Choose Bike Specs that Meet Your Commute Needs

Choosing a bike seems easy enough, until you're at the shop and someone's hard-selling you a multi-speed with all the trimmings. You're easily overwhelmed with all the choices, and unless you have particular specifications in mind before coming into the shop, you'll likely spend hours wandering the displays, browsing through catalogs. It gets frustrating, but your choice should be based more on function than on style. That being said, mountain bikes are very popular nowadays, but these may not offer the specifications you need. Sure, mountain bikes are built for rough terrain, and you can ride these on the urban jungle when you want to, but the perks of durability are offset by speed, something you'll need as you weave in and out of city traffic.

 Chappelli Crema (Caballero)

It's all about Utility

Prioritize function over form, and remember that it's all about utility. Product safety is also crucial when you're choosing vehicles, bicycles included. Bikes are built to meet preferences in speed and accessibility, and you should opt for road bikes if you're going to use yours on urban traffic. Road bikes are lightweight and sleek. Thin wheels and a wiry build ensure you'll skirt through traffic with ease. The seat is propped higher so you'll have to bend over to reach the handlebars, enhancing speed with less wind resistance. The tradeoff with road bikes is in durability, though. Most aren't built to handle heavy loads and extended use, but you can always customize yours to ensure it complements your build.

Mountain Bikes for Rougher Terrain

Mountain bikes are preferable if you really want to rough out the off-trails. These have sturdier, bulkier frames, and the wheels are built wider for durability. The seat is oriented so you're always upright on it, an advantage if you'd rather not hunch over your bike for the entirety of the ride. Note that salesmen tend to hard-sell mountain bikes to anyone with the sense to consider choices. You should only choose mountain bike specs if you intend to maximize these.

Chappelli Le Coq (Single Speed)

Fixies and Internal Gears

You can also go for a fixie bike if you prefer the challenge. These come with old-school, fixed-gears, built for simplicity. An internal gear hub bicycle also offers more options for the advanced cyclist. Internal hub bikes are particular with the maintenance, though, so make sure yours is properly and regularly tuned. With all that variety available to you, it's easier if you choose a bike with your commute needs already set. You can check out Chappelli Cycles if you're looking for specs that match your preference. Function should be your basis for purchase; design and build should be secondary.