How to Choose Your Road Bike: A Buying Guide

The Different Types of Road Bikes

Before making any decision, the first step is identifying the future cyclist you want to become, in other words, how you plan on using your bike. If your plan is to hop back on the saddle for a little exercise according to your doctor’s recommendations, your bike will be different from that of an athlete looking for a slight competitive edge.

Simply put, the defining characteristics of a road bike are its curved handlebars, 700mm tires and light frame. Broken down further, we have 5 different categories of road bikes: performance, endurance, aerodynamic, gravel and electric.

Performance Road Bikes

Performance road bikes are racing bikes. With a sturdy frame, these models have two strong points: their lightness and their speed. The material used for the frame is instrumental in the bike’s weight, and the lower handlebars allow the rider to take an ideal position for increased speed. In this category, we find models like the Supersix Evo from Cannondale, the Gallium Pro from Argon 18 and the Devinci Silverstone.

Endurance Road Bikes

Endurance road bikes are made for long excursions. This is why manufacturers of these bikes prioritize the cyclist’s stability and focus on providing them a more comfortable riding posture. Endurance bikes also have a more flexible frame to better mitigate vibrations felt on the path. If this is the type of bike you had in mind, the Cannondale Synapse, the Krypton – part of the Argon 18 line – or the Leo model from Devinci may suit your needs.

Aerodynamic Road Bikes

For experienced athletes, there are road bikes dedicated to speed. With their unique frame and handlebar design, these bikes are designed for athletes looking to shave off a few microseconds by making the most of aerodynamics. In this very specific category, your best bet would be the Argon 18 Nitrogen or the Systemsix from the Cannondale line.

Gravel Bikes and Cyclo-Cross

The cyclo-cross phenomenon has given rise to specific bikes, featuring a more generous wheelbase to offer the rider balance in any posture. In addition to their rugged look and studded treads, these bikes are great at shifting speeds in an ideal manner for cyclo-cross.

Gravel bikes, while less competitive, use wider rubber that allows the bike to better travel long distances over unpaved paths. With a frame inspired by endurance bikes, gravel bikes offer a wonderful compromise between comfort in riding and the ability to handle unexpected off-road terrain. For bikes like these, consider Dark Matter from the Argon 18 line, the CAADX from Cannonale or the Hatchet from Devinci.

Electric Road Bikes

First off, let’s dispel a common notion with electric bikes: that they’re for the elderly. This couldn't be further from the truth. Today, electric bikes have penetrated every segment of the market, including road bikes. For an example, take a look at the specifications for the Synapse Neo from Cannondale. For more information on these types of bikes, feel free to read our brand new guide on electric bikes.

Road Bikes for Children

If you’re looking for a children’s road bike, you should be aware of a few notable brands that have taken a particular focus in this niche. They offer 24 and 26 inch models with 650mm wheels, perfect for younger kids just getting started with a competition bike. The Argon 18 Xenon model and Miele’s Svelto model are great places to start.

Parts and Components of Road Bikes

A road bike has many components. The main components of a road bike are the frame and the wheels. Together, these two elements give your bike comfort and balance. But other elements, notably the gear and brakes, also require your attention.

What type of frame do I want?

For your bike’s frame, the two main materials to look at are carbon and aluminum. Steel structures, the preferred material of a bygone age, have nearly disappeared due to their weight.

Nowadays, the majority of bikes use aluminum frames, thanks to its super light weight and rigidity, which minimizes the energy cyclists needs to exert. And with its attractive price, aluminum is a great material for entry-level to mid-range road bikes. In terms of comfort, given its sturdiness, it excels at sailing over uneven terrain. A performance model like Cannondale’s CAAD series uses aluminum to manufacture its frames. These are extremely light-weight, efficient bikes.

Carbon, just as light and even more comfortable, offers many advantages, even if it is inherently more fragile. Its higher price makes it the go-to material for higher-end bikes. And to be complete, let’s not forget titanium, which offers a good compromise between the sturdiness of steel and the lighter weight of aluminum. Its drastically higher price is the main reason one rarely sees this type of frame.

Choosing Your Bike's Wheels

Cyclists have confirmed it! Half the enjoyment you get out of your bike comes from the wheels. Depending on their quality and design, wheels are truly decisive when it comes to your machine. You can prioritize the weight, aerodynamics and speed of your road bike depending on your choice of a high rim or a low rim, and what type of spokes you choose. Now we’re getting into a very specialized area, and the advice of your bike specialist will be crucial with this step and will depend on how you plan to use the bike and what performance you are seeking.

Gear, Cogset and Crankset

To get the proper amount of force from the pedal to the rear tire, everything starts with the gear system. The various elements involved in the gear – the crankset, the chain, the derailleur gears, the cogset – all deserve your attention when you purchase your bike, as well as vigilance when it comes to maintenance. With the constant technological advancements flooding the bike market, we are seeing more and more electric gears. The catalogs of specialized brands like Shimano and Sram show how true this is. Shimano uses the Di2 gears and Sram uses the E-Tap line.

Rim Brakes or Disc Brakes

To provide your road bike the most suitable brakes, you may want to consider rim brakes that work in a traditional manner, i.e. laterally, or you may want to take a look at disk brakes, which use a mechanical or hydraulic system that work directly on the wheel, much like the breaks that motorcycles use. Disk brakes are often less influenced by road or weather conditions. In effect, disk brakes work just as well in rain, dirt or mud as they do on pavement.

Accessories to Make Room for in Your Budget

Buying the bike is important, but choosing the right accessories can also play a large role. Leaving space in your budget for equipment is often what makes the difference when you're out biking.

First, a good helmet and glasses are always a good start. Next comes a reflective vest. Ideally, you will want to get a short one and a longer one for the colder seasons. The same goes for your singlet. You will want both a long-sleeve and a short-sleeve singlet, then a suitable vest. You will also want to determine if you want clip pedals or not. The great advantage with clips is their transfer of power. Being that your foot is always in contact with the pedal, this causes you to exert quite a deal of energy. The shoes you use also make a big difference regardless if you have clip pedals or not. Go for the most rigid shoe possible. The more rigid the shoe, the less energy you exert.

More Things to Consider with Your Road Bike

After this brief overview, you can clearly see how many aspects you need to consider when buying a road bike. After choosing the brand and choosing a Cannondale road bike, a Devinci road bike or another Argon 18 road bike, for example, you need to figure out where your priorities lie and make your new purchase with an informed mindset.

At Vélo Cadence we have a good ear for all types of biking questions and are here to help you combine useful riding with pleasure-filled kilometers. Feel free to come in and see the shop. Happy riding!

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