Regular cycling will not only allow us to use our free time, but will also guarantee many health benefits. All this makes it worth having your own two-wheeler. However, the question of how to choose it is opened.

The first decision-making problems can get to us when we realize that there are a lot of bike types available on the market. Among them we can mention city bike, mountain bike, cross bike or trekking bike. A completely separate category consists of stationary models, which we must not forget about either.

However, this is not the end, because going further into the proverbial forest, we will encounter more trees, and therefore various types of difficulty, which may lengthen the whole purchasing process. But there is no need to worry unnecessarily. If we know what we want more or less and what parameters to pay attention to, everything will end up as we think it should.

City bike - salvation from traffic jams

We will start our considerations with models that are extremely popular in large cities. All the time built and developed bicycle paths make it possible for us to cover a really big distance on a bicycle. This is good information both for those who are cycling training and for those who want to commute by bike to work or school.

What are the characteristics of a city bike? Such models, called Dutch models, have very classic shapes (low frame, wide saddle and steering wheel allowing to take an upright position), they do not have advanced derailleur gears (often they are not available at all), but their wheels are small or medium sized. All this makes them ideal for use in cities and on paved surfaces.

If you decide to buy a city bike, you should pay attention to the size of the wheels. 20-inch models will prove to be useful every day, but if you want to accelerate to higher speeds, you will have to wave quite a bit. In this respect, bikes with 26- or 28-inch wheels perform better. Of course, the presence (or lack of it) of the mentioned gears is also important.

It is also worth noting the material of which the frame was made (steel is the best choice), the dimensions of the saddle (we recommend wide and soft models), as well as the possible additional equipment in the form of a basket, a bell or lighting.

How about something more advanced?

Of course, the market offer does not end with urban models. Mountain bikes are extremely popular in our country, which will prove useful both on properly prepared paths and on off-roads. When buying them, you should pay attention primarily to the size of the wheels and frame, the capabilities of the metro system, as well as the brakes used.

If you want to develop high speeds on asphalt roads, you should opt for cyclists or road bikes. The cross-country and trekking models are slightly developed. Thanks to their construction, we will be able to move on many different roads (especially on trekking models).

Quite a wide category consists of tourist bikes, perfect for various trips. In their case, the robustness of the frame, wheels, gears and brakes is very important. It's not worth choosing the cheapest models, because they are quite fail-safe. A specific group are also electric bicycles, which have a built-in motor, thanks to which we can cover a large distance without pedalling. If, however, you miss a healthy effort, just start your legs (the engine will then be automatically switched off).

Stationary bicycle

Describe separately the stationary models, simply called training models. As we know, we do not always have the opportunity to taste the bike ride in the open air, and yet we need to take care of the form.

This is when stationary bicycles, which we can use at home, will be perfect. When you decide to buy them, it is worth considering what we really need. On the market there are both models designed for amateurs and more sophisticated devices, allowing for the implementation of a varied training.

They differ, among others, in the system of generating resistance. For standard models, the flywheel is subject to mechanical braking. The settings of the built-in brake allow you to determine the load. Slightly more advanced are magnetic bikes, which have magnesium, induction bikes that guarantee virtually silent operation, and also electromagnetic bikes, equipped with an electric motor (they are the most extensive, but also the most expensive).

High quality training bikes also have a built-in computer, which allows you to enter specific training settings (such as workout load), analyze your performance or even use different applications (such as Google Maps).

As you can see, the possibilities of choice are really huge. However, it is always worth to pay attention to a number of technical parameters, which have a huge influence on the usefulness of specific models.