Different types of bikes explained: Advantages and disadvantages as well as intended use

City and touring bikes are the perfect companions for everyday life and short weekend excursions. They are not only comfortable and functional, but also offer an ideal mix of versatility and practicality.

They are specially designed for everyday urban life and offer a simple way of getting around the city. City bikes are characterised by their robust construction, comfortable handling and an upright riding position that ensures relaxed handling. Wide tyres and solid shifting systems such as hub gears make the city bike reliable, low-maintenance and ideal for short to medium-length distances. With often integrated mudguards, lights and pannier racks, they are generally roadworthy from the moment of purchase.

Area of use:

• Daily commute to work or riding in the city
• Shopping and short errands
• Relaxing excursions in an urban environment or in the neighbourhood

They are the ideal companion for longer tours and versatile use, both on tarmac and on gravel roads. Trekking bikes combine the robustness and comfort features of a city bike with the performance of a mountain bike, making them particularly suitable for cycle travellers or adventure seekers. With an ergonomic seating position, wide range of gears and well-thought-out equipment, trekking bikes offer the necessary comfort for many kilometres. They also have many mounting options for panniers. Whether for extended day tours or trips lasting several days – this category impresses with its versatility and a pleasant riding experience on different surfaces.

Area of use:

• Longer day trips and cycle tours lasting several days
• Trips on both paved and easy, gravel paths
• Longer commuter routes
• Suitable for travelling with luggage or trips into the countryside

This bike category is considered the sportier trekking bike option and is ideal for a wide range of scenarios. They are equipped with wider tyres that guarantee good grip on both asphalt and gravel roads. Their sporty geometry enables fast and dynamic riding, while the lightweight frame and wide gear ratio ensure high efficiency. Cross bikes are particularly suitable for sporty riders who want to ride both on the road and on gravel roads. When buying, however, note that additional components might be required for street-legal reasons.

Area of use:

• Sporty rides on varied routes that include tarmac and easy gravel roads
• Active leisure rides and tours where both speed on the road and flexibility on changing surfaces are important

Folding bikes are compact, practical bikes and are ideal for people who regularly need to transport or store their bike. With a simple folding mechanism, they can be reduced to a handy size in just a few seconds. This dimension offers a convenient option for commuters who want to use the bike for the journey to the bus and then take public transport for the rest of the way. Folding bikes are also great for limited storage space or travelling, as they can be easily stored in smaller homes or vehicles.

Area of use:

• Commuting, especially in combination with public transport
• Travelling where the bike needs to be transported in a car or train
• Use in urban areas with limited storage space if you want to keep the bike in your flat
• People who need a bike for short journeys and want to store it easily

If you are looking for a bike for your holiday that will allow you to go on long tours, but also cover short distances through the city or from the campsite to the lake, you are sure to find the right model in your size among our rental bike fleet. Our RENTertainers will help you choose!

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Are you looking for a lot of speed and even more kilometres? Then road or gravel bikes are just the right category for you. We explain how they differ:

They are the preferred choice for sporty riders and competition enthusiasts who prefer fast rides on tarmac roads. Road bikes are designed for high speeds and long distances. They also feature a lightweight frame, narrow tyres and aerodynamic geometry that combine efficient power transfer and minimal drag. With a wide range of gears and precise shifting, they enable precise adaptation to different road conditions and route profiles.

Area of use:

• Tarmac roads
• For long tours, high speeds and many kilometres

bikes. They offer a good mix of speed on the road as well as versatility off-road and are designed to cover long distances without sacrificing neither speed nor stability. With their wider tyres that can handle gravel and forest trails with ease, these bikes are the perfect choice for adventurous cyclists who want to ride on both asphalt and simple dirt roads. Thanks to their more comfortable geometry, they are also a good alternative to road bikes.

Area of use:

• Long rides on mixed terrain (tarmac, gravel, forest paths)
• Adventure or long-distance cycle tours on different surfaces
• For those looking for fast rides on the road, as well as variety and adventure off the beaten track

The mountain landscapes of the Alps are waiting to be discovered and mountain bikes are just the right category for this. We show you which types are right for which purpose.

Which one of them is the right type of bike for you, depends heavily on the following factors:

• Area of use
• personal preferences
• comfort level
• budget

A hardtail has a suspension fork, while the rear wheel is unsprung. This makes it lighter, requires less maintenance and is usually cheaper than a fully. The hardtail really is a great choice for forest roads, easy trails and longer off-road tours. The direct power transmission is particularly helpful on climbs and flat sections. However, the reduced comfort quickly becomes noticeable as soon as the ground becomes rougher, as impacts and vibrations are passed on to the rider and their wrists.

A fully on the other hand has a rear suspension, which effectively smoothens out bumps and offers significantly better comfort. On technical trails, root passages or in alpine terrain, the damper provides more control, safety and riding enjoyment. The rear wheel stays on the ground better, which increases both traction and braking efficiency. Especially on longer descents or on very demanding routes, a fully noticeably relieves the body, as the strain on the back, arms and legs is reduced. On the other hand, they are heavier, more expensive and require more maintenance.

Dirt bikes are specially designed types for dirt parks or pump tracks. They are characterised by their robust construction and are designed for tricks and jumps on smooth surfaces. If you want to get up high or are looking for a rig for the pump track in the neighbourhood, a dirt bike is the right choice. However, this type of bike is not suitable for longer tours or getting groceries.

Area of use:

• Great for the dirt and skate parks or pump tracks
• The right type of bike for anyone who loves jumps and tricks

They are designed for efficiency, speed and endurance when riding uphill and through the woods. The focus is on low weight, direct power transmission and agile riding behaviour. XC bikes are designed to master climbs efficiently and maintain a high speed even over longer distances. Depending on the model, they are available as a hardtail or as a lightweight fully with moderate suspension travel of around 130 mm.

Area of use:

• For mountainous terrain with many climbs and descents
• Sporty rides on easy trails as well as forest, woodland and gravel paths
• Long tours with many metres in altitude
• For riders who value speed, endurance and efficiency

These are mountain bikes that have been specially developed for technical and varied terrain. They offer a balanced mix of pedalling and downhill performance, making them suitable for fast, flowing rides as well as more challenging ones with roots, rocks and tight corners. Trail bikes are usually equipped with moderate suspension travel (between 140 and 160 mm), which provides comfort and control when descending on uneven surfaces. The geometry is optimised for high manoeuvrability, making them particularly easy to ride on technical trails with many changes of direction and obstacles. Anyone who says of themselves that they also want to pedal to the trail start will find the right type of bike here.

Area of use:

• Technical trails and varied mountain bike routes with roots, rocks and tight corners
• Longer tours that include both climbs and challenging descents.
• For riders looking for a bike for a variety of trails with varying degrees of difficulty

Enduro bikes are for demanding, technical descents without the desire to set record times uphill. They have greater suspension travel (usually between 160 and 180 mm), which makes them particularly suitable for trail riding, while still offering enough manoeuvrability for technical passages. The perfect category for anyone looking for a pedalling downhill bike.

Area of use:

• For fast, technical descents
• Bike parks, trail centres and tours with lots of vertical metres
• For riders looking for a mixture of leisurely uphill riding and extreme descents

performance on steep, technical and very rough trails. They guarantee a lot of stability at high speeds on rough surfaces. With a suspension travel (between 180 and 220 mm), downhill bikes offer a maximum control on downhill trails in the bike park.

Area of use:

• Downhill trails in the bike park
• Very demanding trails where control and stability at high speed are particularly important

Do you want to discover bike parks, trail centres and MTB tours in the Alps? Then rent the right mountain type from one of our 800+ shops worldwide. Our experts will help you choose the right type of bike and are sure to have a tip or two for you. We'll set up your model so that you can hit the trails straight away.

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E-bikes have revolutionised the bicycle market with their electronic motor. The fixed or removable battery supports the riders as long as they are pedalling. Assistance is provided up to 25 km/h, allowing longer distances to be covered.

Due to the additional power, the demands on the components of an e-bike are significantly higher: the frame must be reinforced to support the weight of the battery and motor without impairing the riding characteristics. The brakes also need to be stronger, as the weight requires greater braking power. In our INTERSPORT Rent shops, you can choose between different types of bikes, which are also available as e-bikes. Choose between:

• E-Citybikes
• E-Trekking bikes
• E-MTBs

These models offer the same riding comfort and the same possible uses as their non-electric counterparts.

The advantages and disadvantages of e-bikes at a glance:

They are specially designed to meet the needs of young riders and offer a safe, comfortable and fun way to learn to ride a bike. The size and adaptation to the child's body proportions are crucial.

The equipment of children's bikes must also be adapted to the special needs of young riders. Non-slip pedals, easy-to-use brakes and a low frame height ensure easy handling and more control. A mudguard and reflective elements also ensure additional safety for road usage.

Depending on the shop, you can also rent children's bikes from us, for example to discover new places on holiday by bike.

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The difference between a gravel bike and a trekking bike lies primarily in the intended use, the riding position and the components. A gravel bike has a sporty design. It has wider racing handlebars, a more stretched seating position and bigger, profiled tyres that allow you to ride on asphalt as well as gravel and forest paths. Usually, this type of bike comes without lights, mudguards or pannier rack, making the gravel bike particularly suitable for sporty tours, longer distances and bikepacking.

A trekking bike, on the other hand, is characterised by comfort and suitability for everyday use. It is marked by an upright riding position and is usually equipped with a suspension fork, lights, mudguards, pannier rack and kickstand. Although this makes it heavier, it is much more suitable for journeys with luggage on well-maintained paths.

In mountain biking, the abbreviations S0 to S5 denote the various difficulty levels according to the single trail scale. These mean the following:

• S0: Very easy trails (forest road, gravel path), no technical difficulties
• S1: Narrow trail, mostly firm ground, small roots or stones possible, corners are easy, moderate gradient, easy to ride for beginners, basic techniques are sufficient
• S2: Significantly more roots, stones and steps, tighter corners, sometimes steeper, clean line choice required, short blocked passages, experience and active riding technique required
• S3: Rough rocks, high roots, steps, tight switch backs, steep terrain, often exposed, mistakes quickly lead to a fall, good control and technique required
• S4: Very steep, heavily blocked, large steps, drops, exposed sections, usually only rideable for very good riders

• S5: Extremely steep and technical, large obstacles, hardly forgiving of mistakes, often more trial or pushing passages

Bicycle types make it possible to differentiate between various bicycles, each of which serves a different purpose. The fact that there are different purposes in turn means that there are many other requirements. Bicycle types such as road, city bikes or mountain bikes in general differ not only in terms of their components, but also in their geometry.