What are the different types of bicycles good for?

Question

For example, what is the difference between a cruiser and a road bike, or any other bikes?

Answer 1

Looks like Sideout prety much has it covered.

Answer 2

To begin, a general rule of thumb with bikes...if it is designed to do several kinds of riding it won't do any of them particularly well.  So here are the types of bikes:

1.  Cruiser...these are the ones with big tires, usually one or just a few gears, handlebars that wrap around or rise up a bit, and the seat and basic bike geometry have you sitting upright and comfortably.  Great for casual rides around town, paved bike paths, or any other level easy riding.  Not very fast, won't climb hills well, and will be a terrible off road bike.

2.  Road bike.  Think Tour De France.  Very thin and hard tires (high air pressure), looped and low handlebars, seat is higher than handlebars putting you out over the front wheel much more.  Extremely light weight.  These make for very fast riding and great hill climbing.  It is also the most uncomfortable bike for most people.  These are purely for performance and distance.   Not great for anything that is not paved.  Very bad off road (difficult to ride, steer, and riding off road can easily damage the delicate parts on these bikes).   A clyclocross bike ('cross bike) is fitted with parts that allow you to ride off road, but those are very niche.

3.  Mountain bike...thick tires and usually with shock absorbers on the front or both wheels.  Heaviest of all the bikes.  Geometry of the bike puts you over the front wheel and is also designed for performance rather than comfort.  However, more comfortable than a road bike.  This is also partly due to fatter tires, lower air pressure and shocks.  Off road these are designed to handle trails very well and can survive the most abuse.  Great off road bikes, but also very rideable on road...just slow.

5.  Hybred.  the most useless of all bikes.  Bad off road, slow on road.  They take some of the benefits of a road bike (lighter weight, thinner tires) and mountain bike (frame geometry and durability) to make a bike that doesn't do either particularly well.  If you plan to ride on road, get a road bike (if they are just too much for your body or back or you want to just cruise around....the cruiser).  If you want to ride off road I always suggest a good mountain bike with a more comfortable seat and riser bar.  

6.  Recumbant....those funny looking sit down bikes that are low to the ground with the pedals out in front of you.  Great for people with back problems, the most comfortable bike out there, great exercise...VERY expensive.

Answer 3

The very long list of bikes that has already been listed seems to get to the point.

However, it is only a starting point.

Road bikes for instance. Gears, single speed, fixed gear, cyclocross, audax, sportive, touring, frame materials, brake types etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Answer 4

cruiser is a one speed 24 inch bike. road bike has gears and really slim tires. bmx is for tricks and jumps. and mongoose bikes suk