Whether rekindling a childhood fondness, or learning for the first time, riding a bike is always a good, easy choice to make. Besides the health benefits, cycling is just plain fun. The challenge lies in choosing the right bicycle.

One straightforward method is to pick the same style bike as one’s riding companions. Mountain bikes and beach cruisers will never keep up with friends on road bikes on a paved trail, but road bikes can’t go on dirt or sand.

If you, like a lone wolf, ride alone, consider your ideal riding terrain and the terrain in the immediate vicinity of your house or launch point since this may be the determining factor in the type of bicycle necessary.

Road

Road bicycles are built for speed and pavement. They’re lightweight and have smooth, skinny tires and “drop” handlebars for on-road racing and general zooming.

High-end road racing bikes, especially those used in professional racing, have frames made from carbon fiber composite to further reduce weight. Frames may also be made from titanium, aluminum and steel.

Many brands have women-specific models, which have different touch points (saddle, handlebars, and sometimes crank arm length) for women’s anatomy and sometimes have women-specific frame geometry.

Fitness

Fitness bicycles have most of the advantages of regular road bikes—lightweight frames and relatively narrow tires for efficiency on pavement—with a flat or upright handlebar. Sometimes referred to as flat-bar road bikes performance hybrids, these bikes are designed for people who want a light, high-performance bike, but don’t like the drop-handlebar riding position of a regular road bike. Most of them can accept somewhat wider tires, to make them suitable for use on unpaved trails. They usually have the ability to mount cargo racks and fenders, which make them good commuter bikes.

Cyclo-cross

Cyclocross bicycles, ‘cross bikes or cx, are specialized road bikes designed to be raced on a mixed surface course with a combination of pavement, unpaved trails, gravel, grass. They have a drop handlebar like regular road bikes, and wider wheel sets like Fitness bikes but they have also have a different style of brake that helps to prevent mud buildup in the frame.

Triathlon/Time Trial Bike

Triathlon/Time Trial Bicycles are road bikes that maximize their aerodynamics by allowing the rider to crouch forward, minimizing the wind resistance. These highly specialized bikes are best left to the professionals.

Touring

Touring bicycles are another specialized road bike designed to be ridden on pavement. They feature a lower gear range compared to regular road bikes, to allow for carrying heavy loads up steep hills. In support, touring bikes are often outfitted with wider tires, pannier racks, rear racks and mudguards. The frame design of a touring bike is relaxed, allowing for more upright and therefore more comfortable riding.

Track | Fixed-gear

Track bicycles, also known as fixed-gear bicycles or fixies are designed to be ridden on a velodrome, which is an oval track specifically for bicycle racing. Some prefer track bikes, however, due to their simple design, which makes them easy to maintain. They have a single gear that does not provide the ability to coast, so if the bike is moving, feet must be pedaling. For even more simplicity, some riders prefer to not have brakes, since the fixed-gear mechanism can also act as a brake.

Mountain

Mountain bicycles are ideal for riding rough off-road trails. They have flat or upright handlebars, and a very low gear range for pedaling up steep trails with shock absorbers or suspension systems. Mountain bikes with front suspension only are called hardtails; mountain bikes with both front and rear suspension are called full-suspension bikes or duallies. Mountain bikes with no suspension are called rigid. Fat bikes, rugged machines with their extremely wide, knobby tires for narrow dirt trails, are also included in the mountain bike category. Styles include hardtail, full-suspension cross country, full-suspension trail, and full-suspension enduro.

Hybrid

Hybrid Bicycles were originally conceived to provide the advantages of both road bikes and mountain bikes. Hybrids are almost always made from aluminium for its combination of strength and low weight. Their large, padded seats and upright handlebars provide a comfortable riding position, and are best for casual riding around the neighborhood or bike paths, short-distance commuting, and errands around town. They can be ridden on paved roads, but are not as lightweight or efficient as road bikes. They fair well on unpaved bike trails, but are not appropriate for rough off-road mountain bike trails. Most hybrid bikes have front suspension to smooth out small bumps, but some are fully rigid.

Folding

Folding Bicycles are best for those frequently traveling with their bike, want a bike to keep on their boat or plane, or who live in small apartments and don’t have a lot of storage space. They’re also good for commuters who need to take their bike on a bus or train for part of their commute, or who don’t have a safe place to park their bike at work. Most folding bikes have smaller wheels, which makes the bike a little less efficient and trickier to handle than a standard bike, but better folders deal with that by including suspension. Folding bikes generally have steel or aluminum frames and small wheels.

Recumbent

Recumbent bicycles have a long, low design and a full-size seat with a backrest. Recumbents come in two-wheel and three-wheel designs. Many recumbent riders feel that they are the most comfortable option available for bicycling. However, they are more difficult to pedal up hills, and they can be a challenge to carry from one place to another in a motor vehicle.

BMX

BMX, or bicycle motor cross, bicycles are popular with kids because of their small size, but they are also used by adults for various styles of trick and stunt riding.

Tandem

A tandem is a bicycle built for two. Two riders of different abilities can enjoy a ride at the same pace when riding a tandem. They work well with younger riders, new cyclists, or the blind. Tandems do not require any special skill to ride and can be great fun, but are harder to transport.

Beach cruiser

A beach cruiser is a bicycle designed for riding short distances on flat terrain, like a boardwalk. Cruisers are identifiable by high handlebars and usually have fenders, and chain guards.

Electric

Electronic bicycles can be bikes from almost any of the other categories here, designed with a small, lightweight electric motor to assist the rider. The motor adds weight, making pedaling slightly more difficult, but the benefits of electric assistance help with that.

Commuting Bike

A commuting bike is any bicycle used as general transportation, regardless of the style. Commuting bikes are all about practical amenities such as lights, rear racks, bags, locks and fenders. These accessories make the bicycle a utilitarian tool.

Kids Bikes

A child’s bike is a bicycle that has been designed specifically for youth. Every aspect of these vehicles is scaled down to be safe and appropriate for a child.

Balance Bike

Balance bikes are designed for younger kids. In general, kids who start with balance bikes ride pedal bikes independently at a younger age than those who use training wheels.

Bike Accessories

In addition to the bike itself, accessories are not just fashionable, but necessary. Though there is no mandatory statewide law (however some cities and counties including Seattle and Pierce County), helmets are a potentially lifesaving addition to any cyclists outfit.

Other handy accessories include a “d” shaped lock, pump and patch repair kit, bottle holders, gloves, and elbow/knee pads.

Licensing

It is the city ordinance to register your bike within Walla Walla city limits. To do so, contact the Records staff at the lobby of the Walla Walla Police Department. The license is $5 each and are good for as long as you own the bike. WWPD requires the model number, serial number, make, color and speed of the bike to license it.

Waitsburg and Dayton require no such licensing but offer it as a service to protect against theft.