Biking is a great form of exercise, helps make the environment healthier and will help you save money on transportation costs. Perhaps the reason you find yourself here is because you’re looking to take advantage of one of the many benefits of biking. Once you start bicycling regularly, you’ll be hitting the road on your bike all the time!

Regardless of the reason you are looking up types of bikes, you will absolutely be able to find a bike that caters to your unique needs. Below is a list with ten different types of bikes and their defining features.

1. Hybrid or Comfort Bike

If you’re looking for a regular, go to bicycle, look no farther! Hybrid bikes, also known as comfort bikes, have mountain styled wheels and features that make them comfortable for the rider regardless of the terrain. These bikes can be ridden on smooth dirt, paved trails or city terrains.

2. Cruiser Bike

The most identifiable feature of the cruiser bike is its balloon tires, upright seat and linear structure. Also known as beach cruisers, these bikes often have a creative and expressive style to them making them even more identifiable.

Cruiser bikes are designed for leisurely and flat path biking such as through a park or beach. Who would’ve thought that cruiser bikes would be for cruising!

3. Mountain Bike

These bikes are designed for intense biking, typically you’d use this bike for off roading where the terrain will be unpredictable, rough and patchy. To suit the biker’s needs, mountain bikes have a light yet sturdy frame and deep-treaded tires that are wide. The final identifiable feature of mountain bikes is their suspension which helps absorb shock on rocky trails.

The durability and performance of mountain bikes are preserved with their unique features. You can ride in style on back trails without worrying about something dangerous happening!

4. Folding Bike

This bike is foldable and compact which is exactly what it sounds like! The original and fresh design of this style of bike is meant to cater to the storage and transportation needs of frequent bikers. Not only can these bikes be folded up to fit into tight spaces, it also makes commuting on busy routes much easier to do with a bike in hand.

5. Commuting Bike

Meant for general transportation, commuting bikes are equipped with practical features such as lights, rear racks, locks, fenders and bags. Not only does this bike get you from point A to point B, it is a highly useful tool!

These bikes are truly meant to be used for commuting, as the name says, and can be used for errands or going to work. Bicycling is one of the greatest forms of exercise out there, helps the environment and allows you to explore your neighbourhood, consider using a commuter bike for your daily transportation!

6. Children’s Bike

Kids want to bike around too! There are bikes that are smaller than regular bikes to suit the needs of youth known as children’s bikes. The whole bike is scaled down to be safe and useable by children. Remember to remind your child of biking safety rules!

7. Cyclocross Bike

This bike is designed for the ambitious biker! Cyclocross bikes are meant to be used on dirt trails where many obstacles have been placed. The obstacles are so intense that they require the rider to get off their bike and carry it until the trail is bikeable again.

You don’t need to be a professional athlete to participate in these types events or use this bike. In fact, this bike isn’t restricted to these competitive events, they are quite versatile for other types of biking. Although, if you’re feeling ambitious, cyclocross events are tons of fun and don’t require the biker to be immensely experienced!

8. Tandem Bicycle

Have you ever seen two people pedaling away on one bike? That bike is called a tandem! There are many different styles of tandems and they can help balance two varying skill levels of bikers.

If you want to bike with someone who is young, blind or entirely new to cycling, consider using a tandem. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is who is cycling harder!

9. Recumbent Bicycle

It’s not everyday that you hear the word recumbent, you also won’t see this type of bicycle often! The seat of this bike sits abnormally low to the ground, it is so low it almost looks like a chair.

Riding a bike like this requires that you pedal as if you were doing a seated leg press. Biking uphill can be a challenge with this bike, but it is definitely very comfortable otherwise.

10. Road Bike

The most obvious feature of this bike is their unusually thin tires and “drop” handlebars. The best thing about road bikes is they’re immensely efficient and fast because their skinny tires help the bike glide on the road with little effort.

Road bikes are ideal for people who will mainly be riding on pavement, particularly for extended periods of time. That means you city cyclers!