If your idea of riding a bicycle is governed by occasional whims, a sudden desire to pedal or a Saturday morning ride, then you fall under this category. Usually covering a short distance and infrequent in nature, a recreational rider rides on flat or easy surfaces where one has limited hurdles to navigate past and speed isn’t much of a priority.

For recreational riders the most suited bike are comfort bikes. As the name itself suggests, these bikes are geared towards comfort rather than out-and-out performance. Featuring slightly wider tires than other bikes, comfort bikes provide relaxed seating position and easy maneuvering. While not as fast or efficient as some of the other bikes in this list, comfort bikes are sure fun to ride, good looking and take minimal time getting used to.

Chinese models from companies like Phoenix and Tianjin, and Indian ones by Atlas and Hero were preferred choices in the past. But now, international companies like Specialized produce great Comforts like the Specialized Source ’15, which is a more expensive choice and has to be ordered. If you are on a budget, stores around Ason sell some decent-priced Chinese models. Get on some of them, and pick the most ‘comfortable’ one.  

Commuter

If cycling is the primary mode of transportation day in, day out, then you are a commuter. For a commuter, cycling is more a means to an end than a passion, but that is not to say that commuters don’t have as much fun as other riders.

If you lead a passive lifestyle and have a spare cycle lying at your home, commuting to office at least once a week won’t be such a bad idea considering the already mentioned benefits, and the workout you would be getting.

For commuters the most-suited bikes are road bikes. True to their name, road bikes are ideal for

commuting. With their flat handlebars, relatively thin tires, slight frame and short wheelbase built predominantly for pavements and black-topped roads, they are best for medium to short-distance riding. Using them for off-road activities isn’t a good idea.

Companies like Commencal, Trek, Giant and Jamis produce commuters that are great investments as they guarantee durability and are ergonomically designed to give you a minimum-stress ride.

Again, there are Chinese and Indian options that do the job too.

A lot of people in Kathmandu these days have been opting for mountain bike-inspired models produced by Chinese companies.  

The off-roader

The name itself doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Obviously, any riding done off the road is classified as off-road riding: whether you are cycling in the country side, or are an adrenaline junkie pedalling across the harshest of terrains.

Without a doubt, mountain bikes are the most popular ones in the segment. Built to withstand rough terrain and harsh conditions, while providing the rider with adequate comfort and safety measures, these bikes are rugged workhorses. Mountain bikes usually come with wide tires and adequate suspension setup to absorb shocks from riding over uneven surfaces. They are not as quick as the road bikes, but are more adept in climbing over an inclined surface.

I would recommend an off-roader to go for a more reputed company when purchasing a mountain bike. The amount of wear and tear increases manifold when you are not in the streets and for that bikes produced by the likes of Commencal, Trek, Giant, Cube and Jamis are the safest buys in Kathmandu.

Freestyler

If your idea of riding a cycle is to perform stunts, do ramp work, or just freestyle, then you belong to the freestyler category.

For a freestyler, the most apt bike would be the iconic BMX. Bicycle Motocross, or the BMX as it is popularly known, are bikes adored by the free-riding community. BMXs are light, agile and have a strong frame. They are constructed to be smaller than other types of bicycles on the list, as stunts and jumps require more control for easy maneuvering.

These bikes are difficult to purchase in Nepal due to limited ridership. But some stores like Grind, Jhamisikhel, have a few in their collection. Nepali-Chinese collaboration Chain also produce a model in the segment.

And if comfort is your primary requirement, BMXs are not for you.

Touring cyclist

If speed, stunts and off-road riding aren’t your primary concerns, but covering long distances and cycling to new places are, then you belong to the touring-cyclist category.

For touring cyclists, touring bikes are the most obvious choice. They come with an assortment of setups to best serve their purpose of covering long distances. They are quite robust, come with heavy-duty wheels, longer wheelbase and have several mounting ports to accommodate riders’ essentials. They are known to be efficient and reliable.

While the above list covers most types of bikes, one need not conform to this category to enjoy the joy of pedalling. Just grab a bike and go for a ride, but while you do so, always be cautious.

 Ride safe! Happy riding!