A number of friends have been talking about purchasing a bicycle for getting around in Portland. There are quite a few options to choose from, and if you don’t know what you’re looking at, it can easily be overwhelming.
If you’re just starting out in the research phase of buying a new bike, you may have read or heard terms like hybrid bikes, cyclocross bikes, road bikes, electric bikes, commuter bikes, and mountain bikes, to name a few. It can be a lot, and each type is optimized or marketed to a specific niche or riding experience. So what is the perfect bike for someone just starting in the world of cycling? We get asked this question often, and the answer is inevitably “it depends”, as the ideal will vary based on your ideal riding experience and your potential riding and activity partners. That said, when it comes down to it, there are two types of bikes we recommend based on versatility and utility/usefulness.
TLDR — You want a flat bar gravel bike or hardtail mountain bike
I’ll get straight to the punch – we recommend a flat bar gravel bike or a hardtail mountain bike for riding in Portland, Oregon. (thanks for reading, bye!)
If you’re not familiar with these labels, that’s totally ok, read on and we’ll break down a few key features in each, and why they may or not be ideal for you.
What kinds of rides do you plan to do?
For the context of this article, I’m going to assume “your” ideal Portland bike will be used for the following types of riding:
- Commuting & transportation
- Social/ group/ themed rides (IE, Pedalpalooza, etc)
- Gravel roads and parks aka “Adventure rides”
- Exploring smooth dirt/natural surface single track trails
Rise / flat handle bars vs Drop Bars
Drop handlebars are the traditional curved bars found on road racing bicycles; they offer a wide range of hand positions that add comfort on long-distance, all-day rides. However, for urban use, we recommend a bike with riser handlebars over drop handlebars. Rise or flat bars feature an upright riding position that allows more control of the bike and is safer for negotiating city streets. (not to mention all the potholes) As an urban cyclist, the biggest danger one regularly faces is distracted drivers, and the reality is that Portland is not anywhere near as friendly to cyclists as the city’s propaganda would have you believe. (Try looking up Vision Zero, or this map of Portland traffic deaths and injuries — it’s not encouraging)
My “road bike” is a Kona Rove Cyclocross bike equipped with drop bars and gravel tires. (though I may be changing the tires out to slick tires for use as a dedicated pavement bike for long-distance road rides) While my drop bar bike is the fastest and most efficient on paved roads, I prefer to commute my hybrid bike around town, as the upright riding position allows me to negotiate road hazards and errant drivers safely.
The flat bar Gravel Bike
For years hybrid bikes have been a popular go-to for urban use and commuting. As the name implies, hybrids are a mix of the two extremes, a drop-bar road bike, and a mountain bike. Hybrids typically have the 700c wheels and narrower tires for fast-rolling from road bikes, a rigid (non-suspension) fork, and flat or rise bars from a mountain bike.
Gravel bikes, AKA adventure bikes, are the new hotness in the bike world. They’re essentially road bikes designed for exploring off pavement and feature clearance for higher volume tires for additional cushioning on rougher surfaces. Gravel bikes feature longer wheels bases than road bikes for additional stability in loose gravel riding conditions. Disc brakes are standard issue for gravel bikes, providing secure stopping power in all conditions, and are so versatile that many road cyclists utilize gravel bikes with road tires for riding.
While hybrid bikes are still extremely popular, the emerging “gravel bike” category has become the biggest growing category in cycling. Essentially a road bike with drop handlebars, gravel bikes are designed to be compatible with larger volume tires, lower gearing (to ease climbing up hills) and more stable handling. Gravel bikes are extremely versatile, as a simple tire change allows them to be utilized as a road bike.
Flat bar gravel bikes are essentially gravel bikes with flat or riser bars, (and mountain bike controls) and as such, would fall in under the hybrid bike category if equipped with road tires. As they generally come equipped with “gravel tires” they’re almost closer to mountain bikes than road bikes, as they ride much like retro mountain bikes with rigid forks. These bikes are essentially high-performance hybrid bikes that feature the best of both worlds. While many compare the flat bar gravel bike to an “old school” rigid mountain bike, modern flat bar gravel bikes feature wide range 1x drive trains, (one-by drive trains feature a single gear shifter control on the right) 700c or 650b wheels with high volume tires, and disc brakes, a now-standard feature that improves braking control in all weather conditions.
At first glance, the main difference between gravel bikes and high-performance hybrid bikes is the addition of frame clearance for larger tires. However, they are also often optimized for stable handling in loose gravel conditions. Gravel bikes are a fairly new category still, so frame geometry (geometry affects how a bike handles) still varies a bit between manufacturers and what each brand believes to be the ideal handling.
Maximum Versatility: Hardtail Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes refer to any type of bike designed and optimized for riding technical off-road trails. Designed with clearance for large knobby tires for riding rough terrain; mountain bikes are typically designed around a suspension fork, with the most popular models featuring front and rear suspension for additional control in rough terrain.
A 29″ hardtail mountain bike is the most versatile platform for configuring a bike for urban to dirt adventure. In this context, the hardtail mountain bike is the next step up from what is being offered as a “flat bar gravel bike” with the addition of a front suspension fork, more aggressive dirt tires, and lower gearing for steeper inclines. (they do vary quite a bit in geometry/handling these days though, so shopping for a hardtail MTB does require a bit more research.
The biggest difference is that mountain bike tires will be considerably more aggressive, with treads and clearance for high volume tires up to 2.6″. The differences don’t end there though. The reach and wheelbases of mountain bikes are longer for additional stability off-road. They also add sloping top tubes for stand-over clearance. Modern mountain bike hardtails range from dedicated “xc race” bikes to aggressive trail bikes. Some, like the Marin Pine Mountain series, are also aimed at bike packing type adventures, and add additional mounting points for bags and accessories.
They also will feature a suspension fork. The addition of suspension adds to the sticker price considerably, and if you were to consider the mountain bike route, you’d want to add to your bike buying budget, as a quality hardtail mountain bike is more expensive due to the cost of the front shock. An adjustable-height seat post will add even more. However, if you’re planning to explore single track trails or try your hand at more serious mountain biking, these upgrades add to the riding experience significantly.
The downside to selecting the mountain bike option is they are higher profile targets for theft, which make them less ideal for commuting or urban usage.
We’re not fans of entry-level hardtail mountain bikes as they tend to be heavy; dirt-specific knobby tires add weight and rolling resistance. Entry-level suspension forks are excessively heavy and offer little in terms of performance. Changing the front shock out to a rigid for will add $200-$350 in the cost of the bike, which makes the flat bar gravel bike a better and more economical choice for most riders starting out and looking for a bike suitable for a wide range of activities and adventures.
There are a few options out there though.
Part II
Click through for part II, featuring several flat bar gravel bike options as well as two versatile rigid MTB options: Five Flat Bar Gravel Bike for Gravel Grinding, Commuting, Adventures, and More
