BUYING RIGHT: ROAD BIKES
COMFORT VS. SPEED You can often buy the exact same bike top pros ride, but is that really what you want? The stiff frames, light wheels, and aggressive positioning of race bikes make them extremely fast—but also uncomfortable for the average cyclist. Alternatively, comfort-performance models have longer chainstays, taller head tubes, and more frame compliance (bike speak for vertical flex, which absorbs road roughness) for a cushier ride.
THE CARBON EFFECT Over the past decade, carbon-fiber frames have become pervasive because of the material's superb blend of light weight, stiffness, and smooth feel. The good news: thanks to economies of scale, they're getting cheaper. The other good news: manufacturers have responded by vastly improving metal frames. Builders continue to advance tube-shaping technology to smooth out the way aluminum rides, and you can find titanium bikes that are as light as their carbon counterparts. Steel frames, meanwhile, are more comfortable than ever.
SPLURGE ON WHEELS The second most important feature of a bike after the frame? The wheels. Get the highest-quality hoops (and tires) you can afford—and worry less about components.
Comments
Really? This is all you got on how to buy the right road bike? pretty thin...
Flag ThisWell Courtney they did leave out one important thing, based on their reviews of bikes. You need to spend at least $3,000 to get the right bike for yourself.
Flag ThisI agree with Courtney. Perhaps a more appropriate title for this article would be, "A Vague Overview of What Bikes Are Made Of, P.S. Get Good Wheels."
Flag ThisIf this is now considered a "How To" article ... it is a complete joke. Really? "Carbon-fiber is great, metal frames are improving, splurge on wheels" Well, thanks for reading. I hope this article answers all your questions. And, it got tweeted twice! Get real!
Flag ThisTotally lame.
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