Road Bike Buyers Guide
Do you like road cycling? Want to buy a new road bike? Along
this article you will find lots of information on how to choose
your road bike that more fits with your needs. Probably, the
first and most important question is how much do you want to
spend as well as how much cycling will you do? The answer to
the first question is a difficult one, Remember that you get
what you pay for. Many cyclists can not afford to spend much on
their bicycles. It depends on the level; keep reading and get
the perfect cycle for your level.
Bicycles For Low Level Riders
If you go to the larger sports shops or bike stores they
will have complete bicycles for sale, usually an alloy frame
with Shimano Tiagra or Campagnolo Mirage or a mixture of not
much expensive components, These bikes will be built to a
price, will ride quite well, wont be very light and is a good
point to start. To get something better, you might start with a
good alloy frame and if you can afford it, carbon forks, then
with what money you have left chose your group-set of either
Campagnolo or Shimano, and then you can pick your handlebars,
saddle, wheel rims and tires, this is very funny, however if
you are working to a budget, it can be tricky.
Bicycles For Touring And Possibly Racing Mid Level
Riders
You can buy a complete bike in this category, in the
bikes store, sports shop or even in the specialist magazines or
on the Internet. It is more fun to choose the components for
your frame and how much you want to spend. At this level you
would probably be looking at Campagnolo Centaur or probably
Shimano 105 road bike parts and you could possibly buy some
built up wheels from Mavic, Shimano or Campagnolo. But you
should think firs on the frame, there are many frames out there
to choose from, get on the web and find what you want, it will
probably be alloy again, with carbon forks. Alloy seat pin,
handlebars and stem and a comfortable saddle.
Bike For Racing And Pleasure Designed For Top Level
Riders
At this range of bikes it gets more difficult. Probably your
components would be Shimano Ultegra or Campagnolo Chorus,
unless you can afford the top components of both manufacturers.
Wheels will be probably Shimano, Mavic or Campagnolo, deep
carbon rims look fantastic and have a smooth ride, but will
probably be too expensive, best if you stick to alloy rims for
high pressure tires as tubulars, even though they ride
wonderfully, will be expensive and a lot of trouble.
Handle bars, stem and seat pin could be alloy or carbon, if
you have the money. The frame is the heart of your bike and you
will want a good one, at this price range alloy is going to be
the first choice with carbon forks and possibly a carbon rear
triangle. If you look around you might manage to find an all
carbon frame at this price, Giant make a very well priced
carbon frame in a compact, sloping design, there are others but
you will have to spend a lot more money.
Pro Bikes For Pro Level Riders.
When’re looking at a lot of money here if you want to buy a
professional road bike. The frame will be all carbon or
titanium with carbon forks and maybe a carbon rear triangle or
alloy main tubes with carbon front or rear end. The nicest ones
on the market at the moment, in my opinion, are Colnago, De
Rosa, Pinarello, Battaglin, Time, Scott, Cervelo and many more,
all are available in different colours, geometries and sizes,
check out there web sites for information and try to make your
choice, it’s a difficult job.
This is a professional road bike so it will have to have the
best components, Shimano Dura.Ace or Campagnolo Record are your
only choice at this level. Same with the wheels, Dura-Ace or
Campagnolo Bora, these can be for high pressure clincher tires
or tubulars, tubulars are more trouble but do ride well, but
clincher tires are very nearly as nice and much more practical.
Handle bars, stem and seat pin will be carbon and your saddle
will have a carbon base with a leather cover and sometimes with
gel for a little extra comfort.
The Best Bicycle You Can Afford.
That's true "You do only get what you pay for, so get the
best bike you can afford". A good idea might be look around the
magazines and the internet manufacturers' sites and don’t
forget your local bike shop until you get that little treasure,
but be careful not to make your partner too jealous!
Andrew Caxton runs a cycling site which can be found at
http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com.
Withing his website he publish reviews and comparisons on
heart rate
monitors and bike
accessories
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