Category Archives for Road Bikes Advice

Road Bike Types

Road bikes are great for pavement use such as commuting, long distance rides, fitness, and racing at high speeds.

They have lightweight handlebars that drop downward putting you in an aerodynamic position. This position transfers your energy to enable you to go at a faster speed.

There are different types of road bikes. Each road bike has a specialized structure and components that suit different road biking needs.

• Cyclocross Bikes

Cyclocross bikes are lightweight but tough on pavement as well as dirt trails and grass. Most cyclocross bikes are built with semi-knobby tires to adapt to different terrain challenges. These bikes are ideally used by riders taking laps around different pavement.

• Racing Bikes

Racing bikes are made of carbon fiber or aluminum which has a very light weight and super slim design. They can turn corners quickly because of their aggressive geometry with steep angles. They are intended for aerodynamic biking that is fast on flat pavements and can go up hills.

• Touring Bikes

Touring bikes have a strong build that can carry heavy loads on their front and rear racks and have multiple attachment points for pumps, water bottles, racks, lights and more.

Compared to other road bike, touring bikes have a longer wheelbase which has a lower center of gravity and are therefore easy to control. They also have disc brakes for more stopping power while carrying loads on challenging terrains.

• Endurance Bikes

The features of endurance bikes are similar to the features of racing bikes. The difference is that endurance bikes are built with frame geometry that lets you ride in a comfortable position.

They have lower angles, taller head tubes and inclined top tubes to reduce stress on your back and neck. They also have wider tires for a more comfortable ride and flat handlebars for heads up riding.

• Triathlon Bikes

Triathlon bikes are known for their unique handlebars that allow you to crouch forward while riding to reduce wind resistance. They have a special design for maximized aerodynamic properties.

This bike is not intended to use during mass start races; the racer riding a triathlon bike starts on his/her own.

• Flat Bar Road Bikes

Flat bar road bikes have lightweight frames and have relatively narrow tires and flat or upright handlebars. They have a light but powerful performance without you having to ride in a drop handlebar riding position.

Most tires of flat bar road bikes are wider which adapt to challenging pavement. They are also called fitness bikes or performance hybrid bikes and they can also carry cargo and other loads.

Despite the varying types of road types, they are made from sturdy and light-weight materials that make them great for high speed biking.

Road bikes are made of one or more combination of the following materials:

• Carbon fiber. This material can be controlled into aerodynamic shapes and can be tuned for maximum strength and stiffness. But despite its sturdy built, carbon fiber is lightweight which is essential for a road bike.
• Aluminum.  This is a very lightweight and stiff material too. It is popular for having power transfers and stiffness.
• Steel.  Traditionally, steel is a very popular material for making bikes. It is best for its comfort, durability and strength. It is also easy to repair when it encounters bends or dents.
• Titanium.  It is also known for its lightweight property that offers a smooth ride similar to the riding quality of steel.

There are also other kinds of bikes such as tandem bikes, folding bikes, recumbent bikes, city bikes, mountain bikes and more. But among these kinds of bikes, road bikes are perfect for high speed biking along pavement.

Some types of road bikes, though, have designs great for rough terrain and grass trails too. Choose the right type of bike based on your cycling performance and cargo needs.

Road Bike Comparison: Road Bike Buying Guide

Road biking is a fun and natural way to have an active and healthy lifestyle, meet new people, appreciate the environment and transport loads at a more leisurely pace than driving cars and other automobiles. When performing this certain kind of biking activity, you need the right kind of bike. Among the different bicycle types such as mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, cruiser bikes and folding bikes, road bikes are perfect for road biking activities.

Road bikes are built with very lightweight sturdy frames and other components designed to be ridden fast on pavement, and even on grassy and uphill terrain. They have drop or curled handlebars that allow you to slightly bend forward while riding for more aerodynamic properties. The tires and wheels are narrow and intended for more speed. Generally, road bikes are known for their speed, efficiency, weight and agility.

There are many types and models of road bikes today. Choosing the best is a little difficult. So before going to bike stores and other sporting goods stores, it is important to consider the best road bike models first. To help you determine a few of the best road bikes today, here are some road bike comparisons.

Other Road Bike Comparisons

To give you further information on some models and types of road bikes, we have listed a few chosen high quality road bikes. They have diverse features that adapt to the 21^st century. Here they are:

Schwinn Men’s Volare 1300 Bike, 700c

This unique road bike consists of an awesome paint job and it performs with dazzling specifications that other road bikes don’t have. Included in its package is an aluminum frame, alloy brakes, allows rims, and Shimano 14 speed.

Takara Sugiyama Flat Bar Fixie Bike

This elegant road bike has hydraulic disc brakes and is highly rated. It is suited best as a commuter road bike or a winter bike. Families will like it too because it can be used for all day outings and leisurely biking around the town. What makes it unique from the other road bikes are its practical features including a mudguard, rear rack compatibility and internal cable routing.

Vilano Shadow Road Bike

This is a fairly pricey road bike, but every penny is worth it because it comes with high end materials and very useful components that don’t become rusted and are not easily damaged. It consists of an aluminum frame and an integrated headset. This bike is great for endurance road biking because it is comfortable and ensures great performance.

Takara Kabuto Single Speed Road Bike

Another durable road bike is the Takara Kabuto Single Speed Road Bike. Regardless of the level of your road biking experience, Takara Kabuto can equip you with accessible handling and performance. It has s smart looking frame and has s bright green colour that highlights the bike’s presence. It is somewhat expensive but it looks fun and has great features making it an excellent deal.

Giordano Libero Acciao Road Bike

One of the most popular road bikes at the moment. The brakes are made of carbon fibre models. All models have the same frame features, and D fuse seat post. Giordano Libero models perform a very smooth biking experience even on rough and bumpy road surfaces.

Conclusion

There are more road bikes in sports stores today. It is important to compare the best-selling road bike models so you can get more out of your road bike purchase. Remember, it’s not always about the price; strength, agility, and performance should always be taken into consideration.

Most Comfortable Road Bike

When it comes to road biking, would you ride any bike as long as it’s moving? Think again. Road biking, including racing, recreational, tour, and utility cycling, may be the most prevalent form of cycling but it requires the use of a designated road bike.

Road bikes are built for traveling at high speeds on pavement and even on grassy and uphill terrains. They are usually built with an aluminum frame, narrow tires, and convenient shifters. They also allow you to sit comfortably while leaning a bit forward to place more energy to your feet and for less air resistance. They have a sturdy built to endure road biking for long hours or for transporting loads.

Comfort is one of the most important aspects of road bikes. When you’re comfortable, you go at a much higher speed and are less exhausted. Are you using a comfortable road bike? In order for you to understand the features of the most comfortable road bikes, here are some facts you need to know.

Why Comfort Is Important

It seems that ensuring comfort while on the go is difficult. Many bike manufacturers put an importance on comfort to make biking as painless an exercise or activity as possible. While bikers have different levels of biking experience – some are beginners, some are biking for fun, and some bikers are pro – they need the same level of comfort.

Comfort is also important to prevent injuries and pain after biking. Remember, some road biking activities last for hours and might cause body pain. Comfortable road bikes prevent or reduce the levels of this pain and body ache after biking.

Features of the Most Comfortable Road Bike

So how do you look for a comfortable road bike? Does it need to be expensive? Should its seat be huge? Does it have to be high enough? Since most road bikes look almost the same in appearance, it might be hard, especially for beginners, to determine a comfortable road bike. So what is the most comfortable road bike?

There is no single answer for that. A specific model of road bike is also not a simple answer. But the following features can help you determine the most comfortable road bike.

Relaxed geometry

A relaxed geometry is seen in a road bike as a whole. It should have a shorter wheelbase and a long reach of handle bars for more aerodynamics. Remember, aerodynamics are important for faster speeds.

Wider tires

The most comfortable road bikes have wider tires. They should have at least 25 mm tires or bigger like 28 mm or 32 mm. Tires should also have a pressure of 100PSI to achieve real comfort. Remember that not all frames of road bike tires are above 25 mm so make sure that you are choosing the right one.

Some other features to look for include are tire clearances, effective frame innovations, and other components.

Most Comfortable Road Bike Models

The most comfortable road bike models exist thanks to bike manufacturers that dedicate tireless hours to come up with these road bikes. And over time, they have come up with innovate road bikes such as the following:

• Giordano Libero Acciao Road Bike
• Schwinn Men’s Volare 1200 Bike
• Merax 21 Speed 700C Aluminum Road Bike Racing Bicycle

The most comfortable road bike definitely improves your biking performance and prevents you from having body pain or injuries during or after biking. Also remember, that the most comfortable road bike does not have to be expensive. Road bikes are generally designed for speed, agility and comfort so most of them should be built this way. You may also consider the abovementioned comfortable road bikes to help you in determining and choosing the right road bike for you.

Beginner Road Bike

As a new biker it would be more advisable for you to get an entry level bike. There are many types of bikes to choose from and all you have to do is know what you want and make sure you know the right specifications before you start shopping.

Road bikes can range from $250 to $3000 or more, but if you are not yet sure of what kind of bike you really like, and if this is the kind of activity you can’t really commit to, then it might be best to choose a cheaper bike, most especially if you are on a budget.

Road bikes are designed for fitness enthusiasts and competitors as its features are made for fast riding onpavement. It has a wide range of shift gear options that make it possible to climb steep terrain and has brake sets equipped to reduce shock as well as ensure a smooth transition from fast speeds to a complete halt. They are made of lightweight materials, usually aluminum or carbon to ensure durability, efficiency, and comfortable biking.

How To Get The Best Beginner Road Bike

When looking for a road bike you must first do your research and check for bike prices and tested brands by looking up their specifications and reading reviews. The best reviews are those from people who bought their bike and give their time to sharing their stories online.

With online reviews you can check pros and cons of the beginner or entry road bikes to the requirements on your list. A good source to check reviews is on product websites and clips on YouTube.

It would also be good practice to check the bikes at sports stores near you and see what best suits your preferences. You can also check specifications and compare them with other bikes with the help of a sales representative who can also answer any questions you might have.

Another good way to check the best beginner road bike is to ask people you know who have used road bikes for a long time. The best way to understand a road bike is also through true stories and valid experiences.

And when you feel that you have researched enough, scout for that beginner bike and make sure to follow these general guidelines:

• Fit: Bikes have a variety of frames that correlate with body proportions. So if you are ordering online check the bike buying guide as to what bike will best suit your height and weight.
• Feel: Make sure that you get the bike that will make you feel comfortable; Check the saddle structure, the distance of the saddle to the headset, and the placement of its accessories for more confident riding.
• Look: Though this is not that important, but for you to enjoy a good ride and crave for more, it is important that you also like how your bike looks. Make it your own and make it your partner to whatever goal you have.

Specifications To Watch Out For

In choosing the best beginner road bike you should be able to check the following features carefully:

Frame And Fork Material

One key component to consider is frame and fork material, as this has a significant impact on the way the bike rides. Most entry level bikes come with an alloy frame, however, if your budget allows it is worth looking for a model with a carbon fork.

The more carbon the better as the high-tech aerospace material is light, strong, and also offers beneficial ride characteristics such as vibration dampening.

Groupset

For safety purposes, pay attention to the groupset model, which is like the bike’s transmission and brakes. Road bikes will have groupsets from manufacturers such as Shimano, Sram or Campagnolo. Each has various ranges of price, quality, weight, and performance.

Bike size and fit

It’s important to get a bike that fits you properly. Each brand usually has their bike buying guide depending on how many sizes they are offering, so make sure that the bike you are getting fits well with your height and weight.

Wheels

The next important area of your new bicycle is the wheels and tires. The wheels heavily influence how the bike rides, feels, and responds. Lighter wheels with less rotating mass are slightly quicker to spin up, but real speed comes from deep-section aerodynamic rims. Lighter and faster tires feel more responsive.

Brakes

Now you have a choice for brakes: Either a mountain bike style disc brakes or traditional rim brakes. Rim brakes are still lighter and more aerodynamic, but the difference is dropping. Disc brakes provide better power and modulation, are less affected by bad weather, and carry on working even if you ding a rim.

Chainsets

The chainset (where the pedals attach to) comes with chainrings of various sizes. On an entry-level bike, you’ll usually find a compact double chainset, with 50 and 34-tooth chainrings to give low ratios that make getting up hills easier.