The bike should look good, its price should match the budget, and it is highly desirable that the brand name be “on the ear” - to brag to friends and neighbors. Based on these three criteria, most buyers from all over the world choose their first bike. I do not presume to say that the above factors are not important. But now we will try to make a choice more meaningful than "taste, color and to be cheaper."

First of all, this material is intended for those who are still new to the bike and who are not ready to understand complex technical characteristics, such as "crank length" or "the number of teeth on each of the rear sprockets." In order to simplify the choice as much as possible and immediately reduce the incredible number of offers on the market today, the first thing to do is answer: “Why am I buying a bike?” In the future, everything depends on this.

"Two-suspension" are popular among teenagers, but have
low efficiency and not very comfortable for driving on smooth roads

Bicycle for a teenage son

As a teenager, I rode a bike like the Soviet Salyut, as did most of my generation. I still think that nothing better is needed for a teenager, although modern children do not quite agree with me. They are in vogue now

Trunk, handlebar basket or fenders will raise
the convenience of using a city bike

City or office bike

Such transport is perfect for traveling short distances in the city. In Germany, for example, they are massively used by office workers: in jackets, white shirts and ironed trousers, they pedal merrily on their way from home to work, putting their cases on the trunk or in a basket. The low frame allows you to feel safe in conditions of heavy traffic and numerous turns with traffic lights, when you often have to stop and put your foot on the ground.

Additional equipment, such as mudguards, headlights, trunk, baskets and other things, significantly increase comfort during the trip. Most of the working mechanisms are hidden, making it almost impossible to get dirty in fuel oil. In addition, these bikes are mostly very light - it will not be difficult to lift them onto the curb or take them to the landing. But at the same time, their characteristics will not allow the owner to comfortably ride off-road or overcome long distances on the track.

Drive on the weekend in the forest plantation

If your interests are not limited to the city and you want to feel comfortable off-road, then a classic mountain bike is what you need. Its main characteristics are a powerful fork and reduced 26-inch wheels. They mainly put rough, "toothy" rubber. Such models are very popular among buyers, which is quite understandable, given the condition of the roads in the cities of the post-Soviet space - the mountain bike was supposedly created for them.

This transport is soft and manoeuvrable, withstands harsh driving conditions - it is not for nothing that it is called “mountain”. But precisely because of its advantages, it will not be a good servant for overcoming long distances on asphalt - small wheels and rough rubber make you strain your legs pretty much to maintain speed. Among other things, mudguards are rarely put on mountain bikes - they quickly clog and create additional noise when riding in mud. Therefore, for “official” city driving, this is also not the best solution.

A road bike can reach a speed of 60 km / h,
but as a solution for the city, it is very doubtful

Dissect hot air trails

Do you like to watch the Tour de France? Are you interested in setting your own speed and endurance records on the track, but can you actually find a track near your home, at least conditionally without holes? If the answer to all these questions is yes - feel free to see the section "road bikes". These are those with thin wheels and a steering wheel turned out like a ram's horns. On such transport, you can develop a speed of 60 kilometers per hour without going down a huge hill. Light as a feather and slender as a deer - sounds good, right?

But choosing this type, you should not forget that a trip along the broken-down side alleys or paved pavement will turn into a real test. Yes, and on such a bike is not very convenient to ride where there are a lot of turns and traffic lights. That's not what it was made for.

All-terrain vehicle for the city, forest and highway

Another popular request. Not everyone can afford three bikes at once: mountain, city and road. The veloprom realized this a long time ago and set about solving the problem. You can find a hybrid bike in almost every store today. Large 28-inch wheels provide speed, while a cushioned fork and medium-thick tyre provide relative softness when riding off-road.

Pride Cross 1.0 2015 can be called a classic
an example of an all-round mid-range bike

As a rule, such solutions are inferior in cross-country ability to a mountain bike, in speed - to a road bike, and they cannot provide 100% convenience in urban conditions. But they are universal, for which they are valued. Bicycles of this type are often called the phrase "cross-country". Sometimes they are equipped with a rigid, rather than a cushioned fork - this allows you to reduce the overall weight, but at the same time, the load on the hands increases.

In addition to those described above, there are also mountain suspensions, reinforced models for downhill, special designs for trials and BMX, as well as a great many vintage specimens, tandems and the same “bed bikes”. But they are poorly suited for the role of the first self-selected bike.

In conclusion, we note that the main thing in a bicycle is not the price and not even the category or model. The most important thing is the mood and desire of the owner. At one time on a mountain bike, I managed to drive over 100 kilometers a day on the highway. I saw how guys on road bikes overcame the Carpathian off-road and how they traveled along the coast of Spain on city bikes. I read how Soviet travelers on "Tourists" went to the winter taiga - it's even hard to imagine.

With all this in mind, instead of the traditional “Good buy!”, it’s probably better to write: “Good riding inspiration!” After all, no matter what type of bike you choose, you will make a good purchase.