Bicycle type guide
Pedal fleet
Which type of bike are you? The bike market boasts an absolutely huge range of different types of bikes, ranging from the practical to the exotic, from sporty models to more comfortable ones, from the modest-priced to the luxury models. Your usage is also a decisive factor: whether it involves getting to the cafe, the office, the next race or to lose a few kilos. TÜV NORD Mobilität has got into the saddle on your behalf and put the different types to the test.
Which type of bike are you?
Mountain bike
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Some like it crossways: The mountain bike (MTB) is the most sturdy sporting companion, particularly suited to non-delineated, hilly terrain. Since its inception in the 70s, the bike has taken numerous different forms. No other type of bike has had the same amount of research and activity devoted to it. Many MTB developments have become standard on other bike types. For example, suspension forks, balloon tyres and disc brakes were all originally conceived for MTBs. Typical features are the stable frames, wide, bulky tyres and derailleur gear systems with up to 27 gears. |
Racing bike
| Faster, faster. The racing bike is the classic street version of the fitness studio and originates from the sport of cycle racing. The lean racers are perfect for body-sculpting riders who want to burn calories without straining their joints. And this Tour de Fit does not require them to sit in the saddle for umpteen thousand kilometres like the pros, in order to leave the unwanted pounds by the wayside. Racing bikes weigh 6 to 9 kg and have very narrow tyres and rims. To enhance the aerodynamics, the handlebars are positioned lower than the saddle. |
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Dutch cycle
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Always serene, always bolt upright: The classic from over the border is heavy and its rider is forced to sit completely upright. |
Trekking bike
| Taking the long tour: The trekking bike is at home on streets and loose paths. You can ease into your tour with the hub or chain gear systems, while the luggage rack takes the weight of your knapsack or two. Many trekking bikes often have an additional luggage holder at the front for the extra luggage needed for long journeys or tours. |  |
Cruiser
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These are the Harleys of the bike world and boast a similar cult-status character. The first cruisers appeared in the early fifties. The cult bikes look similar in length to a chopper, and the curved shape of the frame and the pared-down features are its real characteristics. The term "Cruiser" is often used as a blanket term for a whole host of different custom-made bikes. These include the classic beach cruiser, stretch cruiser, Chopper and low-rider. Beach cruisers are the original bikes from the fifties with short, curved frames, thick tyres and a comfortable seat position. |
BMX
| These companions with their small wheels were originally designed for cyclo-cross and trial biking. As in motocross, the riders went head to head on a sand course some 400 metres long with jumps and steep curves. Since the 1960s, the BMX bike has been considered the perfect trick and stunt bike. |  |
Bonanza bike
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The return of every child's dream bike from the late sixties and early seventies: At first glance, the Bonanza bike looks like a chopper that has turned out somewhat too small. It is the "banana saddle" with is backrest that catches the eye and the typical German feature, i.e. the front fork with the fake "coil springs" and the doubled-up feature for both split handlebars, the bullhorn handlebar. The contrast is provided by the relatively small 20" wheels. The lever of the 3-gear hub gear system is similar to the automatic gearstick in a car and sits in the centre of both thin upper bars. In 2004, a major manufacturer launched a new version of the bike, with improved safety features, enabling the legend to continue rolling. |
Folding bicycle
| The particular advantage of a folding bicycle becomes obvious when you are not riding it: Whether in the train or the car, the bike transforms into light hand-luggage in a flash. Or it disappears into a corner of a room. |  |
Recumbent bike
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Make yourself comfortable: One of the main features of the recumbent bike is that it has no saddle: instead, it has a type of dish in which the rider "lays down" rather than sits. The pedals are fitted at the front and the handlebars are either in front of the upper body, or alternatively under or next to the seat. Even if recumbent bikes appear unusual, nearly all cyclists are able to safely negotiate bends after a short acclimatisation period. |
Tandem
| More fun when there are two of you: A tandem is a bike constructed with two seats arranged one behind the other. The special feature: A handicapped person can enjoy the fascinating experience of riding on a bike. |  |
Cycle Rickshaw
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You perhaps recognise cycle rickshaws from railway stations in some large cities. The rickshaw drivers transport their passengers through the streets in this environmentally friendly taxi. The cycle rickshaw has three wheels and is made up of a seat-bench which is fitted to a standard stable bicycle at the back. |
