What is a Road Bike?
Road bikes are designed for riding quickly and efficiently on the road. Built for speed, modern road bikes are advanced machines that pack a massive amount of innovation into small frames and slim tyres.
There are a few things just about all road bikes have in common. You’ll see all road bikes with skinny tyres with minimal tread. These tyres are designed to minimise rolling resistance, but don’t worry – they’ll keep you safe on the road in the wet.
Road bikes will all have the familiar ‘drop’ handlebars that curve forward. Drop bars are versatile, allowing you to choose the most comfortable position for you. You can lean forward with your hands on the drops while sprinting, or sit in a more upright position while climbing, the choice is yours.
The brake levers and gear shifters are usually combined and stick out from the front of the handlebars. They allow rapid gear changes and, unlike the old-fashioned gear shifters located on the frame, you won’t need to take your hands off the bars while using them.
Talking about gears, you’ll find road bikes have a variety of gear combinations with at least two rings at the front and between 7 and 11 at the back. It’s essential to choose the right gears for the type of riding you’re doing, or you could find yourself stuck halfway up a hill.