Want to buy a bicycle, well before you race off to the store and spend all your hard earned money first you need to ask yourself a few questions to identify which is the right bike for you.

Was that road, mountain, free ride, commute, tourer and the list goes on. If you are new to cycling, the first thing you may notice is just how many different types of bikes are available these days. Choosing the right bike can be quite daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to determine what kind of riding you will be doing, how frequently you plan to ride and what your maximum spending limit will be.

No one bike can do everything. The first thing you need to consider is how you want to use the bike. Are you going to be using it mostly on the road? Do you want to take it off-road?  There are really three main types of bikes: road bikes, mountain bikes and recreational bikes.

It is important that you take time in deciding which is the right bike for you, as the wrong bike may well end up rusting in your basement, but the right bike will take you on countless journeys and adventures for years to come.
So ask yourself

On what type of road will you primarily ride?

• City / bitumen
• Bike paths and parkways
• Mostly off road

What will you use your bicycle for?

• For fun
• To go to work
• Cycle touring / camping
• Training and fitness
• All off road, dirt and dust

These few questions will tell you the type of bicycle that is best suited for your needs.


Now it is important to set yourself a budget, but remember maybe spending a little bit more up front will get you a bicycle that grows with you as you become more confident with your cycling and your desire to explore further a field. 

To work out how much you might need to budget for your new bike, you first need to consider how much cycling you are planning to do. Which of the categories below sounds like you?
I’m going to ride my bike…

• When I feel like it
• A few times a month
• On weekends
• A few times a week
• Every day

Now that you have identified your usage needs, you can use the following table to give you an idea of what your ideal budget range will be. will help provide you with an idea of how much you should be budgeting for your new bike. The idea is to find a bike that will provide you with cost effective  cycling. Naturally variations exist you budget for your new bike. Obviously
Naturally it is up to you how much you choose to spend, but it is worth remembering the golden rule… You get what you pay for. The more you pay, the better the quality of your bike, it will be more enjoyable to ride and be more reliable over a longer period of time. Higher quality bikes generally have more low maintenance features and components which can save you  money when it comes to servicing your shiny new bike.
Now let’s look at some of the different styles of bikes you have to choose from.