Bicycle Buying Guide India (Types of Cycles & How to Buy)

Last updated on April 10th, 2024

Bicycles have been gaining popularity in recent years for two reasons. One, it is the ideal workout for those who are bored or uninterested in jogging or running. And two, it is the perfect mode of transport for those who want to grab a quick workout during their commute. This bicycle buying guide India attempts to help you understand which is the best bicycle is for you, depending on where you live and what sort of terrain you cycle on, and your skill set.

Let’s start!

Article Summary

Types of Cycles

As you know the trend of cycling is growing due to its health benefits (see) and the cycling sports in India and worldwide.

The most frequently asked question when it comes to bicycles is as to What are the types of bicycles and what are their advantages & disadvantages?

There are different types of cycles/bicycles. There are road and mountain bikes and then there are cycles with gears and non-gears. But mainly, they are divided into 3 categories.

Here in this ‘Bicycle Buying Guide India’, we have a small description in the table form to help potential buyers. Also, their advantages & disadvantages!

You will learn a lot if you are a beginner & looking for how to buy a bicycle for adults.

1. Road cycles

Description	Road cycles are those that are intended for paved surfaces and smooth roads such as those you find in cities and urban landscapes. Road bikes are ideal for city roads and offer an elevated peddling experience.
Tires	The tires of a road cycle are usually slim and smooth, mostly to augment the speed at that the cycle can move.
Handlebars	The handlebars of a road bicycle usually tend to be dropped to encourage a streamlined position of the driver to increase maximum speed.
The posture of the rider	The rider tends to lean forward (to achieve maximum speed) on a road bicycle.
Terrain and distances	Best suited for smooth and paved terrain. Ideal for both shorter and longer distances.
Weight	Light and easy to carry.
Advantages	Smooth peddling Ideal for both transport and exercise High speeds Extremely light to carry
Disadvantages	Not suitable for rough terrain & uphill climbs Less control

2. Mountain Cycles (MTBs)

Description	Mountain bikes are preferable for rough terrains, dirt roads, mountain trails, and hilly regions.
Tires	The tires of a mountain bike are usually thick since maintaining control is of critical importance when it comes to riding bicycles on rough terrains.
Handlebars	The handlebars of a mountain bike usually tend to be flat to improve the control and stability of the bicycle.
The posture of the rider	The rider tends to ride the bicycle upright on a mountain cycle.
Terrain and distances	Best suited for rough terrain and uphill climbs. Speed is not one of its advantages.
Weight	Fairly heavy to improve stability and control compared to road bicycles.
Advantages	Higher suspension Better control & stability
Disadvantages	Higher resistance means higher energy expended Heavier

3. Hybrid Cycles

Description	A hybrid cycle is thicker than a road bicycle providing a larger amount of control but is lighter than a mountain bicycle meaning that higher speeds can be reached on it. It offers a combination of the features of Road bicycles and mountain bicycles
Tires	A hybrid bicycle usually has thicker tires than a road bicycle, but thinner tires than a mountain cycle to ensure a combination of both speed as well as control.
Handlebars	Like in a mountain bicycle, the handlebars of a hybrid cycle tend to be flat as well.
The posture of the rider	The rider tends to ride the bicycle upright on a hybrid cycle.
Terrain and distances	Great for uphill terrains and long distances, but not ideal for rough terrains.
Weight	Heavier than a road bicycle but lighter than a mountain cycle.
Advantages	Lighter than mountain bikes Better control than road bikes
Disadvantages	Not ideal for rough terrains, but better compared to road bicycles

Now let’s move to the next section of ‘Bicycle Buying Guide India’.

Factors To Consider Before Buying A Bicycle

It is important to place consideration upon certain factors before you buy a bicycle. These factors can primarily be divided into purpose, skill level, build, and aesthetics.

Read the ‘Bicycle Buying Guide India’ in detail.

1. Riding Terrain

Certain cycles are typically better for certain types of terrain. For instance, if you live in an extremely snowy area – you’ll need a bike that can handle slippery surfaces and have stability.

Usually, bikes can be divided into either mountain bikes or road bikes where the former is more suitable for urban or city users while the latter is preferable if the roads are dirt roads or the terrain is rough.

If you want something that offers you a bit of both, then hybrid bikes are a great option too, since they offer a combination of the features of a mountain bike and a road bike.

For those who want to use their cycle as a mode of commute, electric bikes can be a great option too.

2. The frame size of a bicycle

When picking the frame size of a cycle out, the most important factor to consider is how tall you are.

The best way to do this is by checking out the “stand-over” height, or the height that is the distance from the floor to the upper part of the top tube of the cycle.

For the most amount of comfort, while riding, ideally, you should select an option that is about 2.5-5cm higher than the stand-over height.

Height	Cycle Height (approx. in cm)
Below 5’3	38
About 5’3 to 5’8	40.6
About 5’8 to 6’0	43
About 6’0 to 6’4	48-53
Taller than 6’4	53+

3. Design

The aesthetics of the bike can also be a factor that comes into play while picking the dream bike and may matter more to some than others.

For instance, if you are buying a child’s first bike, ensuring that it looks good to encourage its use becomes as important as ensuring that the bike is safe to ride.

There are a lot of custom options available to decorate bikes as well, such as custom decals and stickers, and paint options.

Apart from this, most bike models do offer different types of designs and colours to choose from.

4. Size

The best way to pick the right cycle in terms of size is to pick a frame size that will work for you based on your height, the frame size, the position of the pedal, and the height of the handlebar.

If you have the option of trying out a few cycles locally, you could do that too and use your experience and levels of comfort with various sizes as a point of reference.

5. Weight

The lighter the bike, the higher its value usually!

This is because when you are riding a bike, you are not just carrying your weight by peddling, but also the weight of the cycle. This is usually why those who have to navigate significant uphill terrains and extreme slopes prefer to pay a premium on lighter bikes.

However, if you are planning to be more of a casual user and don’t care about how fast your bike can go, then a slightly heavier bike will do the job just as well.

6. Durability

The main components that go into making a cycle frame are either titanium, steel, aluminium, or carbon.

While aluminium and carbon offer the obvious advantage of being lighter. They are overall less durable than steel and titanium.

7. Budget

There are plenty of high-end bicycles as well as budget ones. Depending on the features that you are looking for, it makes sense to chalk out a rough budget before you begin selecting the cycles that you want.

For instance, professional bikes and sports bicycles tend to be much more expensive than the average casual use of road bicycles.

8. Comfort

Your comfort on the bicycle is of obvious importance when you are picking the one you want.

If you can try the bike out by sitting on it, riding it, and getting a feel for it, then there’s nothing like it.

If you do not have the opportunity to do so, you could always check reviews online on how comfortable people have found that model before you zero in on it.

9. Purchasing a bicycle online or offline?

There are some obvious advantages to buying the bicycle offline since you can try the cycle out, ensure that the frame height is suitable for you, etc.

But that does not mean you cannot buy a bicycle online as long as you do your research well. In fact, in terms of budgets, it may be preferable to buy the cycle online since most bicycles are cheaper online due to higher discounts.

Therefore we suggest, trying offline, and buying online!

10. Carrying capacity

If you are planning to transport heavyweights with the help of your cycle or want one that can bear higher rider weights.

Then it is preferable to select alloy steel bikes since the alloy makes the bike stronger and more durable.

The Anatomy of the Bicycle _{(the last section of the bicycle buying guide India)}

1. Brakes

Brakes are tremendously important in a bicycle since they’re what keep you safe.

You can pick between options such as disc brakes, rim brakes, and drum brakes based on the frequency of use and terrain.

2. Pedals

The type of riding that you will be doing impacts the choice of pedals as well. You can either choose clipless pedals or flat pedals.

Do not be confused by the term clip “less” because clipless pedals are those which have a clip that you can lock your foot into place with.

They usually offer better control while flat pedals offer better speed.

3. Gears

The gear options for a bicycle change depending on whether they are road bikes or mountain bikes.

Usually, 9-11 cogs and a 3 front chainring are common to most mountain bikes while an 18-gear system is common in road bikes.

4. Frame

The usual way to figure out an ideal size is to measure the frame of the cycle from the middle of the crank axle to the highest point of the seat tube.

When you compare this with your height, you are likely to be able to pick the right cycle for your height.

5. Tire

Both the size of the tire as well as the material and ribbing pattern matter, depending on the size of the bike itself, the size of the rider, and the terrain.

6. Grips

The position of the grips or the handlebar also makes a difference in how convenient you will find your bicycle.

You can pick between drop bars, flat bars, riser bars, and moustache bars.

7. Rims

Depending on the material that the rim is made out of, it offers better standards of durability.

Ideally, alloy rims are the best for maximum durability.

8. Suspension

You can pick between the front suspension, full suspension, or no suspension options.

For beginners, the no-suspension option is the most ideal.

9. Contact points

The contact points of a bicycle refer to the seat, the pedals, and the handlebars.

10. Drivetrain

The drivetrain refers to the components that propel the forward motion of a bicycle. Pedals, cranks, cogs, chainrings, and derailleur are parts of the system.

You can choose the ones that you feel will give your cycle the maximum potential within your budget.

11. Seat

The bicycle seat must be chosen with comfort in mind.

If you find your seat uncomfortable, there are additional implements such as silicone pads for seats to make it more comfortable.

Final Words on Bicycle Buying Guide India _{(Which Is The Best Bicycle For You?)}

Apart from all the above-mentioned information, it also helps to select a cycle based on your overall skill level.

If you are a beginner, a beginner-level cycle with a basic gear system but with powerful brakes and good control is preferable.

For normal usage, you can be a little more flexible in selecting the frame and afford to pick a cycle that requires a moderate increase in the level of expertise.

For professionals, pretty much any cycle would work, but if you plan to use your cycle professionally, a light cycle that can be used in a variety of terrains and that offers a high level of speed is usually most preferred.

At the end of the day, when it comes to choosing a bicycle of your preference, what matters the most is what you like and find comfortable.

Remember, if there is anything about your cycle that you wish to improve, you can always look into modifications (such as seat pads or pedal clips) to make your riding experience even better!

I hope you liked our “Bicycle Buying Guide India”! If you have any questions to ask, drop a comment below. We would be happy to solve your queries. 🙂