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Gravel bike, mountain bike, full suspension, hardtail, road bike, e-bike – with the many different types of bikes available, buying a bike has become a veritable science. Unless you've studied the science of bikes, it's often quite challenging to keep track and find your personal dream bike. That's why we'll help you in this blog by explaining the different types of bikes available, how they differ, and which bike is best suited to you and your circumstances.
Which bike is right for me? Differences between bikes
There are now many different types of bikes, each serving different purposes and meeting different needs. But let's start from the "slowest" to the "fastest" bike.
Mountain bike
The MTB is the tractor among bikes. As the name suggests, it is specially designed for mountain and off-road use. It has wide, chunky tires with knobs for perfect grip in mud, on roots, and on rocks. These wide, knobby tires mean the bike rolls poorly on asphalt, making it slightly slower than other bikes. It also has wide handlebars for maximum control. Mountain bikes can be further divided into full-suspension (fully) and semi-suspension ( hardtail ). The fully suspended bike has a suspension fork under the handlebars at the front and a shock absorber under the seat at the rear. This makes it easier to handle downhill rides and absorbs shocks nicely. The hardtail, as the name suggests, is rigid at the rear "tail" and has only a suspension fork. This ensures greater rigidity and lower weight.
Mountain bikes can be further divided into "downhill-oriented" mountain bikes with more suspension travel and "climb-oriented" bikes with less suspension travel but less weight. Downhill and enduro bikes have between 160 and 200mm of travel and are designed for riding steep, technically demanding single trails and downhill routes. In contrast, there are " cross-country bikes " with 100-120mm of travel. This makes both: moderately difficult descents and steep, strenuous climbs easy to master. The " all-mountain bikes " represents the golden mean with 140mm of travel. These bikes are very good for descending hills, but they are also not too heavy to be able to handle long, steep climbs.
This means that if you enjoy being out in the mountains, love a bit of action and want to ride a rooty or rough single trail, you should definitely get a mountain bike!
Gravel bike
A gravel bike, or also known as a "graveler," looks like a classic road bike, but is specifically designed for riding on gravel roads and dirt tracks. It's the off-road SUV of bikes. Like a road bike, it has curved aerobars, but wider and more robust tires with knobs to ensure sufficient grip even off-road and prevent flats. The frame is also usually a bit more stable to withstand bumpy gravel and dirt roads. The gear range is also wider to allow for climbing pastures and mountains without any problems. Unlike a mountain bike, however, a gravel bike doesn't have suspension, and its tires aren't quite as thick. So, if you want to ride technical, rough trails, you should still opt for a mountain bike.
However, for those who can't decide between mountain biking and road cycling, a gravel bike is the perfect compromise. A graveler is also ideal for areas where the bike paths are unpaved or poorly developed, and the back roads are very bumpy.
Road bike
If you're looking for the sports car among bicycles, you should choose a road bike. This type of bike is built to be fast and aerodynamic. Therefore, a road bike has downward-curved "aerobars" and very narrow, skinny tires to ensure minimal air and rolling resistance. Another feature of a road bike, and another difference from a gravel bike, is that the frame and wheels are very stiff and as light as possible to optimally convert pedal power into speed. A road bike, on the other hand, is not suitable for rough gravel and dirt roads, as the tires have no knobs and are more prone to punctures. The frame is also not quite as robust as that of a gravel bike.
However, if you are looking for a bike that will help you achieve your best times on asphalt and get from A to B as quickly as possible, you should definitely get a road bike.
City bikes
The city bike is the perfect companion for short distances in urban traffic. It features an upright seating position, a comfortable saddle, and easy handling – ideal for commuting to work, the supermarket, or through the park. Typical features include a sturdy frame, a luggage rack, mudguards, and an integrated lighting in accordance with German road traffic regulations. Comfort and functionality are clearly the top priority here.
E-bikes
All of these bike types are also available with an electric motor. This is ideal for those who want to cover longer distances in a reasonable amount of time, or who want to use the bike as a means of transport for everyday activities without breaking a sweat. Electric assistance is also suitable for older people or beginners, as it allows you to better control the intensity and avoids overtaxing the body. One disadvantage of e-bikes is that they are relatively heavy and therefore often harder to control than regular bikes. Furthermore, they allow even people with low fitness levels and little riding experience to ride up high, steep mountains and alpine pastures, where descending can be very dangerous. So please take care and adapt your route to your riding ability, even with an electric motor.
As you can see, there are many different types of bikes, and each one is suitable for certain situations. Therefore, when buying a bike, it's important to consider your needs and choose the type that suits you best. In addition to the bike, cycling clothing is also essential. Especially protection should be worn at anytime, for example our helmets the RIDGE and the DRAFT. To protect your eyes from UV light and wind, a good pair of sports or bike glasses, such as the VOLT , BLADE , or ZEND , are a good choice. Socks and gloves should also be appropriate for maximum comfort and, of course, style on the bike.
Credits: Florian Dorn