Bikes 101

Spring is a great time to think about a whole new bicycling season -- and, maybe, a whole new bicycle.

If you're a bike fanatic, you probably already know all you need to know about frame geometry, gear ratios and other such. That's really beyond the scope of this column.

If you're thinking about buying your first serious bike, or replacing a tired old clunker, here are a couple of very basic points to consider:

1) Today's bikes, like today's cars, are better than ever. New materials and designs offer more speed, comfort, reliability, durability, and, yes, more fun than ever before. And prices have remained within reach. You can still get a good bike for $300 and a great one for $1,000.

2) There's no such thing as one perfect bike. Family sedans, sports cars, and SUVs are all designed for different purposes, but will all get you to the grocery store. Same with bikes. All are really designed for different purposes. Before you begin shopping for a bike, think about where and why you want to ride: Paved roads and bike paths? Dirt roads? Mountain trails? Are you trying to go as far and as fast as you can? Or are you just out to have a little fun and exercise? Know this before you go shopping.

With all the thousands of bikes on the market today, it's easy to get confused. Bikes come in three basic categories, road, mountain and hybrid. Of course, there are many variations and gradations in these three categories.

Road bikes: Pedal-powered sports cars

Road bikes are built for speed, not comfort. They have very narrow, smooth, high-pressure tires, stiff, lightweight frames, and drop handlebars. If you are intent on traveling long distances on smooth roads as quickly as possible, road bikes are the way to go.

The trouble with road bikes is that most are darned uncomfortable. On rough New England roads, those high pressure tires and hard seats mean you intimately -- and I do mean intimately -- feel every little bump. And riding hunched over all day is anything but fun.

Mountain bikes: The SUVs of the bike world

Mountain bikes were designed for off-road riding. Fat, low-pressure, knobby tires are designed to grip the trail surface and, to some degree, cushion bumps. The flat handlebars let you sit in a comfortable, upright position. Most of today's mountain bikes have a shock-absorbing suspension. The gears are specially designed to make climbing hills easier.

Mountain bikes are stable, and comfortable and fun to ride, especially on dirt roads and trails. Unfortunately, on pavement, they are heavy, slow and very inefficient.

Hybrids: Jacks-of-all-trades (and masters of none)

As the name implies, hybrids are a blend. Take the handlebars and comfortable riding position of a mountain bike, add narrower, smoother, higher pressure tires for pavement, and you've got a hybrid. They aren't as fast as a road bike, but they are more stable and comfortable, especially on rough roads. They won't go over the toughest terrain like a mountain bike, but they're much faster and more efficient on pavement.

For most of us, hybrids are the way to go. Add fenders and a rack and it's a "touring bike." In any case, you get a bike that's fun and comfortable to ride on the pavement and dirt roads where most of us ride for fun most of the time.

It's about your head

Today's bike helmets are lightweight, cool and comfortable -- and they can save your life. I sometimes wonder if we shouldn't be wearing helmets when we drive a car!

There's absolutely no drawback to wearing one. Okay, you do look a little funny and it messes up your hair. But that's no penalty compared to brain damage if the unthinkable happens.

I've been riding bikes for almost 50 years, haven't had a serious accident in decades (and the one serious spill I took long ago wasn't my fault). I still wear a helmet every time I get on a bike.

You should, too.