With the continuous oil price hike, there is no wonder that more and more people are switching to cycling. Cycling, after all, is a very fruitful activity. Aside from the fact that it can significantly reduce your daily expenses, it can also come with plenty of health benefits.

Because of this sudden “cycling boom”, lots of companies are now venturing in bike manufacturing. While it’s definitely a positive thing for bikers since they have loads of options, it can be difficult for first timers to find the perfect commuter bike for them.

If you’re one of those people wondering what’s the best commuter bike for you, then you’re on the right page. In this blog, we’ll talk about the features that you should consider in buying your bike to ensure a comfortable city ride everyday.

What is the difference between regular bikes and commuter bikes?

Let it be clear that all kinds of bikes can be used in the city. If you have a country or a mountain bike, you can definitely use it in running an errand around the city. However, if you’re thinking of cycling everyday to work, it will be best if you look for a bike that will fit city roads.

Commuter bikes are usually skinnier and more lightweight compared to other kinds of bikes. This way, they can go through small alleys and pathways in the city without any problem. 

Whether it’s running errands or riding to work, city bikers like you tend to carry lots of stuff apart for their essential biking gears. This is why it’s important to get a lightweight bike, so you don’t have to carry the weight of your stuff and your bike all together.

What should you look for in a commuter bike?

Here are a few things that you should consider when buying your commuter bike.

1. Find a bike that complements your body size.

You’ll be using your commuter bike almost everyday, so you have to ensure that it compliments your body type. If you have a skinny body, look for a bike that can fit your petite frame, and if you’re bulky frame, look for a bike with a slightly thicker frame. 

Finding the perfect bike size for you is essential. It ensures that you won’t have a hard time in maintaining your balance while riding. Aside from this, you don’t have to exert that much effort and energy when riding even on long distances.

2. Complete your ride with essential biking accessories.

Ensure your road safety by getting the appropriate biking accessories for city riding.

Road collisions are more common in city roads than country roads. This is why you need a premium brake light so you can alert other road users about your movement. 

For an everyday cyclist like you, it’s important to get a brake light that has an inertia-powered motion sensor. This type of brake light goes off as you slow down and not when you’ve come into a complete stop. This way, drivers behind you can slow down, too.

3. Large and skinny wheels.

Large and skinny wheels can help you ride faster in the city without ruining the lightweight form of your bike. They also have less resistance when you ride, so you can pedal faster without the need to exert too much energy.

It’s true that city roads don’t have that much steep paths compared to trails, but riding city cycling can still be very exhausting. Not to mention you’d still have office work or errands to do when you reach your destination.

4. Re-think suspension.

Bike suspension can help you withstand bumpy roads. There is a common biking idea that the more suspension that you have, the smoother your ride is.

However, this is not the case when it comes to city riding. 

City roads tend to be smoother than trails or country roads. It’s only seldom that you’ll encounter bumps, and they’re not really that significant to affect your cycling. Getting additional suspension to your bike will only give you unnecessary weight without benefits. It will just make your bike harder to pedal. 

5. Prioritize your comfort over features.

The last tip in buying a commuter bike–prioritize your comfort over excessive features.

Sure enough, it would be nice to ride in a bike with high suspension, bigger tires, and larger frame, but these features don't really have that much use on city roads. After all, you don’t have a race to win and you don’t have trails to conquer. 

What you should be thinking about is the cushioned seat, the pedal ease, the weight of the bike, and other specifications that will give you a comfortable ride.

Now that you know the features that you should look for in a commuter bike, it’s time to go to your favorite bike store now!