Which type of bike is best for you: Complete buying guide to help you decide

Choosing a bike should be exciting, not confusing. With so many bike types and features out there, it can be hard to know where to start. This guide will walk you through the main bike categories, explain the key things to look for, and help you choose the one that’s right for you – all explained clearly, simply, and without all the technical jargon. 

The right bike doesn’t just get you from A to B – it shapes your whole riding experience. Every type of bike is built with a purpose, whether that’s flying over smooth tarmac, carving down rocky trails, or rolling easily through city streets. When you choose a bike designed for the way you want to ride, everything just works better: the fit feels natural, the handling is predictable, and every pedal stroke counts. 

Sure, you can commute on a trail bike or take a road bike onto gravel, but there’s always a trade-off. You might feel slower, less comfortable, or like you’re working harder than you need to be. Get the right bike, and suddenly the ride just clicks – and riding feels like second nature. 

First, picture it. Where do you see yourself riding most? What’s the setting that got you thinking – I’ve got to get into this. What bike should I get? 

Knowing where you’ll ride most is the easiest way to start narrowing in on the type of bike that’s going to feel right for you. 

• Smooth roads – fast group rides, weekend spins, long-distance tarmac tours. 
• Trails and off-road – forest singletrack, rocky climbs, technical descents. 
• Mixed surfaces – gravel adventures, bikepacking, countryside exploring. 
• All-round practicality – daily commutes, leisure rides, and light touring. 
• With a boost – e-bike assistance for longer rides, steeper hills, or just more fun, while also opening the door to cycling for riders who might not be able to ride otherwise 

Got a picture in your mind? Great – now let’s dive into the different riding styles and the bikes built for them. 

If you love the idea of covering big distances quickly, cruising along smooth tarmac, and feeling that gliding efficiency when you’re in the zone, a road bike could be your perfect match. With lightweight aerodynamic frames, slick fast-rolling tyres, and drop handlebars for a streamlined riding position, they’re built for speed and efficiency – turning every pedal stroke into maximum forward motion. 

Depending on the kind of riding you’re drawn to, there are a few main road bike types to consider: 

• Race bikes – combining aero frame shapes with low weight and sharp handling, these are built for all-out speed. The Ultimate is our classic all-rounder, light and responsive on climbs, and the Aeroad is sculpted for maximum efficiency when every watt counts. 
• Endurance bikes – the Endurace is designed for comfort over long distances with a more relaxed fit, stable handling, and wider tyre clearance for rougher roads. 
• Triathlon bikes – built for speed and comfort in the bike split, with ultra-aero design and integrated features for long-course performance. The multiple World Championship-winning Speedmax is the choice of the world’s best pros when every second counts. 
• E-road bikes – all the pace and precision of a road bike, with subtle e-assist to help you explore further, climb higher, and still have something left in the tank at the end. The Endurace:ONfly leads the way in e-bike design – the lightest, sleekest, best-handling e-road bike around, doubling your power while looking and riding like the real deal. 
• Cyclocross bikes – all-out race machines optimised for maximum speed over one-hour efforts on the ‘cross course. The Canyon Inflite has proven itself as the premier bike in world cyclocross, racking up multiple World Championship titles in the process. 

Want to go deeper? Start with our best road bike for beginners guide – a great first step if you’re new to road riding or buying your first bike. Then explore the road bike buyer’s guide for a full breakdown of different styles, or the road bike geometry explained article to understand how frame design affects fit and feel. 

Ready to trade smooth tarmac for twisting trails and rocky climbs? That’s where mountain bikes come alive. With chunky, grippy tyres and wide handlebars for extra stability, they give you the surefooted handling and confidence you need when the ground gets unpredictable – so you can focus on having fun. 

• Trail bikes – versatile all-rounders that can handle everything from flowing singletrack to more technical features. From the value-packed aluminium Grand Canyon and the hardcore Stoic hardtail, to the do-it-all Neuron and the award-winning Spectral, Canyon trail bikes cover every style of riding. 
• Cross-country (XC) bikes – built light and fast to cover ground at speed. The Lux is our go-to full-suspension race bike, while the hardtail Exceed strips XC down to its essentials: low weight, sharp handling, and maximum power transfer. 
• E-MTBs – electric mountain bikes with a motorised boost to help you ride further, climb faster, and take on more challenging terrain. The Neuron:ON is ready for supercharged adventures, the Grand Canyon:ON is a versatile electric hardtail, the Spectral:ON is built for thrill-seekers, the Strive:ON is our electrified enduro rig, and the Torque:ON is a gravity rig with the uphill boost to replace the shuttle. 
• Downhill bikes – built for flat-out descents, with heavy-duty suspension and components designed for maximum stability at speed. The Sender is our downhill specialist, built to shine on everything from bike park laps to World Cup tracks. 
• Enduro bikes – designed for steep, demanding descents but still able to pedal back up, ideal for aggressive riding in challenging terrain. The Strive is our enduro race rig, engineered for big stages and rough lines. 
• Dirt jump MTBs – built for tricks and jumps on pump tracks, dirt jumps, and skate parks. The Stitched is our dirt jump bike of choice, dialled for flow, airtime, and style. 

Need help figuring out how to choose a bike for the dirt without getting lost in the tech talk? Our mountain bike buyer’s guide covers each style in detail, and our mountain biking for beginners article focuses on bikes ideal for newer riders. Want to dive deeper? Mountain bike geometry explained shows how suspension travel and frame proportions influence handling and comfort. 

Looking for one bike to do it all? Welcome to gravel biking – the go-to choice for riders asking themselves, what type of bike should I get for next-level versatility? 

Gravel bikes bring together the best bits of road bikes and mountain bikes in one machine – a true Swiss army knife on two wheels. With medium-width, profiled tyres for grip on gravel and speed on asphalt, geometry that inspires confident handling on unpaved roads, and road-style drop handlebars that let you switch positions for long-distance comfort, they’re made for riders who want the freedom to ride almost anywhere. 

They’ll never be as fast as a pure road bike on smooth tarmac or as capable as a full-on mountain bike in the rough – but for riders chasing versatility above all else, a gravel bike delivers. 

• Gravel adventure bikes – with space for bigger tyres and plenty of mounts for carrying gear, the Grizl is ready for long rides, bikepacking trips, and exploring new routes. 
• Gravel race bikes – lighter and faster, with a lower, more aero riding position for covering ground fast – the lightning-fast Grail is built to race. 
• E-gravel bikes – electric gravel bikes like the Grizl:ON give you an extra boost to surge up climbs, cut through headwinds, and push deeper into the unknown. 

Want more detail? Our gravel bike buyer’s guide breaks down the different styles, our Grail vs Grizl comparison shows how each of our gravel bike models shine on different terrain, and our gravel bike geometry explained article digs into how frame design defines the bike’s character. 

Need a bike that works for your everyday rides? ‘Hybrid’ is our shorthand for a range of bikes built for everything from daily city commutes to workout rides to long-distance touring. They share an upright position for comfort and a clear view of the road ahead, plus control-boosting flat handlebars for precise steering and confident cornering. 

• City bikes – designed for practical everyday urban riding with integrated lights, mudguards, and low-maintenance drivetrains to keep you moving in all weather conditions. The Citylite and e-bike Citylite:ON are comfortable city cruisers that make short hops and daily commutes feel easy. 
• Flat-bar road bikes – lightweight and responsive bikes for fast workout rides, short commutes, and weekend spins on smooth roads and bike paths. The Roadlite is sharp and efficient on tarmac, while the Roadlite:ONfly adds a smooth electric boost for bigger days out. 
• Touring bikes – built for relaxed, easy-going adventures with wider tyres for stability, luggage mounts for carrying gear, and gearing to handle varied terrain. The Pathlite:ON packs in smooth e-assist power, extending your range and keeping adventure within easy reach. 

Whatever you’re looking for, our hybrid bike buyer’s guide breaks down the options to match the way you ride. 

Want to ride further, climb faster, or arrive fresher? E-bikes add pedal-powered assistance to make every ride easier and open up more routes than ever before. 

The harder you push, the more support you get – so it always feels natural, just like riding a traditional bike, only with extra in the tank when you need it. Whether you’re surging up hills, extending your weekend rides, or rolling up at the office sweat-free and in record time, e-bikes make amazing rides feel easier. 

Deciding how to choose a bike with electric assist is all about matching it to your goals and preferences: 

• E-road bikes – lightweight and streamlined, built for fast rides and long days, with discreet assistance that keeps the flow going on climbs and across big distances – and helps you stay in the mix on group rides, whatever the pace. 
• E-MTBs – off-road capability with the extra power to take on steeper climbs, longer loops, and more laps of your favourite trails in a single ride. 
• E-gravel bikes – versatile and adventurous, with an extra boost to keep exploring. 
• E-hybrids – practical for commuting and everyday riding, with the added power to carry more, ride further, and keep a steady pace without breaking a sweat. 

Want more info? Our e-bike buyer’s guide explains assistance modes, batteries, and range, what to look for, and which e-bike best matches your riding style. 

So, you’ve nailed down the type of bike you want – nice. Now it’s time to zero in on the exact model. This is where we help you decode the details and make the right choice. 

Let’s run through the must-knows for finding a bike that ticks every box. 

If you’re wondering whether you need the most expensive bike in the range, you probably don’t. 

Nowadays, even entry-level models are light, reliable, and great fun to ride. Step up the range, though, and you’ll feel the difference – even lighter frames, smoother shifting, better braking, and a finish that just oozes quality. They look incredible too, the kind of bike you’ll be proud to roll up on. 

A good general rule is to get the best you can comfortably afford, then ride the wheels off it. 

The two main frame materials you’ll see at Canyon are carbon fibre and aluminium. Both materials can be made to offer the same level of strength, but each material has distinct properties. 

Carbon can offer the same strength as aluminium, while weighing less. Carbon layups can also be engineered to be ultra-flexy or exceptionally stiff. Carbon can be infinitely tuned to create the desired ride feel. Carbon, for example, can be engineered to flex and absorb road vibrations, adding comfort on long rides. Because carbon is a very labour-intensive material to work with, carbon frames tend to cost more than aluminium frames. 

Aluminium can be made as strong as carbon but the resulting frame, while still quite lightweight, will tend to weigh a bit more than a frame constructed from carbon. How about ride quality? The days when all aluminium frames were overly stiff and harsh are over. Different grades of aluminium and different building techniques impact how an aluminium frame feels out on the road or trail. That said, it’s not as easy for frame builders to fine tune ride quality with this material. So why build bikes from aluminium? Because it’s less expensive to work with (than carbon) yet still performs exceptionally well.  

Your bike’s components – from the gears and brakes to the wheels and contact points (like the saddle, handlebars, and pedals) – have a big influence on how it rides and feels. Even the most affordable modern setups are impressively capable, good enough to take you across continents easily. 

Spending more unlocks lighter parts, smoother shifting, stronger braking, and a sharper, more responsive feel. If you’re chasing speed, tackling steep climbs, or riding year-round in all conditions, higher-end kit can make your bike faster, more precise, and more premium. 

A good rule of thumb: if you’re not sure what an upgrade would give you, you probably don’t need it just yet. The most important thing is to ride – the more time you spend in the saddle, the better you’ll understand what matters to you and where an upgrade could make a difference you’ll really feel further down the line. 

Tl;dr: the best bike isn’t necessarily the lightest one – it’s the one that best fits your needs and your budget. 

This is why. 

There’s a simple truth in bike design – you can go lighter or you can go cheaper, but you can’t have both. 

Hitting truly low weights takes expensive materials, engineering processes, and premium components. 

If you’re racing, or a competitive rider chasing every last percentage, trading money for weight savings can definitely make sense. But for many riders – especially those new to the sport – saving the extra cash and getting a solid, dependable bike you can ride hard and get comfortable on matters far more than shaving a few grams. 

All bikes need a bit of care to keep them running smoothly. For some riders, tinkering in the garage is part of the fun. For others, low maintenance is the goal. If that’s you, look for options like internal gear hubs, belt drives, or simpler suspension setups that make servicing less frequent and easier to handle. 

No matter what you choose, a little attention goes a long way – keeping the chain clean and lubricated, tyres inflated, and bolts tightened will make your bike feel better for longer. 

With Canyon’s network of authorised service partners and online support, keeping your bike in top condition is straightforward and hassle-free. 

The right bike accessories can make your bike more practical, safer, or simply more fun to ride. But the more features you add, the more you’ll need to think about maintaining them – so the golden rule here is to focus on what will actually make a difference to your day-to-day riding. 

Here are some options and why you might want them: 

• Racks and fenders – for protecting against road spray to keep you and your gear cleaner and drier in the wet. 
• Integrated lights – for safe, fuss-free night riding without the hassle of clipping lights on and off. 
• Dropper posts or suspension forks – for more control and comfort when the terrain gets rough. 
• E-bike pedal assistance – for longer rides, steeper hills, or simply more fun – and to open up cycling to people who might not otherwise be able to ride. 

Pick the features that match the kind of riding you actually do, and don’t worry about the rest. The beauty of cycling is that there’s always tons of aftermarket accessories available for all bicycle types, so you can always add what you need later. 

Before you click buy, there’s one last step – making sure the bike you’ve chosen fits you properly. A bike that fits you well is more comfortable, more efficient, and way more fun to ride. 

Canyon’s Perfect Positioning System (PPS) makes sizing simple. Just measure your height and inseam, plug them into the tool, and in about five minutes you’ll get a personalised frame size recommendation for any bike on our site. PPS uses over 15,000 rider data points, checks your seat height range, and makes sure the bike you’re viewing can accommodate it. Get those measurements right, and 98% of riders find their ideal size first time. 

For a deeper dive, check out our sizing guides for each discipline – road bikes, mountain bikes, and gravel bikes.

Once your details are saved to your Canyon account, your size will automatically show on every product page. Still not sure? You can test ride at a Canyon demo event or showroom – and if the bike you order doesn’t feel right, our 30-day return policy means you can send it back or exchange it (a little dust on the tyres is fine, just no full rides). 

That’s it – you’re now officially clued-in and ready to choose. 

You know your riding style, you know what to look for, and you know how to make sure it fits. And if you’re still weighing up your options, our choose the right bike tool can help you make the final call. 

No more asking how to pick a bicycle – all that’s left is to pick the model that speaks to you (psst... you can use our bike comparison tool to see models side by side if needed!), click buy, and start counting down the days until it lands at your door. ✨  

Aaand… that’s your sign to stop scrolling and start riding!