My world changed when I bought my first bicycle. Walking into the local bike shop, I was bewildered by the choices (and prices) of the best bikes. I left with a cheap hybrid bike—regretted that particular purchase after a mere month; see below—but it changed the way I experienced my hometown of New York City.
On a bicycle, you’re moving fast enough to really cover some ground, but slow enough to notice everything you miss whizzing by in a car. I began to call my bike excursions “tiny travels,” venturing to the Louis Armstrong museum in Corona, Queens, exploring the Civil War-era Fort Totten designed by Robert E. Lee, and pedaling out to the Steinway piano factory, around which a whole neighborhood had been built in 1870 for its German immigrant workers. Along the way I stopped for authentic Chinese dumplings, homemade Indian samosas, and Dominican street food.
I quickly moved on to a lighter, better quality two-wheeler, and nowadays, I travel with my bike whenever I can. It’s my preferred exploration vehicle.
There’s no time like the present to rediscover the wind-in-your-hair thrill and freedom of a bicycle, especially these days, when big getaways and elaborate travel aren’t options. Cycling allows you to quietly connect to your own ecosystem. You are part of the landscape rather than merely moving through it. You’ll notice architecture, scenery, and wildlife you never knew were just a few miles from home.
No one bike is perfect for every kind of riding, but there’s absolutely something out there for everyone. Below, seven types of the best bikes to cover the environments you're most likely to encounter and our pick for the best bike in each category, along with tips for where to get one and what accessories you'll want to purchase, too.
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Gravel bike
Best for: Pavement, dirt and gravel roads, touring
If any bike comes closest to a jack of all trades, it’s a gravel bike. Wide wheel clearance lets you go with fatter tires for rough terrain, or smoother rubber for pavement. Drop handlebars give you lots of hand positions for the best comfort on long rides. A wide gear range gives you smooth shifting for steep descents and climbing.
Pros:
- Great for various types of terrain
- Wide gear range
- Lightweight
Cons:
- No suspension, so not appropriate for true mountain biking or singletrack
Best gravel bike: Diamondback Haanjo 3 and Haanjenn 3
This versatile, snazzy looking bike has a longer wheelbase and slightly wider handlebars for excellent stability. It weighs just 24 pounds and includes frame mounts for fenders and racks to boost utility.
Buy now: Diamondback Haanjenn 3, $900, diamondback.com
Buy now: Diamondback Haanjo 3, $1,10, eriksbikeshop.com
Mountain bike
Best for: Gnarly trails, singletrack
Mountain bikes have flat handlebars and a more upright body position that many people find comfortable. Full-suspension models are best for the roughest and most technical trails, like winding mountain singletracks, while ‘hardtails’ (front suspension only) work well for less technical terrain like rocky fire roads and muddy country lanes. Swap their nubby tires for smoother/smaller tires and lock out the suspension for a passible everyday bike on roads. Add fenders to fling off the mud. Most have a smaller number of gears compared to some other styles, which reduces maintenance, but can make it harder to find the comfiest one.
Pros:
- Chews up trails and muddy terrain
- Can switch to slick tires for road use
Cons:
- Limited hand positions
- Limited gear range
Best mountain bike: Specialized Rockhopper Comp
This classic hardtail is a great value and weighs a reasonable 29 pounds.
Buy now: $750, specialized.com
Cruiser
Best for: Leisurely neighborhood rides
Cruisers or beach cruisers are cute, stable bikes for touring the neighborhood. Many come standard with fenders, chain guards, and storage racks, and some have a step-through design that make them especially easy to get on and off. Their heavy weight makes them a challenge on hills, though.
Pros:
- Stable, low center of gravity
- Usually come with fenders, baskets, racks, etc.
- Cute and nostalgic
Cons:
- Heavy
- Terrible for hilly areas
Best cruiser: Townie Electra 7D Step-through
This easy-to-ride bike has a low axle height, making it effortless to put a foot down at stops. At 35 pounds, you’ll want to stick to flat terrain.
Buy now: $630, trekbikes.com
Electric bike
Best for: Fun riding with less effort
Electric bikes have revolutionized cycling, making it accessible for those with mobility issues, and enabling everyone to ride much farther with a fraction of the effort. “Pedal-assist” models have the same feel as a regular bike, but your pedal strokes are supercharged by the motor. Most have a removable rear- or tube-mounted battery with a range of between 30 and 60 miles before needing a recharge. Some hide the battery in the frame, so it’s not obvious you’re riding an e-bike.
Pros:
- Goes further with less fatigue
- Pedal-assisted models still feel like riding a bike
- Many no longer “look” like an electric bike
Cons:
- Must recharge battery/limited range
- Heavy, expensive
Best E-bike: Cannondale Treadwell Neo EQ
The Treadwell hides its battery within the frame tube and to the naked eye looks like any other bike. The battery can’t be removed, so you’ll need a garage or storage area with a power source for recharging. The battery has about a 40-mile range and brings total bike weight to about 39 pounds.
Buy now: $2,650, cannondale.com
Commuter bike
Best for: Stop/start urban rides
Commuter bikes, sometimes called urban bikes, are simple and good looking for city and suburb commutes and family rides. Their flat handlebars and upright riding position ensure good visibility for city rides, stop/starts, and hitting up the farmer’s market, but aren’t as comfortable for long endurance rides.
Pros:
- Looks cool
- Better for hills than a cruiser or a folding bike
- Can be fitted with fenders, racks
Cons:
- Limited gear range
- Not for off-road use
Best commuter bike: Brooklyn Bicycle Co. Bedford 3-Speed
This hip-looking urban bike has a steel frame that absorbs pothole bumps. It comes in both three- and seven-speed versions.
Buy now: $580, brooklynbicycleco.com
Road bike
Best for: Speed and endurance on well-maintained roads
Want to know what it’s like to bomb a descent at 50 mph? ‘Roadies’ are fast, light, and sexy, with carbon-fiber frames and an aggressive, lower riding position. But they get expensive fast—a $2,500 model can be considered a starter bike and they can run up to $15,000 with electronic shifting and braking, race wheels, and every aerodynamic doodad.
Pros:
- Precise sizing
- Very light
- Aerodynamic and fast
Cons:
- Expensive
- Overkill for casual neighborhood rides
- Not for off-roading
Best road bike: Trek Domane SL6
This full-carbon beast comes in a wide range of precise sizes to fit anyone from 4’11” to 6’3.” Upgraded versions come with electronic shifting, race wheels, and even a custom paint job.
Buy now: From $4,100, trekbikes.com
Folding bike
Best for: Office workers
These problem-solving bikes fold up with just a few flicks (it’s one of those things that will take you 20 minutes the first time, then 90 seconds thereafter). The urban suit crowd can carry their bike from the ‘burbs by commuter train, then unfold and ride the last few miles to the office, refolding in a flash for the elevator. The small wheels on a folding bike are perfectly fine for good roads, but you’ll feel every bump or pothole otherwise.
Pros:
- Best for storage/tight spaces
- Travel bags and boxes available
Cons:
- Not good for long rides or serious hills
- Bumpy ride on less-than-smooth roads
Best folding bike: Brompton M6L
This 26-pound, six-gear bike from the folding-bike leader is easy to fold and unfold down to 23”x 23” x 11”.
Buy now: $1,590, rei.com
Hybrid bike
Best for: Your back-up bike
Also called a ‘comfort’ or ‘fitness’ bike, hybrids try to be everything, but excel at nothing. Low-grade components and heavy weight make them fine for a ‘guest’ bike, but that’s about it. Rather than a hybrid, think hard about what you want to do on your bike, and match to one of the types above. If you must buy a hybrid, get the cheapest possible model at a big-box store and don’t expect much. Another option is to hit up garage sales and plan on getting a tune-up at a local shop.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Lowest-grade components
- Heavy
- Uncomfortable
More bike tips
Size matters
At minimum, you need a bike that allows you to straddle it comfortably, and easily put a foot on the ground when stopped. You should not have to rock side-to-side to reach the pedals. You’ll see bikes sold in ranges (S/M/L etc.) or as a numeric size (46 is about the smallest you’ll see, and 62 the largest).
Where to buy
Bikes are mechanical. Parts wear out and need replacement, and you’ll need periodic tune ups. That makes your local bike shop the best bet for an initial purchase, as you’ll likely get a couple of years of free adjustments. Some brands now offer online ordering with pickup at a local shop or home delivery.
Essential accessories
You need a brain bucket (a helmet) and a bike pump at minimum (you can get decent versions of both for $30 to $70). Get a bike lock if you plan on making some stops ($20 to $100).
Optional gear
Bottles cages, fenders, racks, and baskets add weight but increase utility. Most bikes have mounts for these. A small repair kit with an extra inner tube and inflation tool can be a life saver if you’re far from home with a flat tire.
Non-profits with maps and travel tips
For more details on routes, check out Adventure Cycling Association, an advocacy group focused on bike touring in the U.S., and Great American Rail Trail/Rails to Trails Conservancy for maps and a database of trails in your state.
