Out of all the sorts of bikes available, the road bike is one of the oldest and most popular. You will want to invest in one of this kind if you are mainly going to be riding on pavement, and distance or speed are important for you. These bicycles are built for racing in most instances, and have lightweight frames built to allow streamlined posture without causing discomfort. Riding a road bike is seriously recommended, and among the highest quality are the Colnago Bicycles and the Fuji Bicycles.

Road bikes normally have narrow tires that are kept at a high pressure, and which are smooth surfaced – they don’t have the uneven surface you might expect from mountain bike tires. These minimize road contact, giving you the lowest amount of possible rolling resistance. However, they allow you to feel more when it comes to bumps and stones – that’s why they’re best used on pavement that’s in good state of repair.

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

Nearly all basic level bikes have frames of either steel or aluminum, with aluminum little by little taking over more and more of the market. Neither is a bad choice, but each has its pluses and minuses. For example, steel frames are heavier, but offer more flex, and can cushion bumps a little more. Aluminum frames are designed to be particularly inflexible, leading to a slightly rougher ride. How do you find out which one is the bicycle 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 will start to see frames made from different materials. For instance, the front fork may be made of carbon fiber – a light, but strong material. Higher end bikes may have an entire frame made of carbon fiber, endowed with great strength and lightness. Other high end bikes are made of titanium and other high end materials. Given that these bikes are so expensive, the bulk of them are owned only by serious cyclists.

Another very important factor are handlebars. On road bikes, they normally project straight out from the base, then curl under so that riders who want the least wind drag can hunch over. Riders can also sit in a position that’s more upright and keep their hands at a higher position on the bars. On road bikes, brake levers and gear shift are usually handle bar mounted, giving greater control.

Be aware of riding position, also. Most modern road bikes are built to let riders bend forward, allowing them to put the most power from the legs and hips into the pedals, and cutting down their wind resistance. This streamlined position is good for short term speed, but can cause discomfort in the long term, leading to pain in the hands and arms.

Road bikes normally come with lots of speeds in the gearing – two or three chain rings and eight or nine gears – allowing anywhere from sixteen to twenty seven different gear combinations. You will also usually get platform pedals which come with toe pedals, but pedals without clips are also to be found. They give you the ability to pedal the bicycle on the upstroke as well as the downstroke.

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