What's the best bike for cycle commuting?

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Your choice of bike for the ride to work will depend on your own tastes and on the distance, terrain and varying surfaces you’ll encounter on the journey. It's also worth bearing in mind that the best bike for cycle commuting is often the one you enjoy riding the most.

For longer tarmac commutes, experienced riders tend to prefer drop-bar bikes of one sort or another for their extra turn of speed. However, many people find that the best bike for cycle commuting has a more upright position, which you get with a flat-bar road bike or mountain bike, fitted with slick tyres for smooth surfaces.

(This article was updated in November 2016)

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If your ride takes in some trails or unsurfaced paths, then the fatter, grippier tyres of a mountain bike will help with traction. They can be overkill for many situations though, so don’t overlook the option of fitting a flat-bar road bike with fatter rubber (there’s often room for deeply-treaded 32mm or 37mm tyres).

Typical road bike gearing will work fine unless you live somewhere extraordinarily hilly, while flatlanders can get away with fixed-gear bikes and other variants on simple transmission systems. Consider a touring bike or mountain bike if you have some monster hills to tackle though.

Whatever you choose, you’ll need a way of carrying your stuff — in a rucksack, courier bag or panniers. Panniers are the most comfortable option, especially for longer rides, so if you want to use them you’ll need to choose a bike with rack mounts.

Whatever you choose, you’ll need a way of carrying your stuff – in a rucksack, courier bag or panniers

Hybrid / flat-bar bikes: best all-rounder

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• Budget: Marin Fairfax SC2 IG, £500 / $659 / AU $TBC
• Sensible: Boardman Hybrid Pro, £999 (unavailable outside UK)
• Luxury: BMC Alpenchallenge AC01 Alfine 11, £1,899 / $2,699 / AU$ 3,499

Folding bikes: best if your commute involves a train

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• Budget: Tern Link B7, £325 / $400 / AU $720
• Sensible: Brompton S2L, £985 / $1,300 / AU$ 2,000
• Luxury: Airnimal Chamelon Sport, £1,999 / $TBC / AU$ TBC

Town bikes: best for hassle-free riding

Sometimes known as 'sit-up-and-beg' bikes for the riding position they provide, or Dutch bikes because (surprise) they're popular in the Netherlands, these are a classic option for town riding. They combine classic looks with a leisurely, unhurried riding style and almost zero maintenance.

On the downside, they're heavy, not necessarily cheap, and probably not a good idea if you live somewhere hilly. They'll often include full-length mudguards, chainguards for protecting your trousers or skirt from a mucky chain, a hub gear, panniers or a front basket, and a nice loud bell. And a kickstand.

When you add all those things together, it's easy to see why they're so heavy. Don't try to carry one up stairs. But they'll easily survive being locked up outside, they're less appealing to thieves than a road bike, and you're likely to arrive at your destination less sweaty.

• Budget: Elephant Bike, £250 / $TBC / AU$ TBC
• Sensible: Pendleton Ashwell, £330 / $TBC / AU$ TBC 
• Luxury: Pashley Roadster, £695 / $635 / AU$ 837

Road bikes: best if you're in a hurry on good roads

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• Budget: Specialized Allez E5 Sport, £750 / $970 / AU$ 1,399
• Sensible: GT Grade Alloy 105, £999 / $1,410 / AU$ TBC
• Luxury: Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra Disc, £1,999 / $2,660 / AU$ 4,199

Gravel / adventure bikes: best if you're in a hurry on bad roads

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• Budget: Genesis Croix de Fer 10, £899 (unavailable outside UK)
• Sensible: Specialized Sequoia Elite, £1,500 / $2,000 / AU$ TBC
• Luxury: GT Grade Carbon Ultegra, £2,599 / $3,580 / AU$ TBC

Touring bikes: best if you need to carry lots of gear

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• Budget: Specialized Diverge A1, £650 / $1,150 / AU$ TBC
• Sensible: Dawes Galaxy Cromo, £899 / $1,260 / AU$ TBC
• Luxury: Van Nicholas Pioneer Rohloff Titanium, £3,529 / $TBC

Fixed gear bikes: best if you hate maintenance

• Budget: Charge Plug 1, £499 / $579 / AU$ TBC
• Sensible: Kona Paddy Wagon, £649 / $749 / 
• Luxury: Cinelli Mash Parallax, £1,150 / AU$ 959

Mountain bikes: best if you commute on rough terrain

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• Budget: Calibre Two.Two, £425 (unavailable outside UK)
• Sensible: Whyte 905, £1,699 / $2,199 / AU$TBC
• Luxury: Santa Cruz Tallboy 3, £6,179 / $6,499 / AU$ TBC

Electric bikes: best if you need a hand up the hills

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• Budget: B’Twin Bebike 900, £930 / $TBC
• Sensible: Gazelle CityZen C8 HM, £1,999 / $3,999 / AU$ TBC
• Luxury: Haibike Trekking RC, €2,599 / $4,000 / AU$ TBC

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