Finding the Right Bike for You

The first step in finding the right bike is selecting the right style of bike. There are many different styles of bicycle to choose from, and selecting the one that best suits your needs will maximize your cycling experience. If you're not already familiar with them, please take a moment to look over the categories.

Road bikes

Bianchi Veloce

Road bikes, as the name suggests, are ideally suited to riding on pavement. They are designed to be light weight, and emphasize speed and efficiency. Road bikes have large 700c wheels with narrow tires for maximum efficiency and minimum rolling resistance. They use drop handlebars to put the rider in a more aerodynamic riding position. Because of their efficiency, these bikes are ideal for long-distance rides and are perfect for racing.

See our road bike recommendations

Triathalon/Time Trial

Jamis Comet

Triathalon/Time trial bikes are specially designed road bikes used for (drumroll) triathalons and time trial racing. These events emphasize high speed over relatively short distances, and the bikes are specifically designed for these purposes. They feature very short wheelbases for quick handling and rapid acceleration, steep head head tube angles for sharp turning, and special handlebars (called aerobars) that put the rider in a very aerodynamic position. While these bikes excel in the events they are designed for, it is important to point out that they are rather uncomfortable and very impractical for other types of riding.

Cyclocross/Touring

Bianchi Axis

Cyclocross started in Europe in the 1940s as a way for road racers to keep in shape in the off-season. Today it has grown into its own widely popular sport, with events across North America and Europe. We even have races locally. Cyclocross events, which are typically raced in winter, are essentially a bicycle race in a muddy field with man-made obstacles such as short walls and barriers that racers must carry their bikes over. (For information on local cylocross events, check our links page). The bikes used for these races are similar to road bikes, with several key differences. They typically feature stronger wheels and frames than road bikes, longer wheelbases for extra stability in rough conditions, higher bottom brackets to allow easier clearing of obstacles, and cantilever brakes (instead of the small caliper brakes found on road bikes) to allow for more stopping power in wet conditions, as well as extra clearance for fenders and muddy tires.

Touring bikes share many of these design features. Strong wheels and frames allow loaded packs for long distance touring, longer wheelbases add stability to a fully loaded bike, and cantilever brakes provide extra stopping power when fully loaded and allow the use of fenders. These same features make these bicycles perfect for everyday all-around road use, and are especially suited to the rough roads found in our area. They are great for fast group rides, commuting, to light off-road trail use, and everything in between.

Flat-bar Road Bikes

Marin Mill Valley

Sometimes referred to as high-end hybrids, these bikes combine the more upright riding position of a comfort or hybrid bike with the light weight and efficiency of a road bike. As the name suggests, they use flat handlebars instead of the drop bars found on road bikes. These bikes are great for someone looking for the speed of a road bike without the uncomfortable riding position. It also makes a great commuter bike.

Hybrid/Comfort Bikes

Raleigh Passage 3.0

Hybrid bikes are sometimes referred to as city bikes, and use the efficient wheels of a road bike with a much more upright riding position, easier gearing, suspension, and sturdier frames. The result is an easy-riding, comfortable, but efficient bicycle that is perfect for recreational riding around the neighborhood, the bike trail, or the metropark. These bikes are some of our most popular models, and make great commuters, grocery-getters, or just plain fun bikes. They are also good for the occasional long ride.

Comfort bikes share most of the characteristics of hybrid bikes, but use a 26 inch wheel and fat tire rather than a 700c road wheel. This results in a softer, plusher ride, as well as increased traction and stability, at the expense of efficiency. These are best suited to short rides.

Mountain Bikes

Raleigh Mojave 8.0

Mountain bikes are used for riding off-road trails over rough terrain. They feature strong heavy-duty frames, 26 inch wheels with fat knobby tires for traction, and powerful brakes. Almost all mountain bikes have suspension forks, and many feature rear suspension as well. They typically have low gearing for powering up hills and over obstacles. These bikes are not well suited to street riding, as they are rather heavy when compared to a hybrid or road bike, and the 26 inch wheels and tires are inefficient on pavement.

Before shopping for a bicycle, you should answer the following questions.

What kind of riding do you plan on doing?
If you ride with other people, what kind of bikes are they riding?
Do you have neck, back or shoulder problems?
How much money are you willing to spend?
Will your children be riding with you or on your bike?

After answering these questions, and selecting the type of bike that will best suit your needs, the next step is to come in for a test ride. Fit and ride charactaristics vary from bike to bike and from one manfacturer to another, so it's important to be properly fitted and to test ride a number of bikes in order to find the one that's right for you. A friendly, knowledgable Wersell's employee will help you as you go through this process.

Things to do when you come in to choose a bike:

Be sure to allow about an hour to come in and test ride a variety of bikes that fit your needs, as ride characteristics will differ between models and manufacturers.
Wear proper shoes to ride a bike. No flip flops, high heels or combat boots please.
Dress properly. Pants and shorts are ideal riding clothes. Skirts and dresses are often difficult to ride in.
If needed, bring a helmet, test ride helmets are not provided.

Why spend more?

The question that really needs to be asked is "why not spend more?" A $300 bicycle from a bike shop is going to fit better, last longer and provide a much more pleasurable ride than a toy store or department store bicycle. If you you can't afford a new bike, even a previously enjoyed, reconditioned bicycle from a reputable bicycle dealer is a far superior alternative to department store bicycles.