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What’s the deal with those fancy bikes?

Lots, actually. There’s a reason why they cost more than those heavy-as-a-brick versions from your neighbourhood “uncle” bicycle shops. But peel away at the topmost veneer of the bike world, and you’ll discover a whole universe underneath. Mountain bikes alone belong to a huge sub-group: The most common are cross-country bikes that usually have a small amount of front and/or rear suspension (“small” as compared to other mountain bike varieties) says Edwin Cheong, executive marketing officer of The Cyclogy (www.thecyclogy.com). It’s a strong, light, and versatile bike that is best suited for climbing steep terrain and for executing quick turns. Custom-made mountain bikes (pictured above) offer tons of benefits for off-road travails, but the adaptability of a hybrid bike is a good option if you use it for daily commuting. “Hybrids use mountain bike gears to make riding in hilly environments easier, and give the rider an upright riding position,” he says. Hybrids can’t withstand as much battering as mountain bikes or go as fast as dedicated road bikes, but they offer a good balance of both. Road bikes, on the other hand, are meant for pure speed – the cassette of a road bike is so closely spaced that the number of teeth on each gear varies by only one tooth (mountain bikes can vary up to four teeth). This allows the road cyclist to pedal at his optimum cadence, says Cheong.