Trekking bike, gravel bike, cargo bike: the range of bicycles is more diverse than ever. How do you find the right model for your own requirements?
Berlin (dpa / tmn) - gravel bike or cargo bike? Urban bike or fully? Or a normal trekking bike, by far the best-selling bike type in Germany. But what does normal mean here?
If you want to buy a new bike these days, you won't get very far with the old distinction between men's and women's models, stating the frame size. To find the right bike, you usually have to go into more detail.
But not all that bad, reassures René Filippek of the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC). Some new generic names were circulating. "But there is a lot of marketing involved," says the expert. A gravel bike is nothing more than a racing bike with a slightly upright seating position and wider tires.
And a fitness bike is basically also a racing bike, only that a straight handlebar is mounted on it, describes David Eisenberger from the Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV).
Find out your personal needs
In the end, the most important basic question is: For what purpose do I need the bike? "Do I want to do weekend tours of 30 kilometers or more or just from home to work," says ZIV spokesman Eisenberger. Accordingly, a trekking bike or a city or Holland bike would be the right choice. A trail or all-mountain bike is sufficient for longer tours and gentler off-road topographies, while it should be a downhill mountain bike with longer travel for demanding descents.
As soon as you have circled the bike type, it is time for money. Setting the budget is the second step. A carbon racing bike, for example, remains a dream if 1,500 euros represent the upper limit. But does it have to be carbon? In the end, in addition to the financial possibilities, it is also a question of entitlement.
But you should think about the equipment. Otherwise it could become impractical later. If you are traveling in flat areas, a hub gear with five not so finely graduated gears may be sufficient. If you are a maintenance muffle, you might prefer a more durable belt drive instead of a chain. If you are planning a bike tour, you may want to consider lowrider luggage racks.
The size has to fit
The next point: the bike has to fit the body size. There are made-to-measure products for which body measurements are measured individually. But they cost accordingly. Then there is sometimes a choice between different frame sizes, such as M, L and XL. Some bikes are only available in one size. Whether it fits or not is also a question of feeling - that's why a test drive is always essential, according to the experts.
So you can compare genres with each other, according to Filippek - for example a gravel bike with the similar cyclocross bike or a full suspension fully with a hardtail mountain bike that has a suspension fork but no frame damping.
Are hardware store bikes an alternative?
With a 68 percent share of bicycles sold, specialist retailers were still ahead of internet retailers (24 percent) in 2019. But five years earlier, the gap was even clearer (70 to 11 percent).
The most shrunk in this period - from 19 to 8 percent - according to ZIV, is the bicycle shop in hypermarkets, hardware stores and the food retail trade.
The bikes in hardware stores are also "safe and tested", explains Eisenberger. However, since these are often entry-level models in the lower price segment, you have to cut back on weight. But even such a bike can serve its purpose. "If you just roll to the supermarket, the bike doesn't have to be expensive," says Filippek.
Online retailers also offer advice
According to Filippek, the range of services offered by specialized internet retailers has recently improved. At companies like Canyon Bicycles or Bike Components, prospective buyers could ask questions via chat, phone or email. In addition, the websites usually offer detailed size calculators.
If the bike does not agree, there is a 30-day right of return - "In theory, we offer a test ride at home," says Canyon spokesman Thorsten Lewandowski. At Bike Components, according to product manager Christoph Schmitt, the customer has a 100-day right of return. With online providers, one should take into account the shipping, which usually costs around 50 euros with packaging. Returns are usually free of charge.
ZIV: 2019 bicycle market (pdf)
