Ultimate Buying Guide For Road Bike

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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
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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
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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.