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Your First Bike - Part 2© Joseph Pucci
Apr 11, 1997
If you have decided on a road bike the question becomes, am I going to do touring or am I interested in criteria riding. Touring can consist of a 100 or more miles for a couple of days at a time, and there is no rush to finish. Criteria riding consists of 25, 50, 75, 100 or more miles that you wish to complete in a set time frame and you almost always finish where you started. Unless all hell breaks loose you usually finish the same day. Touring bikes have a softer ride than criteria bikes which comes from its frame design. Touring bikes are often called hybrids if it has any type of suspension system on narrow tires, later on I will discuss in greater detail the difference between Mountain and hybrid bikes. Criteria bikes provide a stiffer, faster responding ride due to a stiffer frame design so that each peddle stoke output provides maximum forward movement and minimum loss of leg energy. The trade off is a harsher riding bike but you'll do better in the sprints. If you have decided on a Mountain bike, the question is, "what type of terrain am I going to be riding on?". Asphalt, trails, or like Captain Kirk, you want to go where no man has before. If you think that most of your riding is going to be on asphalt then you will probable be happy with a non suspension mountain bike or a hybrid bike. The primary difference being that the non suspension mountain bike will have fatter tires, tighter geometry, and a smaller frame. You can spend the extra money for front or full suspension and look cool, but you don't need it for the asphalt trip. Trails that run through the woods makes front suspension bikes a needed tool. Jumping over tree stumps and rocks can make full suspension bikes quite attractive. On steep climbs and fast descents full suspension becomes a must. Next week we'll continue to discuss different types of mountain bikes.... Joe Pucci
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