Buying Guides

Buying Guides

What is a recumbent and why would you ride one? Our guide to these lesser-spotted bikes

Why be uptight upright when you could be a laid-back cyclist?
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Buyer’s guide to internal gear hubs | The compelling alternative to derailleurs

What is an internal gear hub, how do they work and who makes them?
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The best disc brakes for mountain biking, tested by BikeRadar

The best MTB disc brakes, as reviewed by our team of expert testers
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Everything you need to know about bike brakes (and a short history of every brake that has ever existed)

Everything you need to know about bike brakes
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Buyer's guide: how to choose a bike designed for older riders

Our guide to the increasing number of bikes that are great options for older riders
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Eight of the best upgrades you can make to your bike – without breaking the bank

Marginal costs for major gains
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Best hybrid bikes 2025 | Top-rated hybrid bikes and our buyer's guide

The best hybrid bikes for a range of budgets
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Shimano SPD vs SPD-SL pedals: what’s the right system for you?

BikeRadar guides you through the ins and outs of Shimano’s two main pedal systems
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Why are headsets so confusing? The ultimate guide to this humble bike component

Everything you need to know about this key bike component
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Best gravel wheels in 2025 | Top-rated gravel wheelsets and buying advice

The best gravel wheels can stand up to the harshest off-road punishment. Our testers have put wheelsets from all the top brands through their paces
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Cycling's most hardcore bikes: buyer's guide to fixies and singlespeed bikes

Want to ditch your gears? Here's everything you need to know
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What is a mullet drivetrain? Plus how to pair MTB derailleurs and road shifters

Everything you need to know about mullet drivetrains
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Mechanical disc brakes don't have to suck if you follow these steps – pros, cons and how to service them

And is there still a place for cable-actuated disc brakes?
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How to measure a bike frame: our complete guide to sizing a bike

Fundamental measurements so you can compare frames like-for-like
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1.6 million people have saved up to 47% on a new bike with Cycle to Work – here's how to join them

How you can grab a bike at a bargain price and get commuting
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What the heck is a gravel helmet? Gravel vs road helmets – the differences (and similarities) explained

Do we really need gravel-specific helmets?
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What is a gravel bike? These are the features that define a gravel bike

Thinking about buying a gravel bike? We've got the basics covered
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The safest road, mountain bike and urban helmets as rated by Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has rated 264 cycling helmets for safety, with the top helmets all featuring MIPS
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Best cycling sunglasses and glasses in 2025 | 20 sets of shades rated and reviewed

Top-rated cycling glasses to protect your eyes out on the road or trail
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Bike components explained: a jargon buster for all of the key frame, wheelset and groupset parts on a bicycle

Get your head around headsets, drivetrains, derailleurs and more
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Best mountain bike pedals 2025 | 34 of our favourite flat and clipless MTB pedals

Our pick of the best flat and clipless pedals
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Everything you ever wanted to know about tandem bicycles

Our in-depth guide has all the information you need to get started with a tandem
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7 ways to make your road bike lighter – and 1 of them is free

How to embrace your inner weight weenie without going bankrupt
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Prescription cycling glasses: everything you need to know

A buyer's guide to prescription (Rx) cycling glasses
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