A Beginners Guide to Road Bikes

Road bikes, sometimes known as racing bikes are well known and easy to recognise by their narrow wheels and tyres and drop style handlebars and are what professionals use to conquer the milage of the Tour De France and other endurance races. The large wheels and thin tyres help them to roll over tarmac efficiently and the light frames allow for greater speed when navigating hills. Ideal for long rides, road bikes are often favoured by club cyclists, beginners and those looking to improve their fitness. Sport and Endurance Sport and endurance road bikes are styled for peak performance and comfort over long distances, with their frames being designed to flex in key areas, helping to reduce the vibrations through potholes or over roughly surfaced roads. Some versions have disc brakes to help with efficient braking in whatever weather and they are extremely popular with regular riders as they strike a balance between comfort, speed and weight. Aero and Semi Aero This sort of road bike is fastest along flat roads and has an aerodynamic frame which reduced drag and ultra-stiff handling. They are heavier than other types for road bike because of these enhancements so are slower when ascending hills however they are extremely responsive and can still be ridden safely in groups making them good for those who like to ride in a pack. Gravel Bikes These are the latest trend in cycling and feature wider tyres and wider handlebars than more traditional models of road bike and are capable of going slightly off the beaten track without loosing too much speed when its back on the road. Gravel bikes are better for people who already have some road biking experience and ideally some off-road cycling experience too.