The best winter hiking boots of 2023
Outdoor Activities | August 8, 2023
SAIL
March 18, 2022
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Want to get more serious about cycling, but not sure what type of bike is right for you? Winston Endall, an accomplished cyclist and outdoor associate at SAIL, breaks down the different types – gravel, road, mountain and mountain – and their features so you can choose the best bike for your needs and outdoor adventures.
In this article, you will learn more about:
All of our SAIL stores have bikes available. However, we recommend that you check to make sure that the bike you are looking for is available at the SAIL location of your choice before visiting. Or, you may purchase your bike online for a simple and practical solution.
Mountain biking is a sport that allows you to ride off-road on rugged trails, and requires endurance to make ascents and skill to tackle descents. It combines the thrill of an adrenaline sport with the relaxation of a hike in the forest.
There are several sub-categories of mountain bikes: Hardtail, cross-country, full-suspension cross-country, downhill, trail, Enduro.
| Components | Details |
|---|---|
| Handlebars | Mountain bikes have flat or riser handlebars to optimize hand positions. |
| Tires | Mountain bikes also have fatter tires of 52 mm or more (2 inches and up) and they are usually quite knobby. The rubber lugs spaced around the tire allows better traction and cornering performance. |
| Pedals | You can opt for pedals in which you can clip your shoes or flat or platform pedals that leave your feet free. |
| Suspension | There are mountain bikes with a rigid frame and fork, without any suspension. There are also the hardtail sub-type with a rigid frame and a suspension fork in the front and the full-suspension model, that is articulated on the rear and has a suspension in the front. |
| Gearing | Most of the mid-quality and higher mountain bikes have one chainring up front and 9 to 12 gears. This offers the advantage of making the whole shifting process simpler. |
The mountain bike is an excellent choice for:
| MOUNTAIN BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| • Shock absorption that makes it more comfortable • Traction allows you to ride the roughest terrain |
• Heavier • Expensive cost and maintainance fees, especially for full-suspension bikes • Slower on the road |
|
This mountain activity is as much a game as a sport. Mountain biking is for avid cyclists, those who prefer interval training, outdoor enthusiasts and people who are comfortable with the unknown and the diversity as the trails dictate their efforts.
Mountain biking is made for riding on the most difficult and extreme terrain, but also on paved roads or smoother trails.
Avoid venturing onto the trails in early spring as it is too muddy. It is better to wait until the trails are dry. It is also possible to ride on snow when it is well packed.
| MOUNTAIN BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Types of surfaces | Seasons | |
| ✔ Dirt trails ✔ Sand trails ✔ Rocky trails ✔ Wooden plank trails ✔ Grass trails ✔ Slopes |
✔ Mid-spring or end of spring ✔ Summer (the worst season because of hotness) ✔ Fall |
|
The road bike is designed specifically for racing and long distance rides on pavement. You can easily recognize it by its very thin wheels and handlebars that are lower than the seat so that the rider is leaning forward.
Several brands offer different sub-categories of bikes including performance and endurance bikes.
| Components | Details |
|---|---|
| Handlebars | The curved dropped handlebars offer more hand positions, increase comfort, and are more aerodynamic. |
| Tires | Road bikes have very thin 700c tires that are typically 25 mm (1 inch) wide. In this case, the letter C corresponds to an inner diameter of 622 mm (24.5 inches). |
| Pedals | Clipless pedals are preferred on this type of bike, as the rider may use more muscle. On your first few rides, limit falls by snapping one foot out before stopping so you can put a foot on the ground without falling over. Simply twist your foot to the side to unclip. When starting to pedal, clip one foot in and clip the other one in once you have gotten some momentum and can coast. |
| Suspension | There is no suspension on road bikes, the frame is entirely solid. |
| Gears | Usually, there are two chainrings up front and 9 to 12 gears on the back offering a very wide range of speeds. The more expensive the bike, the more speeds it has. |
First, ask yourself the right questions. What is your motivation? Training? Enjoying the countryside? Potentially using it as a tool to get in the best shape of your life?
Whatever your answer, the road bike is an excellent choice for:
| ROAD BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| • Lightweight and fast • Quite comfortable (endurance type) • Easy to carry |
• Expensive (especially carbon frames) • Wheels and tires are fragile (watch for potholes and obstacles on the road) • Seat can be uncomfortable (performance type) |
|
Road cycling is for people who are relatively fit or want to improve their fitness, for those who are interested in biomechanics (the study of the structures and functions of living beings), for those who like to cover a lot of miles on pavement, and for mountain bike enthusiasts who want to train more seriously.
On the other hand, endurance road bikes are less popular among young people, but often enjoyed by people between 40 and 60 years old because they are more comfortable.
| ROAD BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Types of surfaces | Seasons | |
| ✔ Paved main roads,
in the city or in the country, |
✔ Spring ✔ Summer ✔ Fall |
|
The gravel bike is basically the ancestor of the mountain bike. The gravel bike is a great all-around touring bike and a good in-between of a road bike and a mountain bike. Its drop handlebars allow for adventure on a variety of surfaces and terrains. The reach to the handlebars is longer and offers more speed and ergonomics, thus more comfort during long rides.
Several brands design gravel bikes.
However, as the popularity of this type of bike is rather recent but growing since 2015, there are no official subcategories. Instead, some models are made for racing, they are, therefore, lightweight and fast, and others are more versatile.
| Components | Details |
|---|---|
| Handlebars | Gravel bikes have drop handlebars with flared drops for more hand clearance and wrist comfort. |
| Tires | Gravel bikes are equipped with 700c tires that are typically 45 mm to 55 mm (1.7 to 2.1 inches) wide. You can also mount them with wider tires or 650b tires with a smaller diameter. They have more textured tires than road bikes with more knobs. They can be compared to mini mountain bike tires. |
| Pedals | They come with pedals in which you can clip your shoes. |
| Suspension | 99% of the bikes are fully rigid, with no suspension. |
| Gearing | Most of the bikes have one or two chainrings up front and 9 to 12 gears. The more expensive the bike, the more gears it has in the back. |
The gravel bike is an excellent choice for:
| GRAVEL BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| • Good for long rides • Faster than mountain bikes • Tougher than road bikes • Good in-betweener |
• Heavier • Expensive buying cost • Slower than road bikes • Not as tough as mountain bikes |
|
It’s better suited for serious cyclers, touring fans and mountain bikers or road bikers who want a good versatile second bike.
Gravel bikes are functional on everything from smooth pavement to easy mountain bike trails. They are not recommended for jumps and other extreme use. Although you can have lots of fun on other types of trails.
| GRAVEL BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Types of surfaces | Seasons | |
| ✔ Gravel roads ✔ Rail trails ✔ Pavedroads ✔ Slopes |
✔ Any season, as long as there is so snow on the ground | |
The hybrid bike has been designed both for riding on pavement and on trails and is intended for leisure.
Several brands like Brodie, Evo, Felt, Garneau and Raleigh design gravel bikes.
| Components | Details |
|---|---|
| Handlebars | Bikes have flat or riser handlebars. |
| Tires | Gravel bikes are equipped with 700c tires. |
| Pedals | They come with platform pedals (no clipping needed). |
| Suspension | The bikes are also fully rigid, with no suspension. |
| Gearing | Most of the bikes have three chainrings up front and 7 to 10 gears in the back. |
The hybrid electric bike has the same features, benefits and components as the standard hybrid bike, with the exception of a battery built into the frame that gives the rider more propulsion and speed and makes it easier to travel on hilly roads or during long rides.
It is well suited for commuters and people cycling to work (the battery reduces the level of exertion and therefore the sweating generated by exercise), for cycling partners who do not ride at the same speed, and for the elderly or those with minor injuries.
The hybrid bike is an excellent choice for:
| HYBRID BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| • Good on short rides • Lightweight • Affordable • Efficient • Comfortable |
• Not optimal for maximum performance on roads or on rugged trails • Less comfortable on long rides due to single hand position |
|
The hybrid bike is truly made for casual cyclists, commuters, people who like riding a bike, those who wish to do recreational activities, and families.
Gravel biking is not recommended on rough trails, unless you have big tires and suspension. Although, you can have lots of fun on other types of trails.
| HYBRID BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Types of surfaces | Seasons | |
| ✔ Bike lanes ✔ Gravel roads ✔ Rail trails ✔ Pavedroads ✔ Slopes |
✔ Any season, as long as there is no snow on the ground | |
The fat bike is basically a mountain bike with giant tires that is more often seen in winter. The Canadian brand Garneau designs this type of bike which resonates well with the snowy regions of Quebec and Ontario.
| Components | Details |
|---|---|
| Handlebars | Bikes have flat handlebars. |
| Tires | Fat bikes are equipped with 101 mm to 127 mm (4 to 5 inches) wide tires. |
| Pedals | They come with clip or platform pedals. |
| Suspension | The bikes are mostly fully rigid, with no suspension. |
The fat bike is an excellent choice for:
| FAT BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| • Rides on any surfaces • Smooth ride (tires absorb all shocks) • Traction (so much rubber touches the ground so it gives you more grip) |
• Heavy weight • Slower on hard surfaces |
|
The fat bike is made for serious cyclists and winter enthusiasts.
You can go fat biking on almost any kind of surfaces or terrain, but they are made to handle snow and sand. Note that there might be more friction on hard or paved roads.
| FAT BIKE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Types of surfaces | Seasons | |
| ✔ Snowy trails ✔Mud trails ✔ Sand trails ✔ Mountain bike trails |
✔ Any season, but the design has been conceptualized for winter | |
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