Remember when you were a kid? You ran outside to play. . .hopped on your bike. . .felt the wind in your face. You start pedaling down the street and you get that feeling bubbling up inside you. What feeling you may ask? Freedom. Because at no other time do you get to pedal around and choose where you want to go and who you go with. It’s just you and your tribe ready to take on the world.
Well, you can have that feeling again. You get it back when you hop on a bike. That freedom to go anywhere and explore? Still there. But, a lot of people lose that. They decide to go to the gym and hop on a stair master and climb endlessly looking at a tv or their phones. Or some even go to Soul Cycle and the like and DO ride a bike, but is it really the same? You are still inside. Still watching a screen. Don’t you want something better?
Good news for you, there is something better. An actual bike. And there are so many different styles and disciplines to choose from now, you will most certainly find one that fits your needs and wants. So let’s break it down for you. . .here are several disciplines. Which one calls to you?
Road-
The OG of cycling. Road riding offers the ability to ride for miles. And I mean miles. Bikes come in different materials such as steel, aluminum, carbon fiber and even titanium. Components make shifting a breeze now, especially SRAM Axis electronic shifting- truly a dream. But the point is, anywhere there is an open road, you can go.
Mountain Bikes
If you are a lover of nature and love to spend time on the trails, then mtb is for you. There are trails everywhere in the US ranging from wonderful easy rolling hills to death defying downhills in the mountains out west. Not only that, mountain bikes are a little more versatile. You can use them to ride on trails but they are also great for riding bike paths, gravel roads and just generally everywhere.
Hybrid
Hybrid bikes are just that. They sit a little more upright than road bikes and not as aggressive as a mountain bike. They can be ideal for tooling around town, riding some rails to trails and even gravel roads.
Gravel Bikes
This is the new kid on the block. Gravel riding has become fun and accessible for a lot of people. Gravel bikes have a slightly more laid back feel than road bikes, but the general shape is the same. Tires though are bigger and they have some suspension making it easy to ride comfortably on gravel roads.
Aside from these, there are also a lot of specialized bikes for specific racing and riding. For example, cyclocross for racing cross races where you might be hopping over barriers and going through sand or mud. Triathlon bikes for, well, triathlons. Time trial bikes where it is just you racing against the clock. Downhill bikes for aggressive downhill riding where you don’t need to ride up (you can take a ski lift). Enduro, hand cycles, cross country, unicycles- there really is a bike for all disciplines.
All it really depends on is the type of riding you think you will do more. It is whatever gets you out there and gives you that feeling of being a kid again. Local bike shops can help you find what you are looking for. If you already know what you are looking for and don’t want to spend a lot of money. . .The Pros Closet is a great place to find a bike. Even Facebook Marketplace. Where ever you decide to look, take the plunge. Buy the bike. Go for a ride and bring some electrolytes with you. (Shameless Seven Seas plug). You won’t be sorry.