Bikes, Mountain, and BMX

Welcome to davesbikes.com. Our site is dedicated to gathering and disseminating information about bicycles, bicycle accessories and bike safety. Davesbikes.com is purely informational and does not promote or endorse any particular product or method.

Our site is designed to educate and provide information about bicycling, types of road bikes, and types of off-road bikes.

Bikes were invented in Europe in the 19th century and since then have become the world's most popular vehicle. There are currently about 1.4 billion cycles in use. Utility bikes are the most commonly used vehicle for transport in many countries. These are less common in America than overseas, but if you picture a child's bike with a large seat and curved metal construction, you have an understanding of the kind of bikes that Europeans love for commuting.
In addition to transport, bikes have become increasingly popular for recreation and are used as children's toys, adult fitness vehicles, and for police applications where cars prove inconvenient.

When deciding what kind of bike is right for you, you must first decide how you will use it. There are four main styles of bikes and what you buy should suit what you anticipate your main type of cycling will be.

Road bikes are engineered for paved streets and riding quickly. These bikes have a more upright shape and a shorter wheelbase. Therefore the bike can be quickly maneuvered, but the bike is harder to ride slowly. This design, combined with low or drop handlebars, makes the rider bend forward which reduces air resistance at higher speeds. These bikes also feature a lightweight frame and skinny tires. If you're looking forward to touring the country side at high speeds and traveling long distances this bike may be for you.

In the last 10 years riding off-road has become increasingly popular, and road bikes are not well-suited to sliding down mountains or passing over rocks. If you want to head into the woods or mountains, you will need a bike with a stronger construction that will stand up to tough surfaces. Mountain bikes have wider tires and a thicker frame that allows them to handle rough rides.

People with back problems often prefer mountain bikes for around-town riding because mountain bikes allow the rider to sit more upright, absorb bumps in the road, and have more padding in the seats. You will not go as fast on a mountain bike on a paved road as you would with a road bike, but that may be a trade-off you're willing to make for the sake of comfort.

For some people hybrid bikes are the perfect compromise between road and mountain bikes. Hybrid bikes can go faster than mountain bikes because they have skinnier and treadless tires, but they also have an upright seat and a handlebar position that does not force the rider to bend over. If you'll be riding mainly in the city, take a look at hybrid bikes at your local bike shop or online.

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