Road Bike

A road bike is built for one thing: efficiency. Some would claim they are built for speed, but that is rightfully the domain of the road bike’s cousin, the racing bike. Racing bikes have a few things that set them apart from a typical road model, most notably the price tag. A high end racing bike will set you back more than a compact car, and for good reason. They weigh next to nothing, and feature gear ratios so extreme that you’ll find yourself biking up walls.

The road bike seems almost modest by comparison. It features a wide selection of gear ratios, so that you can find an efficient and sustainable pedaling output for nearly any situation. They are sturdier than their racing cousins. Instead of spending luxuriously on a carbon fiber frame, they are more often made of less expensive materials, such as aluminum. Aluminum and steel have lower strength-weight ratios, but unless you’re trying to break world records, having the lightest possible bike will not make or break your ride.

The other thing a road bike is notable for is again something that it is not: a mountain bike. A road bike has thin wheels with a small tread footprint. It is designed to give you great performance on paved surfaces, but if it encounters anything as rough as even railroad tracks, you’re in danger of blowing out a tire. The tires on a road bike are inflated to a much higher pressure than those on a mountain bike, or even most car tires. This, combined with the tiny area in contact with the ground at any given time is what gives them the great performance that they are known for.