Foldable Bikes Party: Best road bike: how to choose the right one for you

Thursday, 9 February 2017

Best road bike: how to choose the right one for you

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Choices abound for road bikes and this guide will help you select the best road bike for you.

Endurance vs. race bike geometry

Road bikes fall into two general categories: race and endurance. Race bikes put the rider’s torso in a lower, more aerodynamic position and have steeper angles for quick handling. Endurance bikes position the rider more upright and the frame angles are a little more relaxed for confidence-inducing stability and long distance comfort. In either category, you should expect to pay between £500 and £700 for a quality, entry-level machine.

The best way to learn the difference between the two is to ride both, either through test rides at an event or a shop, or by borrowing a bike from a friend.

As with any product, bikes come in good/better/best levels. The main points of difference are the frame materials (aluminium bikes are cheaper, while carbon fibre frames are lighter but more expensive), the parts (strong, light, cheap — pick two) and the wheels (see previous parenthetical).

Picking the best bike: three critical things to consider

Road bike groupsets explained

Road bikes used to be called 10-speeds, referring to the two chain rings up front multiplied by the five cogs in the rear. These days, most road bikes have two chain rings and 9, 10 or 11 cogs in the rear.