Bike Styles
There are a variety of bike styles out on the market, and understanding them is the first step to building your own. Ladies have a different bike build, but it is more than men and womens. Where you take the bike changes the bike dramatically as well.
Beach Bikes
Bikes on the beach will generally be cruiser bikes that have a few notable features. For one, the handlebars will be swept back, as the bikes are intended to be ridden in an upright relaxed position. Other features include mud guards, chain guards, and wider seats.
Bicycle Cruisers
Cruisers in the bicycle world generally refer to street bikes that are designed to slowly commute from one area to the next. They will have handlebars that swing back towards the driver, to allow for a more comfortable upright riding position.
Boys Bikes
Despite the belief that girls bikes are for girls and boys bikes are for boys, there are numerous reasons for one to want to other. "Girls" bikes are heavier, because the frame has to be reinforced. The top bar on a "boys" bike may make it more difficult for older riders to mount the bike.
Old School BMX Bikes
BMX bikes became famous in the 1970s and trying to find an old school one today can be pretty difficult. Originally, kids would use their older Schwinn bicycles and imitate the tricks and jumps used in motocross racing, which is where the name is derived, Bicycle Moto Cross (X).
Chainless Bikes
Chainless bikes may seem like a good idea at first glance, but in practice are not all too practical. Although you will never have to replace a chain again, you will have to deal with pedaling an incredibly heavier bike.
Cruiser Bikes
Cruiser bikes are often used as beach bikes or in cities where there is relatively few hills or terrain to deal with. They don't deal with much speed, and their handlebars rise towards the driver for a more comfortable ride.
Electric Bikes
Electric bikes, ebikes, or motor bikes are any bicycle with a motor that can be used to power the bike, usually uphill when the rider is tired of pedaling. Ebike laws vary, but generally they are treated as bicycles until they pass 20 miles per hour.
Exercise Bikes
Although many people refuse to build a bike that doesn't get them anywhere, it is possible to build excercise bikes. Using a kickstand that lifts the rear wheel could turn a bicycle into an excercise bike even.
Girls Bikes
Girls bikes have a distinct feature that sets them apart, a top bar that connects lower on the seat bar. This allows for the bike to be easier mounted, and even mounted while wearing a dress or skirt. However, the frame must be reinforced to allow this, making the bike heavier.
Hybrid Bikes
Hybrid bikes are becoming increasingly popular among cycling enthusiasts, for their ability to cover any terrain. Generally, a hybrid bike will have a solid diamond frame, with front suspension for hitting bumps in the road. wider front tires with tread for both road and offroad will be used.
Kids Bikes
Kids bikes are built with frames that are much smaller, to accommodate the childs size. Bikes for kids should never be bought larger for the child so that they can "grow into it", as it will only make the ride uncomfortable and dangerous.
Ladies Bikes
Bikes for ladies have a few distinct features about them that anybody should recognize easily. The most obvious change is that the top bar connects lower on the seat tube. Oddly enough, this heavier design is only used so the bike can be ridden easier while wearing a skirt or dress.
Light Bikes
With more of a focus on speed and efficiency, light bikes are becoming more and more popular. These bikes may be aluminum or titanium bodies, with a carbon-fiber fork and can weigh as low as 15 pounds.
Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes are designed for difficult terrain and bumpy rides of forests or offroad conditions. Tires will not be inflated as much, to deal with impacts, and the frame will have suspension as well. Tires will be wider as well, with thicker treading for mud and dirt.
Ross Bikes
Ross bikes were a big seller in the 1970s and throughout the 1980s, and were even strong competitors with Schwinn. However, they were not able to keep this up, and in 1989 they went bankrupt. Their name was sold to Rand, but Rand has not made use of the name since.
Stretching Bikes
Stretching bikes are becoming more and more popular with people who live in big cities or commute to work. Why chain up an expensive bike outside when it can fold into itself and be brought into the office?
Swing Bikes
Swing bikes, like many other novelties, did not last after the 1970s. It is the only bicycle to ever have its own patent, for with just the change of a coupling the rear wheel would become steerable.