When you buy a bike, you want to make sure you’re getting the world’s best cycle, something that will last for years to come and that will help you get around with comfort and speed. The top cycling brands often have deep ties to the cycling community, many of them being started by former racing greats.
Origin of Bicycles
That information is pretty much lost in translation. As the Smithsonian Institute notes, it is pretty much impossible to say who invented the bike.
What is clear is that people were using two-wheeled vehicles by the beginning of the 19th century. Infant, some people date the invention of the bike all the way back to the 1400s. According to the International Bicycle Fund, a sketch for a bike, credited to Leonardo Da Vinci, dates to the 1490s.
Interestingly enough, we might have the eruption of a volcano to credit with the actual build of one of the first bike-like vehicles. In the early 1800s, Baron Von Drais, also known as Karl or Charles, designed a vehicle with a steerable front wheel. Draws also included a padded seat in his design and an armrest to balance the vehicle and steer.
For those of you praising planes and cars, consider the fact that a lot of parts that later had a vital role in the development of automobiles and airplanes were originally for bicycles. So yeah, the invention of bicycles had a significant impact on the evolution of both society and technology. Furthermore, by 2003, the number of bicycles worldwide passed 1 billion, which means they’re twice as many as the number of cars.
Why are bicycles in trend?
Bicycles are great in every aspect, whether it is regarding our health or the health of nature. Moreover, it is also not heavy on the pocket. With the world getting polluted at a faster rate day by day, we need to switch to bicycles for a healthier life and a greener future.
There are many bicycle brands and models available in the market. To pick the best bicycles, you need to think about their style, your financial plan, their solidness, and at last, their feel.
So here are the top bicycle brands in the world.
Top World’s Best Cycle Brands
Bianchi
Bianchi is one of the world’s best cycle brands. Founded in Milan in 1885, the brand has over 130 years of experience. These bikes focus on a combination of style, design, taste, and high quality. Moreover, the brand offers a wide range of bikes for all types of cyclists, whether casual or professional. Bianchi prides itself on improving the rider’s experience through improved suspension, better gear mechanisms, and many other elements.
Bianchi bikes have become famous for their popular colour scheme, a turquoise paint, ‘Celeste #227’. Although available in many other colours, the vast majority of Bianchi riders choose this colour due to its recognizable affiliation with the brand. Still, the true origins of the colour remain a mystery. Still, some say it was to match the eye colour of Queen Margherita of Savoy, for whom founder Edoardo Bianchi was paid to build a bicycle.
Most Bianchi road bikes come in both disc brake and calliper brake varieties and with several different groupset options, including:
- Campagnolo Super Record EPS (12-speed)
- Shimano DuraAce Di2, Ultegra, or 105 (11-speed)
- SRAM Red ETAP AXS (12-speed)
Giant
The name says everything. Based in Taiwan, Giant is one of the world’s best cycle manufacturers, with over 6.6 million bikes produced and more than $1.8 billion in income as of 2014.
In fact, the company has been running since 1972, and they have one simple global goal: to make cycling a better and more accessible experience for people around the world. To achieve that, they focus on craftsmanship, innovation and inspiration.
During the last decades, Giant has grown well due to its ability to produce high-quality bikes at an affordable price. In addition, they have bikes for every kind of person out there, from your casual sunny Sunday cyclist to the competitive downhill rider or road champion.
It comes with many features like:
- Superlight Pro level aluminum material is made predominantly from 6011 alloys and delivers the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any Giant aluminum frameset.
- Engineers optimize each tube shape to deliver superior aerodynamic performance through Computational Fluid Dynamics and wind-tunnel data.
- A proven “single-pivot” design that uses the flexing action of the chainstay junction to produce a lightweight and durable suspension system with 4.7 inches/120mm of rear travel.
GT Bikes
GT Bicycles was founded in 1979 in Santa Ana, California and got to be known from the very beginning for the development of BMX bikes and their “triple triangle” hardtail frame design. They still keep that design today.
The company’s vision is to push the boundaries of what’s possible on two wheels by focusing on creating reliable, durable and innovative frames. After huge successes with their BMX models, GT started to make their own mountain bikes, and soon enough, they extended to other types of bicycles.
Today, they continue to innovate and adopt new technologies, being among the first ones to introduce 29’rs to the industry.
GT Bicycles includes many features like:
- The perfectly designed rear guard absorbs all chain impacts.
- Company brought back the legendary suspension system and updated it with modern features. LTS is a versatile platform that is suitable for bikes of all categories.
- The space between the seat and the upper frame tube allows the attachment of a spare tube and the necessary tools.
- In addition, the Triple Triangle has become an icon of the cycling industry over the last 20 years. The smallest frame triangle helps to reduce unwanted frame flex, improves acceleration, and increases comfort.
Trek Bicycle Corporation
Trek Bicycle Corporation is one of the world’s best cycle brands. According to CNBC, it is the largest bike brand based in the US. However, most of its production has moved overseas. However, The company still produces some bikes in the US. As of 2014, it was making about 25,000 bicycles domestically each year, which amounted to about half of all bikes delivered in the US.
The company produces a wide range of bike styles, at a full range of price points. It makes bikes for men, women, and children and biking gear and apparel. Along with traditional foot powered bikes, Trek makes several electric mountain bikes. Bike prices range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Although Trek might be the most recognizable name the company produces, it has a full lineup of brands in its stable. Those other brands include DreamBikes, Bontrager and Electra. Until 2008, the company also made LeMond cycles, a line of bikes initially developed by Greg LeMond, a US cyclist who won the Tour de France.
Trek comes with features like:
- The bike features a motor encased in the hub of the rear wheel. They are generally more affordable and lightweight, making it easier to find one within your price range, so all you have to do is hop on and go.
- Moreover, Mid-drive pedal-assist motors are located by your pedals. They provide a stable centre of gravity, are easy to shift on hills and feel natural while pedalling.
- Displays and controllers make it simple and easy to change your assist level, see your speed and distance and check how much battery power you have left.
Cervelo
Gerard Vroomen began researching bike dynamics at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. Vroomen later took his knowledge to Canada, where he continued his research at McGill University. Then, well-equipped with specialist knowledge, Gerard Vroomen co-founded Cervelo Cycles with Phil White in 1995.
Cervelo Cycles utilizes rigorous wind tunnel, CAD, and computational fluid dynamics testing at various facilities, including the San Diego Air and Space Technology Center.
Currently, Cervelo produces five bike series: the C, R, S, P, and T models.
C, R, and S series models feature unique road bikes designs with multi-shaped frame tubes, also known as squoval. The P series features triathlon and time-trial bikes, which are designed with airfoil-shaped down tubes. The T series are track bikes.
Cervelo bikes come with various features like:
- Cervelo’s Aero bikes hold speed over comfort. Wind resistance is minimum in the hope of putting every last watt to good use.
- Also, the brand worked on increasing stiffness by replacing the fork steerer with a tensioning rod and building up the front portion of the head tube.
Kona Bikes
Kona Bikes is a relative newcomer and one of the world’s best cycle brands. The brand was started in 1988 by Dan Gerhard and Jacob Heilbron. The pair continues to own the brand today, and it remains to be based out of the Pacific Northwest.
Kona’s claim to fame is the first company to produce a straight-leg mountain bike production fork. The brand worked with Brodie (Bruce Spicer) to develop the bike style. Currently, Kona has ten versions of the fork, made for mountain bikes and asphalt bikes of various sizes.
Although Kona initially focused on mountain bikes, it produces a full range of styles, including road and cyclocross bikes. It introduced its first carbon frames cycles in 2011 with a cyclocross racer and a Kula Watt 26″ hardtail.
It has features like:
- All Kona dual-suspension bikes use a multi-pivot 4-bar walking beam suspension. This allows us more options to individually tune the suspension geometry for Cross-Country, Back-Country, Out of Bounds or Downhill.
- Shaped scandium tube sets for ultimate weight savings and stiffness.
- Special top tubes for standover clearance. One-piece magnesium rockers and alloy fasteners for even more weight savings.
- Asymmetric chainstays with cold-forged dropouts, replaceable derailleur hangers, and disc mount. Additionally, cartridge bearing pivots provide optimum weight and performance.
Marin
Far away from the rush of city life, out of a dream of riding the most amazing trails and cycling playgrounds Marin County has to offer, Marin Bikes California was born in 1986, founded on cycling culture and innovation like no other. Now, it has become one of the world’s best cycle brands.
The company, number 7 on our list, is an American bike manufacturer specializing in mountain bikes and addresses every other type of cyclist with various categories of bicycles situated on the mid to high end of the market. Also, it is one of the world’s best cycle brands.
The company’s culture and motto are that they live what they preach and ride what they build, striving to provide a unique experience with every bike they make. Their expertise and knowledge are born outside, on the trails and on the roads, ensuring that they learn, improve, and evolve in a constant striving to build the perfect bike.
The final result is a dream-like adventure for the rider, taking him away from daily life and into another world.
Marin bikes come with features like:
- The Marin Fitness bike range consists of the Fairfax and Terra Linda, both with comfortable upright positions designed for short weekend rides or work commutes.
- Furthermore, the Marin bikes feature a Naild R3ACT 2-play suspension system, 27.5″ wheels, and 150mm front and rear travel.
- Engineers optimize each tube shape to deliver superior aerodynamic performance through Computational Fluid Dynamics and wind-tunnel data.
How to choose the best bicycle for yourself?
When buying a new bike, first decide where you’re going to ride: the pavement or the trails? Once you settle this, begin to look at the world’s best cycle brands catering to that market. Since so many of the brands I’ve featured above produce more than one type of bike, it’s super easy to find something that works for you.
Don’t be swayed by industry dominance; many of the up-and-coming brands are fighting hard to bring you the best bikes at great prices. Name isn’t everything, after all.
You may also like our article on Top 10 Best Wooden Balance Bikes of 2021. Click here to read.
