The Ten Best Dual-Purpose Bikes

Dual-purpose bikes came about from cyclists wanting to do more than one cycling activity without buying and storing several bikes. Trying to produce one bike that can meet the needs of every rider is impossible, but some bicycle manufacturers have made an art of crossing over. The criterion for inclusion as one the best dual-purpose cycles include adaptability, sensibility and affordability, with most in the $600 to $800 category.

  1. Redline Bikes: Conquest Sport

    • Redline Bikes' Conquest Sport ranks as an affordable bike, built with quality in mind. The bike has drop handle bars for longer rides, but also sports a rack and fender mounts for a quick dash to the corner market, notes BikeReviews.com. It also gives extra clearance for larger off-road tires and is disc-brake compatible.

    Specialized Bikes: Crosstrail

    • Specialized Bikes makes its Crosstrail "for how, where and why you ride," says Landrys.com, a bicycle retailer. Crosstrail rates as an affordable or -- if you seek a top-of-the-line model -- not-so-affordable choice. The Crosstrail boasts flat handlebars for a more upright ride. Its front suspension delivers better handling on light off-road and trail excursions. Disc-brake compatible, it also has rack and fender mounts and larger tire clearance for those chunkier wheels.

    Motobecane Bikes: Fantom CX

    • The affordable, disc-brake compatible Fantom CX by Motobecane Bikes provides quality with drop handlebars, rack and fender mounts and larger tire clearance. It also "handles rider weight well and keeps its track on all surfaces," notes a review on RoadBikeReview.com.

    Motobecane Bikes: Fantom Outlaw

    • The Fantom Outlaw serves as the somewhat less affordable sister to the Fantom CX. The Motobecane Bikes-produced cycle also has drop handlebars, rack and fender mounts and tire clearance, but its standard disc brakes set it apart.

    Novara Bikes: Big Buzz

    • Novara Bikes: Big Buzz -- a good quality, affordable bike -- features flat handlebars for those who prefer to ride in a more upright position. The nicely equipped bike has mounts on the rack and fender and provides the usual large tire clearance. Missing here, however, is disc-brake compatibility.

    Novara Bikes: Buzz Road Bike

    • The Buzz Road Bike, produced by Novara Bikes, looks and feels similar to the Big Buzz, except for the handlebars and the standard disc brakes.

    Trek Bikes: PDX

    • Trek Bikes: PDX is lower priced but quality nonetheless with flat handlebars and rack and fender mounts. "Trek's PDX is a slick city bike that focuses on three things: utility, efficiency and style," said a reveiw on bikedoctorarnold.com. The PDX also has tire clearance for larger tires and fenders if you are looking to upgrade later.

    Trek Bikes: Allant

    • Trek Bikes' lower-priced Allant provides flat handlebars that create a more extreme upright riding position. According to Road Bike Review, the Allant's "upright riding style and straight handlebars make riding comfortable and very controlled." The Allant includes a rear rack and fenders.

    Trek Bikes: Utopia

    • The Utopia, produced by Trek Bikes as part of its Gary Fisher Collection launched in 2010, comes nicely equipped for the price with flat handlebars and front suspension for light off-roading. The Utopia also has rack and fender mounts, clearance for bigger off-road tires and disc brakes.

    Trek Bikes: Mendota

    • Trek Bicycle Corp.'s Gary Fisher Collection also delivers the Mendota, which rates as a little more high-end than the Utopia. It has the same bells and whistles in a lighter, faster package. Bike Doctor Arnold calls it "Road-bike fast and mountain-bike comfortable." The Mendoa offers flat handle bars for more upright riding and s front suspension to handle trails and light off-road treks with ease. The lightweight Mendota also has disc brakes.