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Buying Your First Road Bike

A close up of the groupset of a racing bikeThis blog carries on from my last article on buying bikes. A road bike, or racing bike, is the thoroughbred of bikes. Bikes that are designed solely for use on the road, with drop handlebars, light frames and thin slick tyres. The prices range depending upon components. A basic road bike starts from around £700. They are not cheap and are attractive to thieves.

Choosing the Right Road Bike

1. Bike make, riding position and frame:

Virtually all of the big name manufacturers produce models from beginner level to expert. So you can assume that a certain amount of research and development from the top brands has gone into the design of the basic models. As a beginner you won’t go far wrong with one of the big names e.g. Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant, Bianchi.

Road bikes typically come in two setups, race or sportive, the latter being more upright and more comfortable if you are not used to long rides. There has also been an emphasis on aerodynamics at the expense of bike weight. If you plan to do triathlons and time trials, you may wish to look into an aero frame.

The cheapest frames are made from aluminium. It is a light material and will take a good knock or two. Some aluminium bikes also come with carbon forks which makes it lighter. Carbon is a popular material as it is extremely light, but is prone to damage and more expensive. Other materials include steel and titanium, which are strong and stiff but more expensive.

2. Groupsets

A groupset is a term used to describe the workings of a bike, so the gears, front chain rings, rear cassettes etc. There are three main players in the groupset world, Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. These three companies produce the following groupsets, lowest price first:

  • Shimano: Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Ultegra Di2, Dura-Ace & Dura-Ace Di2.
  • SRAM: Apex, Rival, Force & Red.
  • Campagnolo: Veloce, Centaur, Athena, Chorus, Record, Super Record, Record EPS & Super Record EPS.

Most entry level road bikes come with Shimano Tiagra or 105. These are good reliable groupsets and most bike shops stock parts, should you need to get something fixed.

Don’t underestimate the cost of a groupset and choose something you can afford to maintain.

3. Crankset and cassettes

A picture of a cranksetOnce you’ve chosen your groupset, it’s worth considering what type of terrain you will be cycling in. It is more complicated that you might think, but basically:

  • The crankset is the big chain ring at the front of the drive chain. The number refers to the number of teeth on the cog. The bigger the number, ie the more teeth, the harder it is to pedal but the further you go with each turn of the wheel.
  • The rear cassette (aka cog) is the stack of smaller rings in the back wheel. It has the opposite ratio to the big chain ring, ie the smaller the number of teeth, the heavier the gearing.

The crankset comes in triple, double or compact:

  • A triple crank set consists of three front rings and has the widest range of gears/ratio combinations. It is good for steep climbing, especially if you plan to go to the Alps. If you are unfit, it can also be a nice easy introduction to cycling. A typical ratio is 50/30/39.
  • A double crankset has just two front rings and fewer ratio combinations than a triple. A typical ratio is 53/39.
  • A compact crank set consists of two front rings, and is a compromise between a tradition double and triple crank set. The gear ratios vary (eg 50/34), but typically a compact covers the same range as a triple.

4.  Pedals and cleats

One of the most daunting things about riding your first road bike is being clipped in. Don’t worry, everyone has this fear. But with a bit of practice you’ll have forgotten what all the fuss was about. The main brands are Shimano and Look. Some commuters use SPDs as they are a bit easier to walk in. Ask your local bike shop to help you set up your cleats on your cycling shoes.

5. All the gear and no idea

Other things to budget for are padded cycling shorts and a puncture repair kit including tyre levers and a pump. A cycling jersey isn’t necessary but does have the advantage of having pockets on the back for food, your phone, some cash, your puncture repair kit and spare inner tube. Cycling can be cooler than you think due to wind chill, so good layers on your body is advisable.

Getting into road cycling is an exhilarating and fun way to get fit and see some of our beautiful countryside. I highly recommend it.

Part 1: Buying a bike

 

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