5 Steps to Customise or Choose Your Bicycle Online by Omobikes

Planning to start riding bicycle again but confused which one will be more suitable a Hybrid or MTB?. Looking for specification on Bicycle But still confused how to opt for right specification ?. Here is Complete Guide to choose the Best suitable Bicycle for you online 

STEP 1 : What is Hybrid Or Mountain Bike/MTB?

Before You start searching a bicycle category, First thing you need to familiarised yourself with Bicycle Catagory 

What Is Hybrid Cycle ?

Hybrid cycles are light weight easy to use bicycle for city commute which can be used for long touring on paved roads (smooth or roads with little potholes and bumpy roads). Basic features to identify a Hybrid Bike 

• Thin Tyres in 26 inch or 700c , where tyre thickness may vary from 1.2 inch to 1.95 inch
• Comfortable riding position 
• Rigid Fork (most common) and suspension (customised hybrid in case of not so smooth roads)

Below Example of Hybrid cycle with gear and front Suspension for Refrence 

What is a Mountain Bike or MTB ?

Mountain Bike are Mostly Designed for Mountain terrain or rough roads. The suspension and thicker Tyres can take the beating from roads. Mountain bikes can be used for both paved roads and off roads but due to thick tyres and little heavy weight they are comparably harder to Ride. Basic features to identify a Mountain Bike

• Thick Tyres ranging from 2.10 to 3 Inch Wide 
• Suspension , Both front and rear could be possible. For regular usage only Front suspension is enough. The bike with only front suspension is also called Hardtail Mountain Bike

Below Example of Mountain Bike with gear and front Suspension(Hardtail Mountain Bike) for Refrence 

Common FAQ Regarding Purchase of MTB or Hybrid 

STEP 2 : Choosing Frame and Wheel size 

Now depending on usage if you have figured out the bicycle category to choose , you can focus on the Frame and wheel size 

For adults Above 18 (More closer you are to the Lower limit of height, better size dimension category you will be on the right side of table)

STEP 3 : Choosing Gear , Single Speed , 7 Speed or 21 Speed 

Note for Beginners
* Single Speed means without Gear
* 7 Speed have 7 gears in Rear wheel hub
* 21 Speed have 7 Gears in Rear Wheel and 3 Gears in front Crank (Pedal side), the combination is 21 gear

The following gear combination smooth shifting and high performance
Front - 1 x Rear -1,2,3
Front - 2 x Rear - 2,3,4,5
Front - 3 x Rear - 5,6,7

STEP 4 : Choosing Fork in Your Bicycle  

Lockout suspension have different variants from non branded to zoom and suntour option. Branded suspension have smoother function as compare to non branded but that will increase the costing of cycle. Non branded can be used if the rider is light weight and usage is within city. For heavy riders or performance riding or usage on very rough rough roads Branded suspension will be better option

STEP 5 : Choosing Gear Type 

Gear Mechanism are available in 2 different variant. Most part of gear are same except the rear sprocket and hub. It comes in 2 different version. Freewheel and cassette. Both will functionally work the same way , only difference is performance

- Freewheel have 5-7 speed option while cassette have 7-12 speed option 
- Freewheel cost less compared to Cassette mechanism 
- Freewheel has less maintenance cost and replacement in case of breakdown is Easy
- Cassette maintenance is expensive but they break less and more durable in comparison of Freewheel 
- Freewheel may wovel a little bit, Cassette wont  

Type of Shimano Gears and Model No

Shimano gears are One of the Best in market available for entry to sports level but just Shimano name is Not Enough, one need to understand the Gear specification and model number to understand and compare 

Shimano Gears Levels 

Shimano Tourney < Shimano Altus < Shimano Acera < Shimano alivio < Shimano Deore

Each Level of Shimano gear has multiple variant as well. Higher the variant, better performance it will give. For example Shimano tourney itself has 20+ different variants . The higher variants of Shimano tourney will be close to Shimano altus lower variants in performance. Here is the numbering sequence for Shimano gears 

x > y > z, and numbers 2>1 or 500 > 30.

Example -
ty500 > tz 500
tx500 > ty500 > tz500
ty500 > tz30 

That being said, if you still have doubt in choosing the best suitable model for yourself as per your need,

You can take help from our Chat support on Website to customise your bicycle