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Do you like the 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 |
