what's the best type of road bike?

UmmSqueaky

Yaaay bikes! Check out this buying guide - http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Content_10052_10551_-1_ChoosingaBike

Key questions to consider rather than brand:

1. How am I going to use my bike? This will dictate what kind of bike you buy (road, mountain, hybrid, etc)
2. What's my budget? Look to get the best bike for whatever amount you have. You can get a good bike for $500. Or a good bike for $2000. The $2000 bike will probably be better but objectively you might not need the improvements.
3. What local shop has a good reputation? Buying a bike isn't a one and done activity. You'll want a relationship with your local shop so they can service your bike and extend it's life. They might offer classes so you can learn how to work on your bike yourself. And if you trust your local shop, you can trust them to help you get the most bang for your buck.

And when you're all set, join us in the monthly challenge thread. Anyone who rides a bike is welcome. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10418483/july-2016-bike-cycling-bicycling-challenge

jacksonpt

I scanned the first page and thought I'd throw out a couple of points worth considering...

1 - women specific bikes generally have different dimensions/measurements (called geometry in the bike world) and are designed to fit shorter people. If you're under about 5'6" or so, women's specific bikes could be helpful. If you're over that height, then there probably isn't a need to limit yourself to WSD. Ultimately though, it really comes down to feel.

2 - any bike that is well put together an in good working condition can be just fine. Is a $1000 bike from a local bike shop gong to be "better" than a $300 bike from Target? Yep, but you can still get a ton of use out of the Target bike. All depends on your needs/priorities.


Generally speaking, you should first decide on how and where you want to ride.
- Steets? Bike paths? Dirt roads? Trails?
- Casually with kids/family? Recreationally to get in shape? Weekend racing?

Then decide on a budget.
- cost of the bike
- buy a helmet
- most people will want a water bottle or 2, and maybe some basic tools, but those are kinda optional


Answering those couple of questions will help steer you in the right direction. Brand is largely irrelevant, so don't get too hung up on that.

denversillygoose

robertw486 wrote: »

The best type of road bike is the one that you're comfortable on and will ride.

Quoted for truth. You'll get a bazillion recommendations here from people who are partial to their own bikes. Go talk to the peeps at your LBS. Tell them exactly what kind of riding you want to do (paved vs dirt, commute vs endurance, etc) and your budget. Test ride a bunch, and by test ride, I mean at least 15 minutes where you can shift, brake, and test the handling, etc. Avoid big box stores and make sure any bike you get is properly fitted to you.

lodro

Get a proper bike-fit done, determine what you like to do: racing? touring? extended rides? randonneuring? off-roading? Then select the bike to fit your preference.

However, you may find that after riding for a couple of months, you're curious to try out other disciplines. I started out with a sensible, but heavy, touring bike. I've now switched to one of Kona's "freerange" models, bikes that can really go anywhere. Came equipped with 35 mm width tyres.

It's a myth that narrow tyres are "faster". They're not, but a 23mm width tyre will always be more uncomfortable than a 28mm width, or even 30 or 35mm.

This year's Tour de France had a common tyre width of 25mm, with only a small minority of riders still sticking with 23mm.


Still, proper bikefit will wholly determine whether you will be comfortable on your bike or not.

(disclaimer: my rides are geared toward ultra-racing, 200 km plus events against a time limit.)

misskris78

If you want to ride stone dust trails and an occasional off road jaunt, I'd recommend a hybrid or cyclocross. If you're looking at just pavement, a road bike is the way to go. I just started biking this year, and got a Trek Lexa, which is a women's bike. It is a lower end Trek model, and runs about $1000. I ride exclusively pavement in the Adirondacks, and it's a good bike for me, but I'll probably upgrade in a few years. My husband rides a Giant Defy, which has gotten a lot of accolades in the bicycling mags. It's a great fit for him. His setup was in the $2500 range. Components are pretty much the same at the $1000-2000 price point regardless of the manufacturer, so fit should be your deciding factor. Specialized, Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Diamondback and Fuji all have road bikes in this range. Used bikes might be a great option, but I'd suggest getting fitted at a real bike shop before exploring the internet. When coming up with a budget, remember you'll need to add the cost of a helmet ($50-100), gloves ($30-50: highly recommended), clipless pedals ($50) (if this is your gig), shoes ($75-150), a portable bike pump, spare tubes, flashing lights, bike shorts, etc. As a runner, I found getting into biking rather complex, but it's a ton of fun. I'm finding I enjoy my miles on the bike way more than those I've spent pounding the pavement.

berolcolour

I bought my first road bike a year ago! I love it. What I learnt:

Bikefit totally worth it
Good Lycra shorts/longs are worthwhile
Men's and women's bikes are not always different geometry (some are just different colours!)
Don't automatically buy a really soft saddle, in the long run it can more uncomfortable and you could cause soft tissue damage
Some helmets are uncomfortable (might sound daft but I bought and returned a couple before I realised it is more than just a size) so it's worth trying a few

daweasel

Quick note on women's specific vs unisex - I was riding a unisex bike that was the "correct" size for me, but found the geometry of a different brand women's specific to be much much more comfortable. It all comes down to your proportions an the geometry of the bike. There is no reason to discount women's or unisex options, just make sure you're comfortable.

For me, I am longish in the leg, so the reach on a unisex bike was really too long for me. I've since bought a women's specific one that fits me so much better, but that's not to say that a different unisex bike wouldn't fit me just as well as my current women's specific one does.

Women's specific bikes usually have a shorter reach to the handlebars, that's the only major difference I'm aware of.

Ohh and Specialized helmets, they make women's ones with a "hair port" that you can stick your pony tail through...seems like such a minor thing, but it's great!