Choosing the Right Road Bike
If you enjoy cycling on the road, but don’t have the right bike, or feel it’s time to upgrade, there are a few things you should know. It’s important to remember that you usually get what you pay for, but you should also balance quality with your budget. If you don’t ride as often, a less expensive bike may be adequate. It all depends on the level you’re riding at, and how frequently you’re planning to use your bike.
Start with a quality frame. You can find out who makes your bike’s frame and what materials have gone into it by looking for a decal on the downtube or seat tube. They’ll contain this information. If you can’t find this decal, talk to someone at the bicycle retailer who can tell you a little more about the frame you’re thinking of buying.
Materials include steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Steel is a durable and traditional, but often heavy frame material. Aluminum is rust-free, the lightest of all frame materials, and known for its “lively” ride. Downsides include poor shock absorption in cheap frames, and lower durability than steel. Titanium frames are light and strong, but they carry a correspondingly high price tag. Carbon fiber frames, which might also be called graphite or carbon frames, are made of a carbon and resin material. They’re light, durable, and stiff. The biggest advantage of this nonmetallic material is that it can easily be manipulated into different, highly efficient shapes. It’s also noncorrosive. However, these frames are quite expensive. Many people choose carbon forks and a frame of a different material.
You’ll also have to decide on the type of gearing you want for your road bike. How many you need will depending on where you ride and how. Fit people who bike in flatter areas will be fine with eight to ten rear cogs and a double chain ring. However, if you’re hilly and trying to get into better shape, go with a triple chain ring – the riding will be a lot easier.
A good road bike also needs good wheels and tires. While you used to get a standard wheel with any bike, you now have more options. Lower weight wheels, for instance, give you better acceleration, climbing ability, and handling. For those who’d like their bike to not only be practical, but look great, fancy wheels can be gotten. You can even choose aerodynamic rims. Just make sure you get a wheel and tire type that fit your riding style, and remember that dropping weight in your wheels makes it easy to ride. However, superlight wheels also come with a higher price tag – important for those on a budget.
In the end, getting the right fit for your body and riding style is a lot more important than the price or the technology that goes into your bike. Avoid deals that sound too good – they’re usually achieved by cutting quality. Pick out the features that go best with your needs, then look at the price, and cut things down little by little if you need to. If you pay attention to how you ride, you’ll be sure to get a road bike that’s right for you.
Tags: bicycle, bike frames, bike gears, carbon fiber bike frame, road bike, titanium bike frame
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