Choosing a commuter bike is the same as choosing a lover. Choosing a bike that suits you can often go further and more easily than choosing a bike that you just like but are not suitable for. Of cause, the key to choosing the best commuter bike is ensuring that it is comfortable and practical for the type of riding you intend to do.
In general, your optimum bike for commuting could be a flat-bar bike, for example a hybrid or mountain bike, or a drop-bar road or gravel bike. You’re unlikely to commit to regularly commuting to work by bike in all weather conditions if it’s a chore in the first place, so we’ve put together this handy guide to help you choose the best commuter bike for you.
What type of bike you choose to ride to work will depend on a number of factors, including journey distance, terrain, where you live and your taste in bikes. To help make your decision easier, we ve done our best to explain how some common types of bike fare when turned to commuting duties.
hybrid bike
Cheaper hybrids usually come with rim brakes, while the best hybrid bikes are equipped with disc brakes. Disc brakes offer more powerful, predictable, and reliable braking, regardless of the weather, than rim brakes and are something you should look out for. Talking of weather, the best waterproof jackets for cyclists make a damp commute considerably less miserable. If you are a beginner looking for a bike for general use or are a dedicated commuter who favors an upright position in traffic, a flat-bar hybrid is likely to be the perfect choice for you. Hybrids are best thought of as hardy road bike that takes some influence from mountain bikes, borrowing their off-road cousin’s flat handlebars and a more upright, traffic- and comfort-friendly position. Like a road bike, modern hybrids are usually built around 700c wheels. However, the tires are often wider than a road bike’s – but usually not as wide as a mountain bike – allowing you to traverse rough roads and gravel paths comfortably, especially with the best gravel bike tires.
Electric bikes: best if you need a hand up the hills
As technology has matured and their adoption has become widespread, particularly in continental Europe, there’s absolutely no denying that electric bikes have become an increasingly dominant force in the cycling market. While the proponents and haters of ebikes will forevermore debate whether or not they have a place in the cycling world. This ability to cover ground easily really comes into its own when turned to your commute; with the helping hand that an electric-assist ebike affords – assist is the key phrase here. It allows those who live out of town to consider riding long distances to work, even with a heavy load.
Folding bikes: best if your commute involves public transport
Most often built around diminutive 16in or 20in wheels, folding bikes, as the name suggests, fold down into impressively small packages that can be stored just about anywhere at either end of your journey.The best folding bikes are also ideal for those who don’t intend to ride the entire way to work and plan on completing part of the journey by public transport – or, if you prefer the trendy word of the moment, those who prefer to go ‘multimodal’. While some folding bikes are built around larger wheels, they don’t fold down nearly as compact as their small-wheeled brethren, so some trains and buses won’t accept them, making these only really useful when space is a premium at home or work.
Road bikes: best if you’re riding a long distance on roads
Built for use on the tarmac, the best road bikes are for riding long distances fast. If you ride on asphalt roads or highways, you can choose the trifox X18 frame. They are sold as a bundle sale with handlebar and seatpost, and all of them are made of carbon fiber. On flat roads, the risk of carbon fiber surface damage caused by jumping or bumping can almost be ruled out. You can ride with relax. Some people may have to go up and down stairs or cross obstacles that can’t be ridden on their way to work. I believe most people will choose to carry bicycles up and down stairs. This frame is definitely the lightest road frame of trifox, and with the nice paint on the frame surface. Look carefully at its frame, which is very aerodynamic, and can well meet the power required for commuting time. Its head pipe is high, which is very comfortable for commuters and reduces fatigue during riding.
While carbon will offer the lightest and stiffest ride possible, value for money (which a cheaper alloy or steel bike may offer) and longevity should be your primary concerns. If you do decide to go for a carbon bike, greater care should also be taken when locking it up. On the subject of locks, it’s worth noting that thieves really do love a road bike, so invest in one of the best bike locks. This will save on stress and potential heartbreak in the long run. Remember that if you opt for a particularly bulky lock you can always leave it attached to your bike rack at work. Finally, most road bikes will come with lightweight and fast-rolling tyres. While these will feel great on a fast Sunday ride, the best road bike tyres are likely to be far more puncture-prone than a sturdier tyre, and you’ll probably want to swap them out for the best winter road bike tyre for commuting.
Mountain bikes: best if you commute on truly rough terrain
The upright riding position and sturdy nature of the best mountain bikes have long made them a popular choice for commuters. Trifox has an ultralight road bike as well as an ultralight mountain bike SDY20. Both frames weigh about the same, which is very suitable for cyclists who commute lightly. This makes commuters feel light and comfortable during their journey, and even for ladies, they can easily lift it over obstacles. Both frames are disc brakes, which make it safer to ride even in rainy days. These two frames are different from the roads, and the choice of which frame depends on the road conditions of commuters. While a mountain bike’s stock knobbly tyres are great if your commute follows an off-road route, they will add a considerable amount of drag when riding in town. If you plan on using a mountain bike solely for commuting, we’d recommend that you fit slick tyres to unleash its full potential.
Of course, no matter what kind of car you choose, safety is absolutely important. For people who already have bicycles, sometimes it is not necessary to buy new bicycles suitable for commuting. Perhaps you can transform your original bicycles so that you can be more relaxed and happy when commuting, which will undoubtedly save a lot of money. Of course, this is only for commuters who ride long distances.