Many road bikes are now fitted with disc brakes. There are two types; mechanical and hydraulic. Hydraulic disc brakes offer much better performance. They feel better and have more controllable power, so are worth the extra investment. Rim brakes are a more affordable option, but braking performance is compromised in wet conditions. Wheels make a big difference to the way a bike rides.
If you'd like some more advice on road cycling our bike specialist team is ready to help. The best way to contact us is to use Live Chat by clicking the widget at the bottom right of your screen. Tredz is a trading name of Performance Cycling Limited. All Rights Reserved Company No. Our registration number is Credit provided subject to age and status.
PayPal Credit is subject to status. Terms and Conditions apply. Use live chat. Sign in Don't have an account? Create one now Track your Tredz order. Endurance bikes aka Sportive Bikes. Road Race Bikes aka Climbing bikes. Aero Race Bikes. Gravel Bikes. If you want to the ability to explore on and off-road then a gravel bike is what you need.
Carbon or aluminium frame? Which is best. Carbon Weight: Carbon fibre composite frames offer a significant weight saving over aluminium alloy frames. Price ranges vary considerably from one local market to another. A wonderfully engineered aluminium frame can be far more enjoyable to ride than a poorly designed carbon frame, and the same applies for all material options. Put another way, almost all of the staff at CT would rather ride a great aluminium frame than a mediocre carbon version.
And generally speaking, you should invest in a good frame with the right fit before worrying about the parts bolted to it. The question of rim brake versus disc brake is one of the most hotly contested debates in modern road bikes.
In a nutshell, the biggest brands in the bike industry have deemed rim brakes as old technology and almost all investment in product development is being put into progressing disc brakes. Rim brakes remain the lighter option and will provide you with a lighter bike for the same money. Meanwhile, disc brakes aim to offer increased stopping control especially in wet conditions , open up clearance for wider tyres, and are fast becoming the only option on a number of popular bikes from big brands.
For more, check out our complete FAQ to road disc brakes. It can take an experienced eye to tell the difference between wheels, but some key things to look for are rim width the trend is toward rims of at least 19 mm width , a high-quality build with even spoke tensions, and reputation for hub durability e. DT Swiss and Shimano. Wheelset weight can also be a factor in how lively the bike feels. Typically the more you spend the more gears the bike will have and the smoother they will function.
The vast majority of road bikes on the market today feature Shimano components, with competitors SRAM and Campagnolo appearing on higher-end bikes.
Those looking at Shimano Ultegra-level bikes or above will likely need to decide between mechanical versus electronic shifting follow the link for a full discussion on this topic.
If given the choice, invest in a better frame and wheels before going with better derailleurs and shifters. The internet age has led to a relatively new decision for bike buyers: buy from a local bike shop or do it yourself online? The former offers you hands-on service and perhaps access to a local riding community, while the latter more than likely has a price advantage. Personally I believe that buying a bike online is best left to those who know exactly how they like their bikes to fit and are able to do basic maintenance themselves.
For everyone else the hands-on experience and service a good local bike shop can provide has the potential to make a substantial difference to your enjoyment in cycling. Closely following the last point is a decision over new and used. No doubt your money can go further with a used bike, but there are always risks associated with this.
Gone are the days of a road bike being an ache to ride — you should be able to pedal without any discomfort. Endurance-style bikes are designed for the masses and most riders are likely to be most comfortable on this style of bike which offers a more relaxed riding position. Experienced bike shop staff will be able to advise you on the correct size bike and style for your needs. A 54 cm frame in one brand may be equivalent to a 56 cm in another, and the same applies for those labelled with small, medium and large.
Thankfully there is a pretty good guide for how a bike will fit and compare to other bikes: stack and reach figures. These two figures remain the most robust way of comparing the actual sizing between various bikes. We have a dedicated article about the importance of stack and reach in bike sizing. Adventure or gravel bikes will typically be similar to endurance road bikes, but with greater clearance for wider tyres, disc brakes for optimal performance in all weather conditions, and lower gear ratios to cater for easier riding or extreme profiles.
Touring bikes are a slightly different category to gravel bikes and not so focused on the performance aspect of riding.
Touring bikes are heavier than other road bikes with the emphasis on comfort,longevity and the ability to carry gear on the bike.
Fenders and rack mount are commonplace, as are easy pedaling gear ratios. Steel is often used for the frame thanks to its durability, ease of repair and plush ride.
A touring bike will often feature a more upright and stable riding position to help with loaded carrying. For these type of bikes, the tyres are likely to be 30mm or above, disc brakes are preferable, handlebars and can be drop or flat, and they will weigh more than a performance orientated road bike.
Recreational bikes forgo the bells and whistles of performance road bikes actually, they do come with bells and focus on comfort and practicality. They are best suited to new riders who are looking to be active and easily get from A to B.
These bikes will typically have flat bars, wider tyres, flat pedals and easy-pedaling gear ratios. They are a great introduction to cycling or the perfect all-purpose machine for those who don't take their cycling too seriously. We've covered such bikes in detail with our guide to how flat bar road bikes, hybrids and urban bikes compared.
As mentioned above, most recreational bikes will feature a flat bar but it's not uncommon to see a more performance orientated frame with a flat bar instead of drop handlebars. In a true flat bar road bike, the shifting mechanics differ to a drop bar, but the general performance and equipment aren't compromised. Road bikes are commonly made from either carbon fibre, aluminium, titanium, steel or a combination of these materials.
It's worth noting that it's often how the chosen material is used by the engineers and manufacturers that matters most, and this is something that each brand will typically play with.
Check out our Frame Material Explained Guide for an in-depth description of each material. The stiffness to weight ratio of carbon fibre is the best of any material used for bikes which is why it is the universally chosen material for bikes in the professional ranks.
Aluminium is a strong metal that can be used to make a light and stiff bike. It's also less labour intensive to work with, which makes it a cheaper option than carbon fibre. Choosing an aluminium frame can provide a cost effective solution for those seeking performance on a budget. With the prevalence of carbon fibre it is rarer to see titanium frames, but the material is making a comeback via bespoke creations. Titanium is relatively lightweight, highly durable and won't corrode like steel.
Unlike carbon fibre and aluminium that can easily be molded, titanium is hard to work with which makes it an expensive material choice.
Like titanium, steel is most commonly found on bespoke creations. Before aluminium and carbon fibre, steel was the material of choice for road bikes, both recreational and professional. Modern, premium steels can be quite expensive and laborious to use and so lost favour with many brands choosing other materials that offered greater stiffness to weight ratios.
When choosing a new road bike, buyers will typically be presented with two options when it comes to stopping power, rim brakes or disc brakes. The main difference between a traditional rim brake bike and a disc brake bike is how and where the braking forces are applied. A rim brakes applied braking force directly to the rim, or sides of the wheel. Having been the standard for many decades, this is traditionally the most popular option on road bikes thanks to its simplicity and reduced weight.
A machined, textured of reinforced braking surfaceat the edge of the rim, just below the tyre, handles the stopping duties. Pulling on the brake lever pulls a braided stainless steel cable housed in some form of outer cable housing connected to a brake caliper, which is then used to apply braking force to the braking surface of the rim. A far newer technology compared to rim brakes, disc brakes were originally borrowed from cars and motorbikes and used on mountain bikes.
Proven to provide more finite braking control and consistent power regardless of the conditions, disc brakes are fast becoming a key reason for new bike purchases. Disc brakes earn their name from putting a steel disc rotor at the hub of the wheel. From here, a brake caliper mounted to the frame or fork always on the left clamps onto the rotor.
There are two different types of disc brake systems to be found on a disc-equipped road bike, hydraulic disc brakes and mechanical disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes work with the aid of hydraulic brake fluid, similar to the system found on motorbikes and automobiles. A plunger is activated at the master cylinder located in the lever itself, this pushes fluid through a hose, and onto the caliper at the wheel. The pressure of this fluid operates pistons in the caliper that clamp the brake pads onto the rotor.
Mechanical systems on the other hand work in a similar fashion to rim brake systems and are cable actuated. Meaning that you pull on a lever, which then pulls a braided stainless steel cable housed in some form of outer cable housing which is then used to apply braking force to the rotor.
Mechanical disc brake systems are simpler and are typically found on entry-level bikes. For more information on disc brake stopping power, check out our guide on buying a disc brake road bike for everything to know.
The drivetrain consists of the cranks, chainrings, chain, cassette, derailleurs and shifters. The drivetrain is a closed circuit which propels the bike and as you spend more money the efficiency, durability and shifting performance increases while the weight decreases.
As you work up the groupset hierarchy, the materials change. Entry-level groupsets are made up of mostly low-grade aluminium and steel, which move to the higher-grade alloys, and then the highest-grade alloys, carbon fibre and titanium for the top-of-the-line options.
If you want to know more, including the full hierarchies of Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo, read through our ultimate guide to road bike groupsets for all you need to know. Gear ratios on road bikes vary depending on the purpose of the bike. Gear ratios and range are a combination of the number of chainrings on the front of the bike and the number of teeth on those chainrings; and the number of cogs on the rear cassette and the number of teeth on those cogs.
The majority of road bikes will have either two or three front chainrings, although three front chainrings known as a 'triple' are commonly reserved for recreational, entry-level or touring bikes. While two chainrings is the norm, in recent times, some road bikes have followed the mountain bike trend of having a single chainring.
Having a single chainring minimises potential mechanical issues and simplifies the shifting to the rear cassette. Bikes with two front chainrings are normally split into a 'regular', 'compact' or 'semi-compact', also called a 'mid-compact' set-up.
A regular set-up sees the large chainring with teeth and the small chainring with teeth and is most commonly used by professional riders and those racing. A compact set-up sees the large chainring with teeth and the small chainring with teeth which provides easier pedaling ratios when compared to a regular set-up. A relatively new option, the semi-compact set-up is in between the two, the large chainring with teeth and the small chainring with teeth. Like all of Giant's bikes, it also works hard to wring everything from its medium-sized budget.
Read our extended rundown of the 20 best aero racing bikes. Able to handle 32mm tyres, you can even squeeze in mudguards if you want. With dropped seatstays, a short head tube and a degree head angle, the Sprint lives up to its name. A great all-rounder, with a top build-kit and a famous name attached. What more can you want, except maybe a bit of dosh off the headline price? Firstly, sold as seen, this Orbea Orca in a moody grey is a true Basque beauty.
Secondly, Orbea now gives you the option of a custom paint job on your bike to make it that bit more personal. Besides that, the Orca is a truly stunning frame that is light yet aero while being comfortable and compliant. Basically, all you could want from a bike that shares its name with a whale.
The S5 underwent a recent revamp to improve aerodynamics and stiffness, creating an all-round quicker bike. Chief among that is the split stem, which is claimed to create cleaner airflow, plus a tougher headtube and bottom bracket. Read our extended dream bikes test ride. One of the rare brands ignoring recent trends to shun aero-specific bikes, the Cube Litening C is a bike that impressed us immensely in a recent test. This was ultimately down to an incredibly high-quality frame that felt lightning fast.
It was one of those bikes that really gets the hairs standing on edge. Now if that's not a frame for every occasion, I'm not sure what is?
Shimano Ultegra gearing and brakes are what you'd look for at this price-point, while the 28mm Schwalbe ProOne tyres will keep you comfortable yet fast. With matt paint that fades black to green via a hazy purple, plus holographic decals and tan-wall tyres, it's a bike that looks screamingly fast even when propped up. This is BMC's fastest ever bike. Everything from the full integration of cables to the recessed bottle cages has been designed with the idea of making this bike faster.
A bike for the now, the Timemachine 01 is also a disc-only frame and this particular option comes with the outstanding Shimano Ultegra Di2 disc groupset. In recent years the all-round Tarmac has become ever more aerodynamic. Fast on the flats, rigid enough for race-winning accelerations.
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