What types of riding will you do? - Califon, NJ

There are many different types of riding, and you may find the cycling you do blends more than one style. You may also discover a style here you’d like to try that you have never considered. Ultimately the type of riding you do will dictate the type of bicycle to purchase.

Recreation / Leisure

Leisure riding refers to the occasional jaunt for fitness when you head out to enjoy a park, the seaside or a new town. For example, it could be a Sunday afternoon ride with the kids, grandkids or friends in the city, park or bike track. These rides are usually short, infrequent, on flat or easy terrain and speed is not a factor. They require little in the way of equipment, clothing, or fitness and any kind of bicycle could be used – including older styles with no gearing.

Touring

Touring refers to long-distance riding. It may incorporate cyclists on their way to work who have to pedal more than the usual 20-30 minute commute, or those on day trips, overnight trips or even week or month-long journeys who need to be self-sufficient and carry gear with them. This may be a type of riding you have never considered and it can really be quite easy. If you’re camping you might need a bit of gear and side panniers, otherwise, all you really need is a credit card to get food and accommodation along the way. You could consider exploring wine regions, visiting remote wilderness areas, joining a charity/endurance ride or even jetting off to far-flung realms with a bike. For these longer journeys, a touring or expedition bicycle is usually required.
See our guide to bicycle touring to learn more about this type of cycling.
Road Riding
This cycling is usually done on superior surfaces such as pavement or bitumen. It may include commuting to work, getting to and from the shops, taking the kids to school or getting regular exercise. Or you may even want to step it up a notch and enter a triathlon, join a charity ride or a bike club. The great thing about road riding is any kind of bicycle can be used because the road surface is generally in a reasonable condition.

Off Road Riding

Off road basically incorporates all inferior surfaces. It can simply be the shortcut along a track or through a garden that takes you off the tarmac to avoid traffic. Or it can be a little more challenging riding on railway trails, towpaths, and farmland through to serious adventure on rough, rocky trails. The latter is defined more precisely as mountain biking. You may need to do off road riding to get to work, the shop or the local school depending on where you live or what route you plan to take. However, most off-road cyclists are usually out there to enjoy the wild and backwoods areas or the cycling challenges it offers. Usually, a specific off-road, mountain bike or hybrid bicycle needs to be used on these surfaces.

Racing

If you’re considering entering races or even charity rides you may need a different kind of bicycle that’s built for speed and performance. The type of bike will depend largely on the surfaces you are covering. Generally, triathlons require road bikes however multi-sport athletes and extreme triathlons may be done on terrain that requires a mountain bike. Bikes that are used on velodromes are different again. They have a fixed rear gear enabling maximum speed and the rider slows by pushing back against their pedals