Pick the Right Frame

Frame material can make a big difference in the way your bike performs. Some are lighter, stronger, and cheaper than others. In general, steel is strong but heavy. Aluminum is light, but often weaker. Titanium is strong and light, but expensive, as is carbon fiber. However, a higher end frame made of any of these materials will solve some of the problems they have better than less expensive models. You’re not only paying for the material the frame is made from. You’re also paying for the engineering to make it perform well. Don’t be tempted to get a cheaper frame made from a prestigious material like carbon fiber. Sacrifices have probably been made to make that frame less expensive.

Another part of getting a good frame is making sure that it fits you correctly. Most people, who haven’t been correctly fitted to a bike, ride one that’s too short for them. Ideally, you should be able to extend your leg almost fully on the downward stroke, without the frame being so high that you can’t straddle it at stops. Talk to a reputable bike seller to find a frame that’s the best fit for you. This is actually more important than the material the frame is made of. If you’re not able to ride efficiently, the extra edge you get from a quality frame material won’t be much help.

The components you put on the frame also matter. While ordinary ones will do the job, higher quality components allow for more precision. Again, it’s important to fit your purchase to the way you ride. Getting the maximum number of speeds available won’t give you a big increase in quality of ride if you mostly cycle in flat areas. Gearing is more important when you need to change the difficulty of pedaling to match the terrain. People who bike more often, and are in better shape, will usually need fewer gears. Those who are trying to get in shape will prefer a larger number of adjustments, so they don’t have to strain while riding. Remember that it’s better to enjoy cycling and ride often than it is to get a heavy workout every time you get on the bike.

Bike Style

Bike style is also important. If you’re mostly going to be on pavement, a light road bike is probably your best bet. However, for areas with uneven paving, or off-road riding, mountain bikes, or hybrids between the two are more effective. They’re heavier, but they offer better stability than many lighter bikes intended for more level surfaces. Once again, it’s your riding style and habits that determines the best bike for you. While buying top of the line is a great idea, getting a bike that doesn’t fit always spells trouble.

You’ll hear a lot of things about various materials. Most of them are false, to some degree. Some may be over generalizations. Others are out of date. So, think before you believe it when someone else tells you that getting an aluminum bike frame means a harsh ride, that a steel frame gives you a nice ride quality but the metal softens with age, or that titanium means a soft, whippy frame. There’s a lot of conventional bike frame wisdom that’s either a distortion of the real thing, or pure fiction. You can make a good bike out of any kind of material, and an equally bad bike out of all materials. The construction and methods used make a big difference, as does your riding style.

Three Big Factors

The three big factors to pay attention to when picking a frame material are weight, strength, and stiffness. Many people confuse stiffness with strength. However, titanium is just as strong as steel, even if it’s a lot less stiff by weight. Different materials flex to a different degree under the same amount of force. Stiffness affects how the bike frame feels to ride. Strength affects its durability, but not the quality of the ride. Weight can affect the amount of effort you need to put into riding. Remember that each material has the same weight for a given quantity of it. If you see a bike claiming to be lighter than other bikes of the same material, it’s just using less steel, aluminum, or other frame material.

Steel is the traditional material. It tends to be strong but heavy. Well made steel bikes can mitigate the weight somewhat, by using thinner tubes. Comparatively, aluminum is much lighter, but about third as stiff and half as strong. This is why you’ll usually see thicker walls and larger tubing in aluminum bikes. Titanium is about the same strength as steel, weighs about half as much and is half as stiff. Slightly larger diameters are used to prevent whippiness in titanium bike frames. Titanium tends to be very expensive.

Carbon Fiber

Another, non-metal, material that’s getting a lot of attention lately is carbon fiber. It has a much more pronounced appearance of grain than metal. If these fibers are well aligned, this is actually a helpful feature, because it can provide more strength where your bike receives more stress. Unfortunately, this technology is still somewhat experimental, which means that manufacturers don’t always know how to get the most out of it. Fiber frames are often not as durable as other materials, and can be weak where metal fittings are attached. This material is expensive, but also doesn’t corrode and is quite light.

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.