So which category of bicycle suits you?

What do you want to use your bike for ? Is it to ride with family? Do you want to ride with a cycling group? Is it for shopping, the library or a coffee with friends around town? Maybe just for exercise with friends whilst the kids are at school.

Where do we go from here?

I suggest that you decide what you want to use the bicycle for. Make a list, then determine what on that list is non-negotiable. This is now your shopping list, we will meet your needs at the Pushbike Factory.

In conjunction with the Macarthur Bicycle Users Group I have prepared the "Purchasing a New Bike - Bicycle Buyers Guide" page to help you understand the technical terms and requirements of cycling and cyclists, please click the following link to go there Buyers Guide.

Trainers for health and fitness

We can even sell you a trainer to mount your bike on when it rains. This means you can ride, socialise and maintain fitness using your bike during good weather but still use it ensuring ongoing exercise during bad weather. It even folds up and can be hidden in a cupboard when not in use.

If you aren't sure what you want or are venturing into cycling for the first time, contact me on 02 4625 4537 and discuss your requirements.

The Bicycle categories section lower down this page will help you, it is extracted from our print friendly buyers guide purchase which is also found on this website.

The Pushbike Factory Bike Shop is open seven days a week for our Sydney / NSW customers offering sales, service and enquiries see The Pushbike Factory - Campbelltown Bike Shop location map and directions.

MacBUG on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Spring Ride 2007 with Hybrid, Mountain and Touring bikes

Bicycle categories

BMX bike

Mountain or MTB bike

Specialised "soft tail" or "hard tail" (front and rear suspension) are designed for "off-road use" but are the most commonly purchased bikes by the public, the bicycle industry heavily promoted mountain bikes in the past creating a market for them. The Mountain bike has a short wheel base, is fitted with 27 gears and uses knobbly tires for dirt work. Mountain bikes are not as flexible to use nor as comfortable as a Hybride bike , see item 3 below..

Hybrid bike

Has a front suspension and is designed for general riding about town or day rides. Some can be fitted with mudguards and panniers making them a versatile bicycle for general use. They have up to 27 gears and tyres for both road and fire trail use (crossover). The Hybrid bikeoften comes with an adjustable stem allowing the handlebars to be adjusted to suit the rider. Suspension saddles and posts are often fitted for comfort. These machines haven't been promoted particularly well although they are best suited to most casual riders and cycling group members ie MacBUG for day rides. The Pushbike factory currently has a large range of womens hybrid bikes in stock.

MacBUG on the Lady Carrington Drive in the Royal National Park Sydney with Hybrid and Mountain bikes

Touring bike

Has a longer frame for comfort. Features much of the Hybrid bikes features but is of a higher quality and generally built to last with quality steel frames and the capacity to carry larger loads for long periods of time. Both Touring and Hybrid bikes are easily customised to meet the riders requirements and are better suited to riders who have back injuries.

Flat bar road bikes

Better quality running gear with much the same useage as the road with it being designed to get from A to B quickly without the comfort features of the Hybrid / Touring bikes.

Road / Racing bikes

Aare the thoroughbreds of the cycling world and were heavily promoted at one time. They use drop handlebars and will get you from A - B as quickly as possible. They do not have the ability to carry panniers or mudguards and comfort isn't high on the agenda as with Hybrids and Touring bikes. They are generally in the higher price range and rather specialised once again.

Note: Initially cycling magazines and sports writers tended to promote road / racing bikes believing that the public wanted this type of machine. This proved to be incorrect and the emphasis has been transferred in recent years to Mountain Bikes. Manufacturers following this advice developed and promoted Mountain Bikes which the public followed by purchasing large numbers.

These days you will find a very high percentage of bicycle owners possess Mountain Bikes, many use the "soft tail "(dual front and rear suspension) which is totally unsuitable for everyday riding but designed "solely for off-track activities".

In fact many adults would be better served by the Hybrid / Touring bike category of machine.

Senior Citizens

We also service the Senior Citizens by being part of the "Seniors Card scheme", the Seniors Card is welcome here. The Pushbike Factory is a great place for the seniors to purchase a bike for themselves to maintain their fitness. Looking after the grand kids over school holidays, get them a bike and spend hours of fun together.