| Road bikes will range in price from $500 to over | | | | and is no longer the lightest most exotic material. |
| $5000, and vary greatly in design, materials, and | | | | If you buy a ti frame you are buying a long term |
| performance. The first decision you need to | | | | investment. I prefer the latest technology (I buy |
| make is road bike or tri set up. What type of | | | | a bike every 2 years). Aluminum is going to give |
| riding are you going to be doing? Are you | | | | you the most bang for the buck. Manufacturers |
| purchasing the bike for multi-sport competition or | | | | are starting to use a combination of aluminum and |
| strictly for road riding, training, and / or racing? A | | | | carbon fiber in their frame sets. Another |
| tri bike is used in triathlons and other multi sport | | | | consideration is geometry- compact or traditional. |
| events, has aero bars and a more forward (less | | | | The industry has moved towards (sometimes) |
| comfortable) position, can be slightly heavier than | | | | lighter compact frames. These frames have a |
| a road bike, and is generally less comfortable. The | | | | sloping top tube and look smaller. There |
| position puts your body more forward over the | | | | advantage is quicker more precise handling, but |
| front wheel and has your torso almost parallel to | | | | you do not want to take your hands off the bars. |
| the ground. The more forward position makes the | | | | The disadvantage can be that they often do not |
| bike less stable and harder to handle. On some tri | | | | come in as many sizes, and can be more |
| handlebars your hands are far from the brakes, | | | | challenging to fit. My preference is a compact, but |
| and the handling is quick and less controllable. I do | | | | I am a smaller rider and I find a good fit with |
| not recommend this type of bike for beginner | | | | these bikes. |
| riders. You may sacrifice a bit of weight for | | | | New or used? Buying a new bike is like buying a |
| aerodynamics, but unless you are moving pretty | | | | new car. As soon as you drive it off the |
| quickly, the aerodynamics will not pay off much... | | | | showroom you are out considerable money, but |
| About 80% of your resistance while cycling | | | | there is nothing like that new bike feel. If you are |
| comes from the air around you, but you must be | | | | not handy, it is going to need regular maintenance |
| moving above 20 mph to gain the full advantage. | | | | (I recommend you learn the basics). Some shops |
| If you are a slower beginning cyclist the more | | | | offer a free lifetime maintenance policy. This is a |
| aerodynamic position is not as much of a factor. I | | | | good deal; a full adjustment can run $40+ a pop. |
| would start off with a road bike. | | | | If you buy a used bike off of Ebay or from an |
| Second decision; recreation or competition? This is | | | | individual, you may get a lot more bike for the |
| really more about your budget and how | | | | money or you may get a piece of junk. If you |
| competitive you are. A $500 road bike can | | | | want to pair the price down, go used, but don't |
| actually be pretty reliable, but is heavier, requires | | | | go cheap. If you are not sure if you are going to |
| more maintenance, is not as ergonomic, and the | | | | stick with cycling this may be the way to go. |
| parts wear out faster. There is a trickle down in | | | | Either way I highly recommend you get |
| technology from top of the line road bikes, and an | | | | professionally sized, and that does not necessarily |
| entry level bike can be of surprisingly good quality. | | | | mean the sales guy at the shop. An expert will |
| Furthermore some entry level bikes can be easily | | | | spend a good hour with you examining every |
| upgraded to make them perform better. An | | | | aspect of the bikes fit (as many as ten different |
| example of an upgrade would be switching to a | | | | aspects). |
| better wheel set, which perhaps will have the | | | | I believe you get your best value with large |
| biggest effect on increased speed. Competition | | | | manufacturers such as Giant, Trek, and |
| level bikes usually start at around $1000. | | | | Cannondale to name a few. The bikes are mass |
| Competition level bikes usually start with a | | | | produced, but are generally very high quality and |
| Shimano 105 component group or better. Shimano | | | | offer the highest component level for the price. |
| 105 has all the features of the more expensive | | | | Think of them as the Hondas'. The European |
| groups (Ultegra and Durace), is fully race able and | | | | models generally have more "panache" with |
| durable, but is a little heavier. Campagnolo also | | | | custom colors and even custom fitting. The |
| makes excellent bicycle components, but they are | | | | Porshes' can run up to $8000 but are beautifully |
| usually found on more expensive European | | | | hand crafted works of art. A personal |
| models. I have had 105 bikes and full race Durace | | | | recommendation of mine; the Giant TCR2 which I |
| bikes. The differences are definitely there, but will | | | | think is one of the best bike values. I believe they |
| not be significant to the newer rider. If you are | | | | are going for around $1300. This puts a world |
| just getting into the sport, an entry level bike | | | | class, extremely light bike in your hands for not a |
| may be good enough for you. But if you think | | | | lot of money considering the weight and features. |
| you are going to stick with it, and want to be | | | | The fall is a great time to buy a bicycle because |
| competitive, you should spend the extra money. | | | | shops are clearing out the old models to make |
| Third decision; frame type and material. I believe | | | | room for the next years and the Christmas rush. |
| your best value is aluminum. Aluminum is | | | | You are also going to need shoes, helmet, water |
| extremely light, stiff, and relatively inexpensive | | | | bottle cages, computer, a good pump, flat kit, |
| compared with titanium and carbon fiber. Some | | | | padded shorts, perhaps a rack, and tool kit. Be |
| complain that aluminum transmits road vibration | | | | prepared, this is not a cheap sport even for the |
| more than other materials, but manufacturers | | | | beginner, and there is an initial investment. You |
| have gotten much better with this. Carbon fiber is | | | | can find good prices online for accessories at |
| more expensive, but will dampen road vibration | | | | Nashbar.com, Performancebike. |
| over long rides. Titanium is even more expensive, | | | | |