In deciding on the most suitable bike for you, it is best to consider what sort of riding you would like to do.
Road bikes are suitable for long rides on smooth roads. They typically feature 700c wheels with relatively high gearing. They feature narrow tyres and no suspension, making them very efficient. Road bikes weigh approximately 10kgs and are designed for speed.
Mountain bikes are the most versatile bicycle, being suited for off road riding but are also very useable in an urban environment. They feature suspension, as well as a more up right seating position which makes for a more comfortable ride. Wide knobbly tyres provide better grip on dirt and in the wet. The gearing is wider and lower, allowing you to get up hills more easily than a road bike. The bikes weigh about 15kg
Hybrid Bikes combine the features of road bikes, with large 700c wheels, together with a MTB frame. They are designed for the urban environment, with a more comfortable riding position of a mountain bike, but with similar efficiency of a road bike.
Cruiser/Town bikes are all about comfort and style. Wide tyres soak up the bumps, the relaxed seating position is much kinder on the back. They are not designed with performance in mind, and are often limited to a small range of gears and can be quite heavy in comparison to other bike types.
Bicycle Sizing
Over the years manufacturers have simplified the sizing of bikes into regular categories ; small, medium and large. These sizes combined with adjustments in saddle and handlebar height ensures that the majority of riders are comfortable. For the expert rider, see the specific bike geometry on the product page.
Town/Cruiser
Cruisers bikes come in one size fits all. There is plenty of adjustment in the saddle height as well as the handlebars.
MTB/Hybrid
MTB frames are measured in inches, and the recommended heights are listed below.
Size
Seat Tube length
Rider Height
Small
16”
155-175cm
Medium
18”
165-185cm
Large
20”
175-195cm
X Large
22”
185cm +
Road
Road bike frames are measured in centimetres,
Size
Seat Tube length
Rider Height
Small
52cm
155-175cm
Medium
54cm
160-180cm
Large
56cm
165-185cm
X Large
58cm
170-190cm
Bicycle Anatomy
How to change gears correctly on a bicycle
Please watch the video below for a full overview on how to change gears on a bicycle correctly: