How to Choose Road Bikes

Road biking is a fun way to improve your fitness, meet up with new people and absorb your scott road bikes review environs at a slower pace than possible from a speeding automobile. These bikes offer speed, agility and efficiency.


A knowledgeable REI bike specialist can give you the details on frame materials, frame geometry and components, so use this article as a starting point to help you have a more informed discussion.

What Is a Road Bike?
First, here’s a quick primer on what typically sets road bikes apart from commuting, touring, mountain and hybrid bikes.

Features

Very lightweight frame, wheels and components.
A drop (curled) handlebar, though some have a flat bar like a mountain bike.
Narrow wheels and tires.
A composite (carbon fiber) front fork.
No front or rear suspension.
Men’s and women’s styles and a wide range of sizes.


Function

Intended for fitness enthusiasts, event riders and competitive riders.
Designed for paved surfaces (roads, bike paths); not recommended for rough or unpaved surfaces.


Allows riders to go farther and faster than most other types of bikes.
Suitable for vehicle-supported multiday touring, though they’re usually not designed to carry heavy loads.


Many road bikes do not have rack attachment points which are found on urban, touring and commuter bikes. This is not to say you can’t use a road bike for commuting; it just means that you may need to carry your gear in a daypack or messenger bag instead of in rack-mounted panniers.


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