For healthy bikers
If fitness is your riding goal, Hazelwood suggests a hybrid bike.
“A hybrid bike is a great way to ride your way into better shape,” he says. “Hybrid bikes come in a variety of geometries. A fitness hybrid will have a fit that will make you naturally want to ride a bit faster and increase your fitness over time. Hybrid bikes have a medium width tire that is good for most terrain aside from muddy roots or dry sand.”
Such hybrid bike brands include the Marin Kentfield, Giant Roam, and Giant Fastroad.
For experienced cyclists
Prefer to hit the road for a long ride? Hazelwood said that road bikes have come a long way, and brands such as Giant Contend, Defy and Fuji Gran Fondo are top-sellers.
“With wider tires and the option of a more relaxed or more aggressive geometry, there are bikes to fit every road rider’s desires,” he says. “A road bike features turn down handlebars for a number of different hand positions, a wide range of gearing for varied destinations, and lightweight components that are made to perform well under the constant pressure of pedaling powerhouses.
For off-roading, Hazelwood recommends a hardtail mountain bike (a bike with front suspension only) such as the Marin Bobcat Trail, Giant Talon, or Transition Trans Am.
“It’s a great way to get off-road and go just about anywhere,” he says. “Today’s mountain bikes will generally come with 27.5-inch or 29-inch wheels, which are both more efficient and have better traction than the 26-inc wheels we grew up with. A wide variance of gearing will assure we can ride up, down, and wherever the trail may take us.”
If you’re a little more ambitious and want to ride trails with downhill sections, roots, rocks, and jumps, Hazelwood suggests a full suspension mountain bike like the Marin Rift Zone, Santa Cruz Tallboy, or Mondraker Foxy.
“These bikes are more expensive, but for good reason,” he says. “A well-designed full suspension bike will give you the efficiency of a hardtail but allow for not only a smoother ride, but better contact between the tires and the riding surface. This will allow for a safer and more enjoyable rigorous ride.”
