This is one of the most common questions people ask on cycling forums. Typically, it goes "I have Rs XXX to spend, what bike should I get". The thing is, there is no real answer to this - pretty much any bike in that price range is a candidate.
Think about it. If one bike was universally better than all the others, why would anyone buy the others?
So the first thing to understand is: there is no Best Bike. It Does. Not. Exist.
This is true for any budget. Bikes have many characteristics - weight, handling, responsiveness, comfort, aerodynamics, shock absorption, groupset, wheels, etc. So two bikes at any given point will be slightly different in each of these areas. So which is better? Adding to the complication - those difference will be very minor and also hard to quantify - hell, some riders may not even notice those differences. And remember that this holds true even so more so at a budget, where most bikes are made to a price point using pretty standardized technology - so the differences are even lesser. Ponder on this point and take it to heart.
The second thing to understand that is: very people have in-depth experience with many different models. So if you ask whether "Brand X Model A" is better than "Brand Y Model B" - odds are that very few people will have tried them out. You will get a lot of replies which are essentially confirmation bias ("I have Brand X, I like it, so I will recommend it"). You will also get other replies which basically focus on one aspect - maybe wheels, or overall weight or something: "Brand Y has better wheels/is lighter and so is better". Except you dont ride just wheels - you ride the entire bike. So you have to evaluate the type of bike that you need.
Before we start, lets understand the main bike types.
MOUNTAIN BIKES
These are the big burly machines designed for off-road riding. They have disc brakes, they have front (and often rear) suspension and they just look bad-ass. They even have bad-ass names like Sultan, Leviathan and such. But they are also heavy and not very efficient to ride on roads - the suspension and fat tires both rob you of a lot of speed. They are great for riding on technical off-roads and not so good for riding on the road.
Within the MTB category, there are different types as well: XC (cross country), enduro/all-mountain, trail and downhill. These categories generally represent a greater level of difficulty/roughness of terrain and also greater suspension/sturdiness/weight/cost.
ROAD BIKES
These are the light, purposeful bikes designed for being ridden on roads (yes, even Indian roads) in a fast and efficient manner. They typically have drop bars, which allow the rider to get lower (and so faster, due to better aerodynamics) and also offer more hand positions, for greater comfort. They typically come with thinner tires, designed for speed.
However, not all road bikes are meant for racing. This category covers a wide range of bikes, all designed for riding on the road and includes:
- Race specific bikes, which ARE designed purely for going as fast as possible and are very responsive in how they handle
- Sportive/Endurance bikes, which are similar but offer a slightly more upright sitting position for a better mix of speed, comfort and stability. They typically also offer more practical features like ability to add fenders (rain protection) and even racks/panniers (for carrying some cargo), and so can be used for more than just riding fast
- Gravel bikes, which are similar to endurance bikes but have some design tweaks which improve stability and which also allow you to fit fatter tires for taking the bike off tarmac onto gravel trails and such.
HYBRIDS
These are the crossovers of the bike world - they have the flat bars of the MTB world, making it easier to sit upright for all ages and fitness abilities and also skinnier tires than MTBs (although not as thin as those on road bikes), making them fairly efficient and light to ride on tarmac. Hybrids may also have a front suspension - this is usually lighter/less burly than an MTB suspension and designed to take the edge of riding on the road. They usually also have the ability to take racks and fenders, increasing their practicality for commuting, touring, etc.
So in many ways, they combine the best elements from both categories to come up with a feature set that is practical and works well for a wide range of uses. While they are not the most exciting of bikes, for most cyclists, they are in fact the ideal bike for a lot of people..
So which of these bikes do you want?
STEP 1: FIGURE OUT YOUR NEEDS
You want an MTB, don't you? After all, the roads where you live are really bad, and you need suspension and disc brakes as well. right? Wrong. You don't.
For starters, most of us ride in areas where the roads aren't great. I am 82kg and ride my expensive, lightweight carbon wheels everywhere. Not had an issue yet. Look up videos of pros riding Paris Roubaix cobbles on lightweight carbon race bikes, at speeds far greater than you or I will ever touch. So unless you actually plan to ride the bike extensively on trails, you do not need an MTB. The only exception would be if you are over 100kg or so in size and on a very tight budget - in that case, yes, a MTB may be your best option.
But for everyone else, you'd be better served by either a hybrid or a road bike, depending on your use case. But how do you decide between a hybrid or road bike - and which type of road bike do you go for?
If you are starting out, you probably don't even know what you want. You want a bike that can do everything: you want something you can ride for fitness. You want something that can go fast. You want something that you can go "offroading on weekends". Sound familiar?
News flash - for one, you probably won't be doing all those things. Second, the more things you want to be able to do with your bike, the more you are adding to the cost. Thirdly, many of these requirements are contradictory - so in trying to get something which checks all the boxes, you will end up with something that doesn't do anything properly. So be honest. Do you want a bike just to ride around a little and enjoy a little exercise? Do you want to get into road riding and ride fast or long distances? Do you want to go explore the dirt trails? Do you want to commute? Pick the most important use case and get something optimized for that.
I repeat - try to get a bike that tries to do everything, and you will end up with a bike that does nothing well.
Also, many people want to get into cycling to improve their fitness - well, any cycle will do that job. It is the effort that burns calories, not the bicycle. While the type of bicycle under you will not change the calorie burn, it will, however, change your riding experience. So when picking a bike, think about what you want out of your pedaling experience.
STEP 2: WHAT FEATURES/BIKE TYPE DO YOU NEED?
Let's talk about various features of bikes and the effect they have on your ride experience:
1) Riding Position: One of the biggest, and most impactful, differences between bikes is riding position. Hybrids tend to put you in a very upright seated stance. Road bikes tend to put you in a lower stance. However, do note that road bikes cover a very wide range of riding stances. Aggressive race bikes will put you very low. Endurance bikes will put you in a fairly comfortable position which is intended for riding long distance (a couple of hundred kilometers). So don't automatically assume that road bikes are uncomfortable - you just need to find a model that has a riding position that fits you. A properly fitted road bike is comfortable for 6-7 hours on the saddle!
The best way to figure out riding position is to go to a bike shop and sit on some bikes - and maybe even take them for a short spin, if the bike shop allows.
2) Tire Width - most of your comfort comes from tires. A modern race-oriented road bike will take tires up to 28 mm (often 30mm). A sportive/endurance oriented road bike can go up to 32mm (and sometimes a bit higher, and allows a slightly more upright seating position, which many beginners find more comfortable. Gravel bikes allow much thicker tires - which is great for trails and broken roads, but often you pay a small weight penalty for this.
So based on your usage, pick a bike which allows you to fit appropriately sized tires. Typically, 32mm is more than enough for most tarmac, no matter how bad. For more comfort, you could go with thicker tires, but that will have an effect on your speed. If you plan to ride off-road, then you may need wider tires up to 40mm (and often, people keep 2 wheelsets - one for riding on tarmac and one for riding off road).
Lastly remember: treads dont serve any purpose on tarmac. Slick tires provide the best grip and speed on tarmac. Treads are useful off-road, however.
3) Suspension - if you are going to be doing a lot of offroading over technical terrain,
by all means get a MTB with good suspension (and plan to pay > Rs
35k or more for a good front-suspension bike aka hardtail, and closer to Rs 75k
and above for a full suspension). Like cheap disc brakes, cheap suspension
forks are nearly useless and cause your bike to bob and lose
efficiency. For roads - thicker tires run at lower pressures, and slowing down a little for potholes is a far more efficient solution than suspension. That said, if you do want some suspension, a hybrid with suspension may be a good option - but expect to pay more for this, in order to get quality that actually works. Remember - it is better to not have any suspension than to have crappy suspension. Seriously.
4) Disc brakes - Disc brakes provide a lot of benefits on road bikes: they provide great grip in the rain, they are fantastic on long descents and they allow use of wider tires/rims, which bring technical benefits to road bikes. However, they do add cost and complexity, and so getting quality is very important. And keep some perspective: rim brakes provide more than enough stopping power for all the typical conditions you will be riding your bike in. Road cyclists - even pros cycling at 50kph - have used them for decades without issues.
Hydraulic disc brakes are great. Higher end mechanical disc brakes are decent. Cheap mechanical disc brakes are crappy - they are a pain in the ass to maintain, don't offer any braking advantage over rim brakes and just add weight. While there are a lot of reasons to get disc brakes on road bikes, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, you need to have a budget of Rs 75,000 or more for (approximately) for those reasons to be valid. For lesser expensive road bikes or for hybrids, you will get better performance with rim brakes - remember, these are BIcycles, not MOTORcycles.
5) Practicality - if you plan to use the bike for long, leisurely rides, or for commuting, or for riding in bad weather, you need to pay attention to things like ability to mount racks (for carrying cargo), fenders (for rain protection), kickstand, etc. Race bikes dont accommodate any of them, incidentally. Some endurance road bikes may have options for fenders and racks, but rarely kick stands (those things are dangerous in group rides). Hybrids generally allow fenders, racks and kickstands.
6) Gearing: if you are riding mostly in flats, you dont need a lot of gearing. With hills, flyovers, etc, gearing is a god-sent. But keep in mind - gears add the most complexity (and cost) to a bike. If you want reliable gearing, you will need to spend more. Also, the number of gears on a bike doesn't really make a difference in how easy it is to climb a hill - what it mostly changes is the gap between gears.
7) Material: this is an area where there is a lot of debate. Carbon fiber is the material of choice for race bikes - it is light, stiff and can be shaped as needed for aerodynamics and ride quality. It is also expensive. Steel is heavier, but has a springy, comfortable ride quality that a lot of people enjoy - although quality of steel makes a huge difference in these areas. Titanium is similar to steel in ride quality, but is a bit lighter & not prone to corrosion. And lastly, aluminium is the material of choice in entry-level frames: it is stiff and responsive, but not as smooth/comfortable as the other materials - although to be clear, these are just broad attributes and not universal truths: things like choice of materials, tube shaping, etc. all play a role in determining ride quality. Hell, even changing your tire or tire pressure will make a bigger difference in ride comfort than Al vs carbon.
Earlier, the recommendation used to "high end Al is better than cheap carbon". I don't think that is true these days and if you are getting a road bike for tarmac use, I do recommend getting carbon fiber if your budget allows. It IS going to be a fair bit more expensive, but the ride quality is worth it. At prices of under 1L, you are going to be riding Al, for most the part. But don't fret - while carbon fiber may be better, you can get some really good bikes in Al as well that give you 99% of the performance of the carbon fiber bikes for a lot less.
For hybrids, you are likely going to be limited to steel or Al (in fact, i dont think there are too many options in carbon fiber among hybrids) - for their intended use, this gives you a bike that is more reliable and less prone to damage from accidental knocks and falls.
STEP 3: BUDGET
So you want a bike that does it all. And you only want to pay Rs 20k for it. Newsflash- aint gonna happen. Bikes are high-tech pieces of machinery - high end bikes can cross 7 lakhs in price. Now obviously, you don't need to spend anywhere close to that, but you also need to accept that at the budget end (under a lakh, let's say), you very much get what you pay for. Light, reliable, cheap -- you can only pick 2.
So really think about your budget. Yes, we'd all like to get a super-fast ultra-light carbon race bike for Rs 20k, but that doesn't happen. At some point, you have to either up your budget, change your requirements or accept that you will get a crappy bike. How much does your phone cost and how often do you change it? By comparison, a bike will last you much longer, improve your fitness, bring you pleasure
As a general indication, here are some suggested price points:
- Under Rs 20k: single speed urban commuter bike. In this budget, disc brakes, suspension and gears are going to crappy and not worth the weight or hassle of maintenance.
- Rs 25-35k: geared hybrid
- Rs 50k and above: road bike
In each of the cases, going on the higher end of the budget scale will give you a better bike - one that requires less maintenance and more fun/responsive to ride. This is especially true of road bike, all the way up to around Rs 1.5 lakhs - after which the point of diminishing returns starts to set it.
In the long run, it is cheaper to buy the Right Bike once, even if means paying extra, as opposed to buying a bike with a lot of compromises, having a lousy experience with it and then buying the Right Bike the second time around (or third/fourth time, depending on how long it takes you to learn this lesson).
THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF BUYING
So now you have a realistic budget and know what type of bike you want. What do you do next?
If you are a beginner, it is important that you get a bike that fits you well. So go to a good local bike shop (LBS): Wheelsport, Crankmeister. Pro Bikers, Happy Eath, BOTS and more. They will help you find a bike that fits you correctly. And for the record, there is more to a good fit than simply standing over a bike and making sure there is space between the top tube and your crotch - so sit on the bike and make sure it feels comfortable.
Check out 2 or 3 models in your price range. Also check out what you get if you go one step above or one step below that model (you may find the difference worthwhile). Typically, you may find one bike feels a lot better than others - if so, that's your bike.
If you cannot decide - buy from the bike shop that has given you the best service. They will be your go-to resource for more accessories, upgrade, repairs, etc. So build the relationship.
And if you still cannot decide - buy the best looking bike (really, this is my most important factor - i will not buy a bike if i dont like its color). A bike that gets your heart thumping faster is a bike that you will want to ride more. And THAT is the most important thing, as opposed to measurbating over insignificant differences between individual components or framesets or whatever.
Good luck. If you have any questions, feel free to ask on the BikesZone Facebook Group.
4) Disc brakes - Disc brakes provide a lot of benefits on road bikes: they provide great grip in the rain, they are fantastic on long descents and they allow use of wider tires/rims, which bring technical benefits to road bikes. However, they do add cost and complexity, and so getting quality is very important. And keep some perspective: rim brakes provide more than enough stopping power for all the typical conditions you will be riding your bike in. Road cyclists - even pros cycling at 50kph - have used them for decades without issues.
Hydraulic disc brakes are great. Higher end mechanical disc brakes are decent. Cheap mechanical disc brakes are crappy - they are a pain in the ass to maintain, don't offer any braking advantage over rim brakes and just add weight. While there are a lot of reasons to get disc brakes on road bikes, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, you need to have a budget of Rs 75,000 or more for (approximately) for those reasons to be valid. For lesser expensive road bikes or for hybrids, you will get better performance with rim brakes - remember, these are BIcycles, not MOTORcycles.
5) Practicality - if you plan to use the bike for long, leisurely rides, or for commuting, or for riding in bad weather, you need to pay attention to things like ability to mount racks (for carrying cargo), fenders (for rain protection), kickstand, etc. Race bikes dont accommodate any of them, incidentally. Some endurance road bikes may have options for fenders and racks, but rarely kick stands (those things are dangerous in group rides). Hybrids generally allow fenders, racks and kickstands.
6) Gearing: if you are riding mostly in flats, you dont need a lot of gearing. With hills, flyovers, etc, gearing is a god-sent. But keep in mind - gears add the most complexity (and cost) to a bike. If you want reliable gearing, you will need to spend more. Also, the number of gears on a bike doesn't really make a difference in how easy it is to climb a hill - what it mostly changes is the gap between gears.
7) Material: this is an area where there is a lot of debate. Carbon fiber is the material of choice for race bikes - it is light, stiff and can be shaped as needed for aerodynamics and ride quality. It is also expensive. Steel is heavier, but has a springy, comfortable ride quality that a lot of people enjoy - although quality of steel makes a huge difference in these areas. Titanium is similar to steel in ride quality, but is a bit lighter & not prone to corrosion. And lastly, aluminium is the material of choice in entry-level frames: it is stiff and responsive, but not as smooth/comfortable as the other materials - although to be clear, these are just broad attributes and not universal truths: things like choice of materials, tube shaping, etc. all play a role in determining ride quality. Hell, even changing your tire or tire pressure will make a bigger difference in ride comfort than Al vs carbon.
Earlier, the recommendation used to "high end Al is better than cheap carbon". I don't think that is true these days and if you are getting a road bike for tarmac use, I do recommend getting carbon fiber if your budget allows. It IS going to be a fair bit more expensive, but the ride quality is worth it. At prices of under 1L, you are going to be riding Al, for most the part. But don't fret - while carbon fiber may be better, you can get some really good bikes in Al as well that give you 99% of the performance of the carbon fiber bikes for a lot less.
For hybrids, you are likely going to be limited to steel or Al (in fact, i dont think there are too many options in carbon fiber among hybrids) - for their intended use, this gives you a bike that is more reliable and less prone to damage from accidental knocks and falls.
STEP 3: BUDGET
So you want a bike that does it all. And you only want to pay Rs 20k for it. Newsflash- aint gonna happen. Bikes are high-tech pieces of machinery - high end bikes can cross 7 lakhs in price. Now obviously, you don't need to spend anywhere close to that, but you also need to accept that at the budget end (under a lakh, let's say), you very much get what you pay for. Light, reliable, cheap -- you can only pick 2.
So really think about your budget. Yes, we'd all like to get a super-fast ultra-light carbon race bike for Rs 20k, but that doesn't happen. At some point, you have to either up your budget, change your requirements or accept that you will get a crappy bike. How much does your phone cost and how often do you change it? By comparison, a bike will last you much longer, improve your fitness, bring you pleasure
As a general indication, here are some suggested price points:
- Under Rs 20k: single speed urban commuter bike. In this budget, disc brakes, suspension and gears are going to crappy and not worth the weight or hassle of maintenance.
- Rs 25-35k: geared hybrid
- Rs 50k and above: road bike
In each of the cases, going on the higher end of the budget scale will give you a better bike - one that requires less maintenance and more fun/responsive to ride. This is especially true of road bike, all the way up to around Rs 1.5 lakhs - after which the point of diminishing returns starts to set it.
In the long run, it is cheaper to buy the Right Bike once, even if means paying extra, as opposed to buying a bike with a lot of compromises, having a lousy experience with it and then buying the Right Bike the second time around (or third/fourth time, depending on how long it takes you to learn this lesson).
THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF BUYING
So now you have a realistic budget and know what type of bike you want. What do you do next?
If you are a beginner, it is important that you get a bike that fits you well. So go to a good local bike shop (LBS): Wheelsport, Crankmeister. Pro Bikers, Happy Eath, BOTS and more. They will help you find a bike that fits you correctly. And for the record, there is more to a good fit than simply standing over a bike and making sure there is space between the top tube and your crotch - so sit on the bike and make sure it feels comfortable.
Check out 2 or 3 models in your price range. Also check out what you get if you go one step above or one step below that model (you may find the difference worthwhile). Typically, you may find one bike feels a lot better than others - if so, that's your bike.
If you cannot decide - buy from the bike shop that has given you the best service. They will be your go-to resource for more accessories, upgrade, repairs, etc. So build the relationship.
And if you still cannot decide - buy the best looking bike (really, this is my most important factor - i will not buy a bike if i dont like its color). A bike that gets your heart thumping faster is a bike that you will want to ride more. And THAT is the most important thing, as opposed to measurbating over insignificant differences between individual components or framesets or whatever.
Good luck. If you have any questions, feel free to ask on the BikesZone Facebook Group.
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