Have you decided to buy your first bike, and you do not know how to choose the right bike for you? Or you want to ” retire ” an old racing bike bought thirty years ago because you want to start pedaling a bit harder and not just to go on sale on Saturday morning?
Today you can choose from either a road bike dealer ” in the flesh ” is a virtual store on the Web A useful initial strategy may be to check the online catalogs to begin to get an idea of the many models on sale, their characteristics and their prices.
Looking at the technical details published in catalogs of manufacturers and specialty retailers you might find it a bit in difficulty. Especially those who are not expert in bicycles, and cycling will be difficult to assess the differences between the various types of derailleurs and sprockets, tires and saddles.
In some cases, published detailed descriptions that can help even the least experienced, but other times we are faced with a simple list of components accompanied by the appropriate name of the technological solution proposed. It is crucial to find a serious dealer, can offer effective assistance in the medium: do not stop at the first store, do a little comparisons before you buy.
The Economic Aspect.
A first key criterion to guide the purchase of road bikes is the price: it’s useless to waste time dreaming of a ” super cycle ” that costs more than a car if your budget that you have been available is much lower. Once the price range you can start searching less distracting, taking into account that today almost all manufacturers offer a range of bike racing that goes from level less challenging to the top solutions.
Especially those who approach to cycle for the first time, but also the lover of mid-level, must carefully consider whether it is appropriate to buy a middle of the top of the range or whether it is better to opt for an intermediate solution. More than half a count, athletic ability and psychological cyclist’s not going to be a hyper bike that will make you climb the mountain in half the usual time …
The Technical Aspect.
A second criterion is the technical one. In recent years, manufacturers of racing bikes have pushed to the maximum reduction of the weight of all components, but during the purchase must evaluate the relationship between weight reduction and increased costs and decide how far we want to push. For an amateur medium, level perhaps is not the case to reduce the weight of the bicycle of 100 grams compared to an increase of the expense of a few hundred Euros.
In addition, since the components of bike racing can always be replaced, you may decide to allocate the majority of the investment to the frame and maybe the wheels. Over time, you will be able to replace the other components with higher-performance options. With regard to the choices available for the main component of the road bike, the frame, we see the characteristics of the materials used in its manufacture :
- Steel – The frames in steel alloys are those generally cheaper, also compared to other materials have the advantage of a considerable resistance to breakage and last in time, while they are a bit heavier and less rigid.
- Aluminium – The frames in aluminum alloys are slightly more expensive, but lighter than comparable frames in steel alloys. The main differences compared to steel are greater rigidity and a lower resistance, although it is highly unlikely that an aluminum frame, good quality may undergo breakage.
- Carbon – The so-called carbon frames are actually produced with a composite material, which is the result of the use of carbon fibers and resins. Possible differences between the various models are many: the quality of the carbon fibers, the quality of the resins, the goodness of the processing, type of frame (monocoque, ie in a single block, or tubes of composite), design. This material allows for frames that combine the strengths of the other solutions in a lighter, but at a higher cost and the disadvantage of being more sensitive to shocks. In any case, today, the carbon frame, or better composite, overlooking the scenes of the world of professional and amateur.
- Titanium – The frames in titanium alloys are the most expensive among the various available for road bikes. Lightness, strength and durability are the strengths of this material but has never reached a circulation comparable to the three previous solutions.
The Measures of Road Bike.
The bike ride is a tool that must be adapted to better the rider who uses it, its measures, its physical-athletic and types of tracks and gait’s favorites. Once you have decided on the price range of the bike that you want to buy, the type of chassis with wheels and components, it is time to ” take such measures. ” The 187 cm high athlete may not be comfortable on a bike perfect for anyone who is 170 cm high, and vice versa.
Today, there are several free online calculators that allow you to obtain the values for the various measures of bike racing, entering a series of measures relating to one’s body and, in some cases, to other more specific parameters, such as the position of the torso and upper limbs. The values are important and many because it is appropriate to customize as much as possible their own half.
We must consider the length and angle of the steering column, measures the crank, position, tilt, and retraction of the saddle, saddle-handlebar distance, height, attack between pedal and shoe, and more. In any case, do not worry about having to do it yourself, a good dealer will be able to obtain the information, he needed to understand the extent to which to choose for your ideal road bike.
 Buying a Road Bike Tips
Let’s look very briefly the latest practical advice for buying a racing bike ideal. The ultimate goal you want to achieve when you buy a road bike :
- It is to make sure that the bicycle is as comfortable as possible for their own characteristics.
- It is as efficient as possible to their own characteristics.
- It represents the maximum you can get from money invested to purchase.
You need to point that is at the same time comfort and maximum performance. The convenience makes it possible to resist long in the saddle with the maximum yield athletic, while efficiency allows to transform to the best effort pedaling road traveled, thereby maximizing performance.
To choose the best means of contact is essential to a serious dealer and expert, able to recommend the best solution, after doing a bit of research to be able to orient themselves within the wide range of possible options. It will then be the experience that you will make pedaling over time to suggest any changes to either of the components and the various measures on which action can be taken without having to buy new parts for your own personal Road bike.
