards and carrying rack in favor of larger wheels (27.5" vs. 26") and a hydraulic disc brake system. Finally, the 30-speed Paratrooper Elite adds a useful bonus for hard core mountain bikers, the RockShox Reba RLT suspension fork with more suspension travel and adjustable dampening rates for fine-tuning the ride.
For those who want a dual-purpose street bike and mountain bike, Montague's aluminum Allston Mountain Bike is a very capable, civilized crossover. It features 11 speeds, strong tires, disc brakes, mud guards, carrying rack, and a maintenance-free carbon drive belt.
And last but not least, Cinelli's steel frame Hobootleg Geo Complete Mountain Bike comes equipped with big 27.5" wheels, disc brakes, 20 speeds, and clearance for 2" tires.
Fixed Gear Bikes
Fixed gear bicycles have one speed only. However, it's important to understand what a true "fixed gear" setup actually is. Fixed gearing means there is no ability to coast and rest the legs, so a rider must keep pedaling as long as the bike is moving. These are different from "single speed" gearing which does allow coasting. Fixed gear bicycles often include flip-flop rear hubs which allow the rider to switch between fixed gear and single speed use - look for this when making your selection.
Experts feel fixed gear bikes are great for training when you need to build fitness levels. In fact, many top-class road riders begin using fixed gear bikes to learn better pedaling techniques that produce power through the entire pedal stroke. Brakes on fixed gear bikes are usually always rim style. These are also excellent low-cost bikes for use in big-city areas where fast acceleration and control are more important than top speed.
If you're looking for a basic bike for training purposes, the ZF Bikes steel frame Golden Cycle is an unbeatable value. It's available in 9 colors, and is equipped with a single rear rim brake to keep things simple. Also a great value is the Throne aluminum frame Phantom Series Limited Bike.
Like all Montague bikes, their aluminum Boston Fixed-Gear Bike offers the unique advantage of foldability for those dealing with limited storage spaces. And for the ultimate in lightweight fixed gear racing, Cinelli's aluminum Tipo Pista Complete Track Bike is built to handle more aggressively.
Electric Bikes
Also for use in cities or anywhere, we've got electric bikes such as the Yukon Trail Navigator S24 Single Speed Eco-Friendly Electric Bike that can reach 20 miles per hour and travel approximately 28 miles per charge. With a twist throttle, mud fenders, bright LED headlight, carrying rack, and wide leather seat for comfort, it's particularly well-equipped for urban use as an only vehicle.
Kids' Bikes
We've also got several bike options for kids built to take a pounding. For pedal bikes, choose the ZF Bikes Mayhem Riot Bike for foot brakes, Assault Bike that adds a rear hand brake, or the Fatboy Pro Bike which adds pedals on the front wheel hub for stunts.
For younger riders age 8+ up to 120 pounds, we've also got the Razor E-Punk Electric Bike with push button throttle, hand brakes, and a 9 mph top speed. Continuing the theme for kids, we invite you to read a related article on our site Wheeled Electric Toys which takes a look at electric-powered scooters, mini-ATVs, reconfigured BigWheels, ride-on toys, and more designed for children, teens, and even adults!
This concludes our overview of bicycles we offer. We also encourage you to check through other sections of RECREATIONiD where you'll find some great remote control toys as well as products for climbing, water sports equipment, camping & hiking, fishing, optical equipment, winter sports, helpful equipment for pets, and much more. If you have questions about anything on our website, we'll be happy to help on the phone seven days a week!