Question 1

What kind of bike should I buy?

Accepted Answer

It depends on where you ride. Mostly tarmac: a road bike. Tarmac and gravel: a gravel bike. City and commuting: a city or hybrid bike. Forest trails: a hardtail or full-suspension mountain bike. Carrying kids or shopping: an electric cargo bike. Taking your bike on trains or living in a small flat: a folding bike. The Pedal Oracle quiz asks seven questions and gives you a specific answer.

Question 2

How much should I spend on my first bike?

Accepted Answer

Plan for about €/$500–1,000 for a reliable first bike, plus around €/$100–150 for a helmet, lights and a lock. Below €400 bikes are usually heavy and use parts that wear out quickly. Mid-range bikes (roughly €/$1,000–3,000) are the best value for people who ride regularly.

Question 3

Is an e-bike worth it?

Accepted Answer

An e-bike is worth it if you ride in hilly areas, commute more than about 8 km, carry children or cargo, or are getting back into cycling. E-bikes typically cost €/$1,300–6,000, weigh 20–30 kg and need charging, so they are less practical if you have to carry the bike up stairs.

Question 4

Gravel bike or road bike?

Accepted Answer

Choose a road bike if you ride almost only on smooth tarmac and want maximum speed. Choose a gravel bike if you want to ride tarmac and unpaved roads, carry luggage, or only want one drop-bar bike. For most people a gravel bike is the more versatile choice.

Question 5

Hardtail or full-suspension mountain bike?

Accepted Answer

A hardtail is lighter, cheaper and easier to maintain, and is ideal for forest tracks and smoother trails, especially on budgets under €/$2,000. A full-suspension bike gives more grip, comfort and control on rough, rocky or steep trails.

Question 6

What size bike do I need?

Accepted Answer

Bike sizes depend on the brand and the type of bike, so use the manufacturer's size chart with your height and, ideally, your inseam (measure barefoot from the floor to your crotch with a book pressed up between your legs). As a rough guide for a road or gravel bike: 160–168 cm (5′3″–5′6″) rides a size S, 167–178 cm (5′6″–5′10″) an M, 177–186 cm (5′10″–6′1″) an L. After the Pedal Oracle quiz you can enter your height and inseam to get the right size for each recommended bike. If you are between sizes, the smaller size is more agile and the larger more stable.

Type	Best for	Entry-level	Mid-range	Performance
Road bikes	Fitness riding and training on tarmac	under €/$1,000	€/$1,000–3,000	€/$3,000+
Gravel bikes	Mixed rides on tarmac, gravel roads and forest paths	under €/$1,100	€/$1,100–3,000	€/$3,000+
Hardtail mountain bikes	Forest roads, fire roads and flowing trails	under €/$900	€/$900–2,500	€/$2,500+
Full-suspension mountain bikes	Singletrack with roots, rocks and drops	under €/$2,000	€/$2,000–4,500	€/$4,500+
Enduro bikes	Bike parks, steep alpine trails and big descents	under €/$2,500	€/$2,500–5,000	€/$5,000+
Hybrid bikes	Getting fit and riding for fun	under €/$700	€/$700–1,500	€/$1,500+
City bikes	Daily commuting in normal clothes	under €/$700	€/$700–1,500	€/$1,500+
Touring bikes	Multi-day and multi-week trips with panniers	under €/$1,000	€/$1,000–2,500	€/$2,500+
Folding bikes	Commuters who combine cycling with trains or buses	under €/$900	€/$900–2,200	€/$2,200+
Cargo bikes	School runs with one to three kids	under €/$1,500	€/$1,500–3,000	€/$3,000+

Every type of bike, explained

Bike types compared

Pick a bike type

Road bikes

Gravel bikes

Hardtail mountain bikes

Full-suspension mountain bikes

Enduro bikes

Hybrid bikes

City bikes

Touring bikes

Folding bikes

Cargo bikes

Choosing a bike: FAQ

Let the Oracle decide