Out of all the varieties of bikes available, the road bike is one of the oldest and most popular. If you are mainly going to be riding on pavement, and distance or speed are priorities, you’ll want to invest in one of this variety. These bicycles have lightweight frames produced to allow aerodynamic posture without discomfort, and are produced for racing usually. Riding a road bike is certainly seriously recommended, and among the preferred are the Colnago Bikes and the Fuji Road Bikes.

Road bikes do not have the knobbly surface you might expect from mountain bike tires – they commonly have narrow tires that are kept at a high pressure, and which have smooth surfaces. These reduce road contact, giving you the least amount of rolling resistance. However, they allow you to feel more when it comes to bumps and stones – that is why they’re best suited for pavement that is well maintained.

You’ll need to give thought to the frame, also. Road bike frames are made from a variety of different materials, and the price varies depending on the way they’re made and the material. Heavier bikes result in slower times for competition riders. Lighter frames usually cost more – better for climbing. This may or may not be of importance to you.

A lot of basic level bikes have frames of either steel or aluminum, with aluminum slowly taking over more and more of the market. Neither is a bad choice, but each has its pluses and minuses. For instance, aluminum frames are manufactured to be especially rigid, which results in a slightly rougher ride. Steel frames are heavier, but offer more flexibility, and can handle bumps a little better. How do you decide which one’s the bike for you? The only way is to decide which one feels better after testing as many bikes as possible.

As bike prices go up, you’ll start to see bicycle frames made from different materials. For instance, the front fork may be made of carbon fiber – a strong, but light material. High end bikes may have an entire frame made of carbon fiber, offering great strength and lightness. Even more exclusive bikes are made of titanium and other specialist materials. Seeing that these are such expensive bikes, the majority of them are purchased only by serious cycling enthusiasts.

Another very important component are handlebars. On road bikes, they commonly project straight from the base, then curl under so that riders who want to avoid resistance to the wind can bend forward. Riders can also sit in a position that is more upright and hold their hands higher up on the bars. Gear shift and brake levers are often mounted on the handle bar on road bikes, giving you greater control.

Pay attention to riding position, also. Most modern road bikes are produced to enable riders to bend over, allowing them to put the most power from the legs and hips into the pedals, and bringing down their wind resistance. This aerodynamic position is good for short term speed, but can be unpleasant in the long term, inducing hand and arm problems.

Road bikes commonly come with many speeds in the gearing – two or three chain rings and eight or nine gears – affording anywhere from sixteen to twenty seven different gear combinations. You’ll also usually get platform pedals which come with toe pedals, but clipless pedals are also to be found. They allow you to pedal the bike on the downstroke as well as the upstroke.

1. Road Bikes And Comfort Cycles To Stay Fitter
2. Attributes of Top-of-the-Line Mountain Bikes
3. Reasons Why Road Bikes Are Still King
4. Trek Mountain Bikes and Road Bikes Both Included in Go By Bike Month
5. Hybrid Bikes: Jack Of All Trades

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