- What is the best bike to buy?
Um.
Just one sec, actually.
(upbeat music)
In all seriousness, this is, actually,
a really difficult question to answer.
Not because it's actually hard to find a great bike,
but, actually, because the best bike
depends entirely on you, the rider.
So perhaps instead of asking what the best bike is,
we should ask instead, how do you buy the best bike for you?
Now, the first point in buying your best bike is
to actually make sure that it's suitable for what you want.
Now, we're gonna concentrate on drop handlebars here.
If you wanna go off-road, then we think
that you should buy a mountain bike.
Now, cyclocross bikes, or gravel bikes, like this
are amazingly versatile, and they are
great fun off-road as long as it's smooth.
For any genuine, adrenaline-fueled off-roading, though,
the fatter tyres of a mountain bike just make it more fun.
You have more control, they're less susceptible
to bumps and rocks and roots, so you ride in more comfort,
you ride faster, and you're also less likely
to get a puncture.
So what about these gravel, or cyclocross bikes, then?
Well, they're like road bikes, basically,
although they are a little bit slow.
We tested it out recently, and found that this bike
is two kilometres per hour slower on a ride than that bike.
Now, that may or may not matter to you, but it is a fact.
So, if you wanna race on the road, then
you're gonna need to buy a road bike.
For everything else, though, this bike could be perfect.
You could just embrace the larger tyres, go exploring,
ride on crappy roads that you wouldn't normally touch
with a barge pole, on a bike like that.
These also feel really robust, so you could happily ride
to work on one every single day through the winter,
and you stick a child seat on the back.
It's a true work horse.
So then, given that not many of us actually do race,
is there a point in buying a road bike?
Oh yeah, there is definitely a point in buying a road bike.
They're faster, which also means, don't forget,
that you can ride further more easily as well,
if that's your bag.
They are more responsive, they're more lively,
they climb better, they can descend better,
they certainly corner brilliantly.
It's a little bit like having a sports car,
but for the price of a bike.
And actually, as well, many road bikes
are far more capable at riding gravel than you might think.
The next most important points, or in fact, join first,
we couldn't actually decide, is getting the correct fit.
That is incredibly important in getting
the best bike for you.
Now, you don't need to invest in a professional bike fit.
If you're buying from a reputable shop,
they should be able to help you get a correct size.
Now most people, rightly, will concentrate on saddle height.
That actually is very easily adjustable.
And so, what has more of an effect
on what the actual right bike is,
is the reach of the handlebars, and also their height.
So if you prefer a short or higher position, you're probably
gonna have to buy a bike that gives you that.
So, an endurance type road bike.
However, if you prefer a longer,
more stretched-out position, you'll probably find
an endurance bike quite uncomfortable.
So actually, you'll need to go
for more traditional, lightweight, or arrow bike.
Lightweight used to be the
be all and and all of bike buying.
Lighter bikes are faster.
Or they were, actually, until aerodynamic bikes came about,
and technically, they are now faster in just
about all riding situations.
But, they're also expensive, so at lower price points,
lightweight should still be one
of your primary considerations.
Lighter bikes, as I said, are faster and more responsive,
and they're also more efficient.
(upbeat music)
There are four options around there.
Steel, titanium, aluminium, and carbon fibre.
Each one can be built into an amazing bike,
and each one will have its advocates.
At lower budgets, though, the weight of the frame set
is probably gonna be your primary concern.
So, cheaper steel is pretty heavy,
but it does feel really robust and really solid.
Aluminium is lighter, and then
carbon fibre, generally lighter still.
However, while many riders try and make the jump
to a carbon fibre frame as early as possible,
I'm inclined to think that, actually,
an aluminium frame bike for the same price
is often a better bet, and a large part
of that is because of the gears.
More expensive gears tend to work better and more smoothly,
up to about the 1,000 euros, dollars,
pounds mark for the bike.
And after that, they just become lighter,
with the exception, however, of electronic gears,
which do work better.
They do, I'm sorry.
Now, the number of gears shouldn't
be that much of an issue.
Only that fewer gears at the back tends
to denote slightly poorer performance,
and slightly heavier weight.
Wheels and tyres can make or break ride quality.
So, a good, lightweight set can have
a transformative effect on you bike.
So when you are purchasing a new one,
you should definitely pay attention to what is on it,
and potentially make some sacrifices elsewhere on the bike
in order to get a crackin' set of wheels.
What happens if the bike that you would like
to buy comes with a saddle that you don't like,
or toe clips and straps?
You change 'em.
That's what having a little bit of extra budget set aside
to maybe buy a set of clipless pedals, or buy a handlebar
with a different shape that you prefer can make
a really big difference to a bike.
So, try not to let just one or two component choices
put you off what might otherwise be the best bike for you.
Last, but by no means least, is the looks
of your bike, the aesthetics of it.
Now, I think, perhaps, it's deserved for even higher
up our list, even though it doesn't sound like
the most rational way of choosing a bike.
But, hear me out.
If you truly love the look of a bike,
if it sets your heart racing every time you see it,
it's in my mind, that is a great bike,
and you can probably forgive it any shortcomings
if every time you set your eyes on it,
you wanna go for a bike ride.
That's a great bike.
Now, make sure you let us know in the comment section
down below what you think is the best bike for you,
why, and in fact, what is it?
Then, also make sure you subscribe to GCN.
To do that, just click on the globe.
If you're after more content that might help you
decide what the best bike is,
we've got a great video just over there
which is endurance bike vs arrow bike vs lightweight bike.
Or, on that whole cyclocross vs road thing,
that one's just over there.