# What kind of bike is best for getting around town? Canonical: https://zestasy.com/wiki/city-bike/ Section: Zestasy Wiki > Movement · Updated: 2026-10-13 · Publisher: Zestasy *Zestasy Wiki: our reference answers. Checked for facts and sources; less curated than the magazine.* For most town riding, an upright city bike, with a relaxed position, mudguards, a chain guard, lights and somewhere to carry things, is the most comfortable and practical choice. A folding bike makes sense if you combine cycling with trains or have little storage, and a hybrid suits longer or faster commutes. Whatever you choose, budget for a good lock. The best town bike is not the fastest or the lightest. It is the one you will use on a drizzly Tuesday to buy bread, wearing normal clothes, without thinking about it. That points somewhere quite different from the sleek bikes in the shop window. ## The upright city bike Think of the classic Dutch or Italian town bike: you sit upright, hands high, back straight, looking around you like someone on a terrace. - **Upright position.** Better for seeing traffic and being seen, and kinder to wrists and neck. - **Step-through frame,** often, so getting on and off in a skirt, a suit or a hurry is easy. - **Mudguards and a chain guard,** so your trousers and back stay clean. - **Built-in lights and a stand** on many models. - **Racks and baskets** that take shopping, a bag or flowers from the market. - **Hub gears,** often, which are tucked away and low-maintenance. The trade-off is weight. City bikes are heavy and not quick up long hills. If your town is flat and your trips are short, that hardly matters. ## The folding bike Folding bikes are made for mixed journeys and small homes: - **Trains and buses.** Ride to the station, fold, take it on board, ride the other end. - **Small flats and offices.** It lives under a desk or in a cupboard. - **Less theft risk,** because you can usually take it inside with you. Small wheels feel a bit twitchy at first and less comfortable on rough cobbles or potholes, and good folders are not cheap. For a commuter who mixes bike and train, though, they can be life-changing. ## The hybrid A hybrid sits between a road bike and a mountain bike: flat handlebars, a lighter frame, medium-width tyres and lots of gears. - **Quicker over longer distances** than a city bike. - **Good for longer commutes,** hilly towns and weekend rides on paths. - **Often less practical out of the box.** You may need to add mudguards, a rack, lights and a stand. If you are not sure, our guide to the [difference between road, gravel and hybrid bikes](https://zestasy.com/wiki/road-gravel-hybrid/) goes into more detail. ## E-bikes Many people now choose an electric-assist version of any of the above, especially in hilly towns, for longer commutes or to arrive without needing a shower. Rules on e-bikes vary by country, so check what applies where you live. ## The accessories that matter - **A good lock.** Spend proportionally on it. A sturdy D-lock or chain, locked through the frame to something solid, is a common approach. Our piece on [locking a bike](https://zestasy.com/wiki/locking-a-bike/) covers it properly. - **Mudguards.** The single best upgrade for riding in normal clothes. - **Lights.** Bright front and rear lights, ideally built in or easily removable. - **Something to carry things.** A basket, rear rack with panniers, or a front rack. Riding with a backpack is fine for short trips but sweaty on longer ones. See our guide to [carrying things on a bike](https://zestasy.com/wiki/carrying-things-on-a-bike/). - **A bell.** Simple, cheap and very civilised. ## Test ride, and fit it to you Ride a few different bikes before buying, ideally on streets like the ones you will use. Check you can stand over the frame comfortably, reach the handlebars without stretching, and put a foot down easily at traffic lights. Our piece on [choosing the right bike size](https://zestasy.com/wiki/right-bike-size/) has the details. Second-hand city bikes are often excellent value. Have a mechanic check the brakes, tyres and chain before you ride off. ## FAQ ### Is a mountain bike good for town? It works, but knobbly tyres are slow on tarmac and most lack mudguards and racks. Smooth tyres make a big difference. ### What about a road bike for commuting? If your commute is long and you like speed, yes. For short trips in normal clothes, the bent-over position and lack of carrying space make it less practical. ### Do I need gears in a flat town? A few gears are still helpful for starting off and for headwinds. Three to seven hub gears are plenty for most towns. ### Single-speed or hub gears? Single-speed bikes are simple and light; hub gears give you options on hills and with heavy shopping. Both are low-maintenance. ## Related - [How do you start cycling to work?](https://zestasy.com/movement/start-cycling-to-work/) - [How do you feel safer cycling in traffic?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/safer-in-traffic/) - [How do you carry things on a bike?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/carrying-things-on-a-bike/) - [How do you lock a bike so it doesn't get stolen?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/locking-a-bike/) - [What is the difference between a road bike, a gravel bike and a hybrid?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/road-gravel-hybrid/) - [All Movement answers in the Wiki](https://zestasy.com/wiki/#movement)