| How to choose your road bike? Well the first | | | | would be Campagnolo Chorus or Shimano Ultegra, |
| question is how much do you want to spend and | | | | unless you can afford the top components of |
| how much cycling will you do? The answer to the | | | | both manufacturers. Wheels again would be |
| first question is a difficult one, many people when | | | | possibly Mavic, Shimano or Campagnolo, deep |
| they are younger they want to ride there bike all | | | | carbon rims look Great and have a wonderful ride, |
| day and what to be the next winner of the Tour | | | | but will probably be too expensive, best if you |
| de France, but they can not afford to spend | | | | stick to alloy rims for high pressure tires as |
| much on there bike. If they get fit and win some | | | | tubulars, even though they ride wonderfully, will be |
| races and get in a good team they will be given a | | | | expensive and a lot of trouble. Handle bars, stem |
| top class bike, but what usually happens is they | | | | and seat pin could be alloy or carbon, if you have |
| have to give up and work, have a family etc. | | | | the money. The frame is the heart of your bike |
| When they are older and have more money they | | | | and you will want a good one, at this price range |
| can afford the bike of there dreams. As to how | | | | alloy is going to be the first choice with carbon |
| much cycling you do, that depends on whether | | | | forks and possibly a carbon rear triangle. If you |
| you can justify having the best bike around and | | | | look around you might manage to find an all |
| only doing a short ride on Sunday morning. | | | | carbon frame at this price, Giant make a very |
| Remember you get what you pay for. | | | | well priced carbon frame in a compact, sloping |
| Basic Level Bikes. | | | | design, there are others but you will have to |
| If you go to the larger sports stores or bike | | | | spend a lot more money. |
| shops they will have complete bikes for sale, | | | | The Top of The Shopping List. |
| probably a alloy frame with Shimano Tiagra or | | | | When're looking at a lot of money here if you |
| Campagnolo Mirage or a mixture of cheaper | | | | want to buy a professional road bike. The frame |
| components, this bike will be built to a price, will | | | | will be all carbon or titanium with carbon forks and |
| ride fairly well, wont be very light and is a good | | | | maybe a carbon rear triangle or alloy main tubes |
| place to start. To get some thing better, start | | | | with carbon front or rear end. The nicest ones on |
| with a nice alloy frame and if you can afford it, | | | | the market at the moment, in my opinion, are |
| carbon forks, then with what money you have | | | | Colnago, De Rosa, Pinarello, Battaglin, Time, Scott, |
| left chose your group-set of either Shimano or | | | | Cervelo and many more, all are available in |
| Campagnolo and then you can pick your saddle, | | | | different colours, geometries and sizes, check out |
| handlebars, wheel rims and tires, this is all fun, but | | | | there web sites for information and try to make |
| if you are working to a budget, it can be tricky. | | | | your choice, it's a difficult job. This is a |
| Mid Level, Touring and Possibly Racing. | | | | professional road bike so it will have to have the |
| In this range of bikes you can buy them as a | | | | best components, Shimano Dura.Ace or |
| complete cycle, in the cycle shop, sports store or | | | | Campagnolo Record are your only choice at this |
| even in the specialist magazines or on the web. It | | | | level. Same with the wheels, Dura-Ace or |
| is more fun to choose the components for your | | | | Campagnolo Bora, these can be for high pressure |
| frame and how much you want to spend. At this | | | | clincher tires or tubulars, tubulars are more trouble |
| level you would probably be looking at Shimano | | | | but do ride well, but clincher tires are very nearly |
| 105 or Campagnolo Centaur road bike parts and | | | | as nice and much more practical. Handle bars, |
| you could possibly buy some built up wheels from | | | | stem and seat pin will be carbon and your saddle |
| Shimano, Campagnolo or Mavic, but first start | | | | will have a carbon base with a leather cover and |
| with the frame, there are many frames out there | | | | sometimes with gel for a little extra comfort. |
| to choose from, get on the net and look for | | | | The Best Bike You Can Afford. |
| what you want, it will probably be alloy again, with | | | | You do only get what you pay for, so get the |
| carbon forks. Alloy seat pin, handle bars and stem | | | | best bike you can afford, look around the |
| and a comfortable saddle. | | | | magazines and the web sites and don't forget |
| Top Level Bike For Racing and Pleasure. | | | | your local bike shop until you get that little jewel, |
| Now it gets more difficult, your components | | | | but be careful not to make your partner jealous! |