Choosing a Bike
What style of bike is best for me?
Ride Qualities
Speed - Speed is not always a matter of efficiency. A bicycle made for a 5 mile sprint will not be the fastest bike for a 100 mile ride. It will be too stiff, tight-cornering and jittery for the long haul. If you are looking to do some road racing, triathalons, and the like, a lightning fast triathalon or time trial bike is your answer. Often though, the speed of a bike depends other qualities such as comfort, geometry, and efficiency.
Performance - Performance pertains to how well the components of a specific bike work to accommodate you. Ergonomics, smoothness of shifting, brake strength, shock absorbency, frame stiffness- these all come together to determine the level of performance needed to match the level the ride.
Efficiency - How hard you work does not directly correlate to how far you go. The width of a tire's tread affects its rolling resistance - the tire's resistance to the riding surface. Thin & Smooth treads get you there fast. Wide & Knobby treads give you more traction and stability, but they can slow you down. Sitting lower makes you more aerodynamic- gliding farther and accelerating faster. Sitting upright helps your back and your breathing. The lighter a bike, the faster it climbs and the easier it is to hold your speed. The longer your ride is, the more important efficiency becomes.
Comfort & Geometry - No one wants an uncomfortable ride. Some riders prefer being upright, some hate it. Sitting upright puts your weight on the saddle and off your wrists, elbows, shoulders, and lower back. This may appeal to riders who have more weight up top or are succeptable to joint pain.
For the average fit person, the optimal geometry puts your arms and back at equal angles. In doing so, your weight, and any weight you carry, is distributed equally. Track and road bikes tend to have tighter geometry making the rider more compact to increase aerodynamics, and speed. Cruisers, and hybrids have more relaxed geometry and place the rider upright like Mary Poppins. This increases comfort making them perfect for sunday afternoons rides and cruising 'round the neighborhood.
What type of riding will you be doing?
Cross Country Dual Suspensioin
"I want to work out after work and I love to go fast. When I get done with my day I need to blow off some steam and unwind. I've been thinking about doing a race or two."
If this sounds like you, take a look into getting a road bike. Road bikes are known for their short chain drive, quick cornering, tight wheelbase, and their light & compact frames. If this appeals to you but the idea of tight geometry is not what your into, take a look at straight bar road bikes as a more relaxed option.
Recommendations
Recreational & Sport Road Bike
Straight Bar / Fitness Road Bike
"I'd like to take some longer trips, maybe for the afternoon or the whole day. I like to ride anywhere from 5 - 100 miles a day. I enjoy exploring Wisconsin's Rails to Trails or taking trips around the state."
Comfort road bikes are a great answer to comfort over the long haul. These bikes accent their lightweight frames with ride softening carbon fiber forks and seatposts. If your looking at rides over 25 miles, check out touring bikes. Their steel frames are more forgiving than aluminum and often less expensive than their aluminum/carbon counterparts. Tourers also offer all the neccessary hookups needed for racks to carry your gear and anything else you need for long rides.
Recommendations
Straight Bar / Fitness Road Bike
"I need a bike to get from point A to B on a regular basis. Whether it be work, school, errands or anywhere I need to be in the city, I'll be doing it on my bike."
In Milwaukee, as with most metropolitan cities, bikes are faster than cars. People commute on just about any type of bike imaginable. Many bikes that focus on the commuter, but it really comes down to what you are comfortable with. Single speeds and fixed gears offer riders a challenge. They've gained popularity for their efficiency and beautiful simplicity. But they do force the rider to work. Climbing, accelerating, and traveling are all done in the same gear. For others, a mountain bike equipped with smooth tires is where it's at. This set up works for agressive riders who like to bunny hop obstacles. For some, plush upright hybrids might be the ticket. Another option is the tourer or the standard road bike. As you can tell, the area of commuting is wide open. Commuting really comes down to your preferences. Your best bet is to come down and take a few out for a test ride. Keep in mind we also have a large selection of used bikes, many that we specifically build with the commuter in mind.
Recommendations Come In & Test Them All!
Single Speed / Fixed Gear Bike
Straight Bar / Fitness Road Bike
Fixed gears are not a fad- they are where biking was born. They have stood the test of time and to this day they are a great form of transportation. By making a simple bike, manufacturers are able to give you top compenentry where it matters most. In turn, you get a bike that is efficient, requires little upkeep & maintenance and most of all - Sexy.
Learning the new skills of riding a fixed gear may be challenging and take a bit of time to master. However, experienced riders seldom go back to geared riding.
Another option is the single speed. Like fixed gears, the single speed does away with all the frivolous extras and gets back to the meat of the bicycle. But the single speed allows you to coast and brake like a standard bicycle, making it a bit more forgiving than its fixed gear counterpart. If your ride is mostly flat or you find you're not utilizing all those gears, you may want to check out the simple pleasure the single speed has to offer. Our manufactures offer single speeds and fixed gears in track,road, and mountain models. We also keep a wide selection of fixed/single speed conversions for those interested something beyond stock.
Recommendations
Single Speed Bike/Fixed Gear Bike
"I have a bike I like, but I want something I can sprint for 5-20 miles. I'm competing in triathalons and time trials."
Bikes geared toward this specific riding are by far the most competitive and fast. But they are the least compatible with other types of riding. The frame is super stiff to make sure power goes straight to the chain drive and to allow for super tight cornering. Due to this, the ride is jittery, unforgiving, and is sure to beat you up over the long haul. If this is not your only focus, a nice alternative might be a road bike with added triathalon bars for the race.
Recommendations
Recreational Rider
"I'm not a serious rider. I like summer jaunts around the lakefront or down to Jazz in the Park, Summerfest or just around the neighborhood."
If comfort and relaxation are your primary focus, consider comfort cross bikes (also called hybrids). Comfort cross bikes offer all the plushy extras. They come equipped with suspension seat posts and forks, cushy saddles, wider tires, and place you in an upright position (we like to call it the "Mary Poppins"). If you haven't ridden in a few years or would like to take the kids along- we highly recommend trying out a comfort cross.
If you're interested in a little more speed but don't want to sacrifice comfort, the straight-bar road bike is an option as well. The mountain bike is also option if you like doing the occasional trail or camping trips are in your future. If you're dreaming of that cruiser you had as a child, we've got those too. They'll take you back in time and around the neighborhood.
Recommendations
"I want to get into mountain biking. Those trails along the river look awesome, I'd love to give 'em a try. I want some transportation that I'll also be able take camping, maybe those trails in Kettle Moraine."
Mountain bikes range from a few $100 to over a $1000 and offer a wide variety in compenentry. You can find a decent entry level moutain bike for under $500. If you're doing a lot of agressive riding (bunny hops, rocks, logs), look for 24-speed drivetrain. If this fits you but you've a some extra to spend, consider cross-country hardtails or dual-suspension mountain bikes. All too often, good off-road trips are too few & far between.
Recommendations
"I'm getting into mountain bike racing. I want to fly through the woods and trails, and climb hills with ease."
Cross country bikes are the fastest mountain bikes there are. Cross country mountain bike are specifically designed for going fast through the woods on prepared trails. They're quick accelerators, lightweight, and nimble. They are not made to be the most heavy duty bike out there, so no catching air regularly. But if you need to be quick in the sticks, they're just right. They are hard to find under $1000, but Kona & Jamis have managed to do it.
Recommendations
"I want all cross country hardtails have to offer. I want to increase comfort while seated on off road trails. I want to maximize traction on loose surfaces and mud. I want to race the WORS, get out to John Muir or Kettle Moraine."
This is an extremely competitive segment of the Mountain Bike Industry. Every manufacturer will tout numerous technological advances that put their's on top. The truth! They're all great! Come in and talk to Ian or Cory. They'll help match you up with the one that's right for you! Or go for looks- It's hard to go wrong!
Reccommendations