This Guardian guide offers practical advice for buying a bicycle, aimed at demystifying what can be an overwhelming purchase involving lots of jargon and options. Cycling journalist Paddy Maddison consults two industry experts, David Arthur of Just Ride Bikes and Stephen Roche of the Bike Tailor, to help readers work out what they actually need before spending money, based on how they intend to use the bike, their budget and desired features.

The article breaks bikes down into main categories, including hybrids for everyday urban riding and short journeys, road bikes for fast, long-distance riding on tarmac, and gravel bikes, described as the fastest-growing segment, for mixing tarmac, towpaths and light trails. Each type comes with trade-offs, such as hybrids being slower than road bikes, road bikes being uncomfortable and jarring on rough surfaces, and gravel bikes being less capable off-road than dedicated mountain bikes. The piece also includes sample models with prices, ranging from around £800 for entry-level hybrids to nearly £3,000 for higher-spec road bikes.