They were the fastest-growing segment of new bicycle sales, with an increase of almost 5 percentage points over 1999. Bike shops throughout the metro area are seeing spokes of the trend firsthand. They are very versatile. They've got all the gears a mountain bike has but a more smooth ride. An adjustable stem allows for sitting upright.
Tires are smooth in the middle for street riding with knobby edges for added traction off-road.
Bearings in the gears facilitate shifting. Seat posts usually have shock suspension to make lumps and bumps easier to traverse. Manufacturers have made efforts to make anatomically correct seats that, among other things, relieve the pressure point on the prostate. Steve Nowak, manager of Spokes in Greenville, said the industry's efforts are paying off for many of his customers. They're more for riding around town.