Ultimate Buying Guide For Road Bike

1. Ultimate Buying Guide For Road Bike • Road bikes are bicycles designed to take you as far and as fast as your legs can manage. The road bike gets its name from the terrain it is designed to be used on the road. Road bicycles are designed to be ridden fast on smooth pavement. They have smooth, skinny tires and drop handlebars, and can be used for on- road racing. They are usually lighter than other types of bicycles. • Features • Very lightweight frame, wheels and components. • A drop (curled) handlebar, though some have a flat bar like a mountain bike. • Narrow wheels and tires. • A composite (carbon fiber) front fork. • No front or rear suspension. • Men's and women's styles and a wide range of sizes. Function • Intended for fitness enthusiasts, event riders and competitive riders. • Designed for paved surfaces (roads, bike paths); not recommended for rough or unpaved surfaces. • Allows riders to go farther and faster than most other types of bikes. • Suitable for vehicle-supported multi day touring, though they're usually not designed to carry heavy loads.

2. Many road bikes do not have the rack attachment points which are found on urban, touring and commuter bikes. This is not to say you can't use a road bike for commuting; it just means that you may need to carry your gear in a daypack or messenger bag instead of in rack-mounted panniers. Frame Although road bike models may look similar to each other, there are subtle but important differences in the frame design. At REI, you are most likely to find road bikes designed with a sport (recreational) geometry. These bikes are ideal if you plan to ride up to 3 times a week and log from 20 to 150 miles a week. They are also well suited for a longer organized event a few times a year. The riding position is more upright and the steering more relaxed than on a performance bike. Frame Materials Your primary frame choices are aluminum or carbon fiber. Most aluminum frames are very good at providing a smooth ride, and they are generally less expensive than carbon fiber. Most aluminum-frame road bikes come with a composite (carbon fiber) front fork to absorb some road vibration and give an improved ride quality. A carbon-fiber bike frame generally provides a more comfortable, vibration-absorbing ride than an aluminum frame. They are more expensive than aluminum-framed bikes due to their labor-intensive manufacturing process. However, the ride quality can vary widely depending on the design of a specific frame, so don't assume superior results. Buying tip: If you must have the lightest and strongest, then a carbon-fiber frame is going to appeal to you. If you tend to ride for fun and fitness without aspirations of being the fastest, then an aluminum frame will suit you well.

3. Cranksets and Gearing • Discussion on road bikes often turns to the gearing. Let's start with the crankset. This is the componentry that the pedals turn and that rotate the rear wheel via the chain. • A road bike will have either a triple, double or compact crankset. This refers to the number and size of chainrings (located by the pedals). • A triple crankset has 3 chainrings; it is often paired with a 9-speed cassette on the rear wheel to give it a total of 27 gears. This configuration is most common on entry-level road bikes and provides a wide range of gears for cyclists. • Double and compact cranksets both have 2 chainrings up front and are paired with a 10-speed cassette in the back for a total of 20 gears. A compact crankset has smaller chainrings with fewer teeth than a double, giving it a lower range of gears. • A compact crankset is a common arrangement on bikes with a sport geometry, as it gives a similar range of gears (from low to high) as a triple but for less weight. A compact or double crankset also offers better heel clearance to the crank arm than a triple crankset, which prevents the potential issue of annoying shoe rub on each turn of the pedals.

4. Wheels • Wheels have a major impact on the following: • The weight of the bike. • How well a bike accelerates and carries momentum. • Bike aerodynamics and handling in wind. Unless you choose a custom-built bike, you don't get a choice of wheels when you buy a bike. You can, however, choose to upgrade to a better quality wheelset once you own the bike. As with all things cycling, the higher up a bike is in its model range, the lighter and faster the wheels will get. Recreational and fitness riders are less likely to concern themselves with the wheel choice than competitive cyclists, who can totally geek out over wheel selection. Buying tip: A wheelset upgrade is widely considered the best return on investment for decreasing bike weight and increasing its responsiveness.

5. Pedals Basic models may come with platform pedals, often with toe cages, but nearly all higher-end models are sold without pedals. It seems odd, for sure. The assumption by bike makers is that a road cyclist is likely to already have a preferred pedal system for use with his or her existing cycling shoes. This logic lets you make the decision instead of requiring the bike shop to exchange perfectly fine pedals for a different brand or model. If you want to pedal efficiently and be at one with your bike, you should use cycling shoes and clip-in (a.k.a. clipless) pedals. Not doing so is like fueling a high-performance sports car with low octane gas it will still go, but will lack oomph. Pedals come in a number of popular brands (including Shimano, Look, Time and Speedplay) and a range of models within each brand. A higher price indicates better bearings, lower friction and less weight. Brake Levers and Gear Shifters

6. Once upon a time, these were completely separate mechanisms located on different parts of the bike. Now they are often integrated. The exact mode of operation can vary by the brand and model. By test riding different bikes, you may develop a personal preference for the functioning of one style over another. With Shimano models, the brake lever doubles as one of the gear shifters. With SRAM models, the gear shifter is a smaller lever tucked in behind the brake lever and is independent of the brake mechanism. Buying tip: Be sure you can maintain a good grip on the handlebars while braking or changing gears. Try shifting and braking with your hands on top of the bars as well as in the drop position. If you have smaller hands, ask if the levers have reach adjustment and how that works. It could be a simple screw adjustment or a shim addition. Getting the Correct Frame Size Most road-bike models are available in up to 6 different frame sizes, with women's specific frames often offered as well. It is important to get the right frame size for your body geometry. The correct frame size for you will be noticeably more comfortable and exhibit better handling manners than a frame that is too large or small. Frame sizes may be expressed either in centimeters, which measures the length of the seat tube or the more generic XS through XL size range. Be aware that women's and men's bikes with the same stated frame size are not the same frame. A woman's frame will be shorter along the top tube, as women typically have both a shorter torso and shorter arm length than a man of the same height. Your bike salesperson should also ask you questions about your current riding experience, flexibility, riding style and intentions in order to provide a more nuanced frame size recommendation. Although standover clearance over the top tube is important, the more critical determinant of size is the length of the bike, as this affects the reach from seat to handlebars. Fitted for Comfort and Efficiency The correct frame size is a starting point for a good bike fit. The other mandatory step is having the bike shop check and set the proper seat height for you before you head out the door. The next step up is to

7. invest in a professional bike fitting. This allows you to turbo-boost your riding experience by fine tuning your relationship with the bicycle. This service is offered by some REI stores and independent bike stores. Last Two Lines: While there are traffic rules to abide by and riding etiquette to learn, much of the road-riding experience is up to you to create. You may enjoy riding on your own, with a group of friends, in organized club or group rides, or as a member of a team. You can ride for 30 minutes or 6 hours. Let your available time and fitness goals as well as daylight, weather and road conditions influence your choices. If you are new to road riding, try to find a local cycling club or some willing and able friends to provide guidance. Have a look on https://bikeinquire.com to find the best road bikes.