The best bikes

• The sport of biking covers a wide range of riding styles ranging from mountain biking and gravel riding to road biking and commuting.
• Just as there are many different types of cycling, there is also a variety of bikes designed specifically for each style.
• And while you can certainly ride a mountain bike around town if you'd like, you're better off getting something tailored for city riding — and it helps to know why each bike is built to perform differently.
• To help narrow down the selection of what's available, we rounded up the best bikes for each class, including picks from brands like Brompton, Cannondale, and Santa Cruz.

Although so many simple, everyday tasks can be likened to riding a bike, that expression fails to account for the fact that there exists a wide and ever-growing variety of bikes. From mountain bikes designed to tackle uneven and rough terrain to commuters meant for a more casual, smooth ride, hardware diversity is rife in the world of bicycles.

Because of this array of available options, it's important that anyone shopping for a bike doesn't just stroll into their local bike shop, point at the first one they see, and consider that their one-and-only. Different bike styles offer different ride experiences and are meant for a range of use cases. Even certain road bikes aren't suitable for certain road riders.

So, no matter if you're looking to start mountain biking or just need a cargo-friendly bike for trips to the store, everyone needs somewhere to begin. To help, we've compiled the following guide that doesn't just list the best bikes available but also serves as a reference sheet for keeping track of which bike is best for each type of ride style.

We combed through a helping of bikes across a variety of styles and brands to find the best combination of performance, value, and accessibility for the aspiring rider with a real-world budget. While plenty of these bikes don't represent the high-end, they all hit that sweet spot before you get into spending tons of money for bragging rights and diminishing returns.

One of the most important things to know before buying is what you want to do with the bike. Do you want to ride to work or take it bikepacking? Maybe you just want an easy neighborhood commuter. Knowing this from the start allows you to find proper value (and we did much of the leg work for you with our picks below).

Before we get into our favorites, understanding the different types of bikes offered and their intended use case is vital. Here is the most popular style of bikes you'll often see:

• Fixed gears and single speeds: Simple bare-bones bikes best for flat urban riding and commuting
• Folding bikes: Bikes that quickly fold down allowing riders to carry them on transit and store them in offices for the ultimate in commuter versatility
• Townie bikes: For the rider who wants to get around in comfort and style while wearing regular clothes
• Cargo bikes: Bikes that allow you to carry groceries, kids, and pets. What you need if you plan to ditch your car--or at least leave it at home a lot more often.
• Road bikes: Lightweight, drop-bar bicycles for racing, riding in packs, and going fast on paved roads
• Mountain bikes: Dedicated offroad bicycle for riding technical trails with built features
• Gravel bikes: Bicycles optimized for riding long distances on unpaved roads
• Adventure bikes: For the rider who wants to pick a direction and go.
• Kids' bikes: There's a lot more to buying a good kids' bike than going to the big-box store and picking a superhero. Real kids' bikes allow children to learn and grow as riders while having fun.

• Best fixed gear bike: State Bicycle Core Line
• Best folding bike: Brompton M6R
• Best townie bike: Brooklyn Willow
• Best cargo bike: Yuba Sweet Curry
• Best kid's bike: Cleary Meerkat
• Best road bike: Cannondale CAAD13 Ultegra
• Best mountain bike: Santa Cruz Chameleon
• Best gravel bike: Salsa Journeyman
• Best adventure bike: Jones SWB/LWB Complete