Mountain Bikes - There's lots of trails in the Hanover area. Over at Codorus there's a trail that Kessler's Bicycles owner, Ron Stitely and friends laid out and first cut. Rocky Ridge in York has miles of trails and the Michaux Forest trails are beautiful.

Slow speed handling is one of the big advantages of a mountain bike. Big tires, low center of gravity, forward fork offset and a steering axis that is trail-designed are design elements that make the mountain bike a trail master. They still have high speed stability, but you might have to work a little harder than a touring or racing bike on pavement to maintain cruising speed.

Because of their handling characteristics, mountain bikes are often a favorite with commuters who take their bikes in and out of alleys and on sidewalks.

Full-Suspension or Hardtail - A thick-tired mountain bike can have full-suspension with fork and rear shock to give you control and comfort, whatever the terrain. The competitive types might choose the lightweight hardtails that are without shocks to give you a hardwired connection to the trail.

Touring or Racing Bikes - These are the bikes that used to be called "Ten-Speeds". Now they usually have gears for more than ten speeds, but they still have the same drop handlebars and tall wheels we associate with that design. They are built for cruising on paved roads as opposed to off-road terrain. These bikes will go the distance and are good for recreation or commuting on roads.

When laden with baggage, the term touring bike is often applied to these same bicycles, although straight handlebars may also be seen on touring bikes. A rack on the back or front may hold specially designed luggage that can range from plain bags to fold over suit bags that can keep your dress clothing neat while cycling to work.