Road Bike Buyer's Guide
Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Choosing a Road Bike
Whether it's the Tour de France or a weekend group ride - road cycling is a great way to satiate your need for speed and provide an outlet for your competitive streak. Road biking has a long tradition steeped in culture which can feel like an intimidating place for beginners and outsiders - but it doesn't have to feel that way.
In this guide, we'll cover the basics of what a road bike is, if it's the right option for you, as well as answer some of the most common questions we've heard over the years. By the end, we'll make sure you have all the knowledge you need to feel confident and excited to choose your perfect road bike.
What is a Road Bike?
Road bikes are performance-oriented with drop handlebars designed specifically for riding on pavement. Traditionally, they’ve been equipped with skinny tires and geometries that focus on improving aerodynamics and speed but as the cycling world has evolved, we’ve seen that definition challenged and the lines between categories blurred. While fast, efficient, and aggressive road bikes aren’t going anywhere – you can now find road bikes with an added focus on comfort or road bikes built to keep going even when the pavement ends.
Is a Road Bike Right for Me?
Choose a road bike if...
- Most of your riding happens on paved surfaces
- You plan on riding as much and as far as possible
- Speed and efficiency are your top priorities
- You want a lightweight bike
- You can ride in a more aggressive, forward position
One of the most important factors when considering a road bike is where you plan on riding. If most of those kilometers are going to be spent on pavement, then you’re on the right track. The next step is figuring out what benefits you’d like to get out of your bike. If performance, speed, or efficiency are high on your list, that’s where road bikes excel. Keep in mind, that can mean more than just racing – you might want to trim off a few minutes from your commute, set the pace on your next group ride, or ride as many kilometers in a day as possible – these are all scenarios where a road bike can make a big difference.
On the flipside, if you plan on mixing in a larger variety of different terrain outside of just pavement, if comfort is the most important factor, or if you just want something more versatile – a road bike might not be the ideal option. That’s where bikes that blur the lines between categories like gravel bikes, city hybrids, or touring rigs might suit your needs better.
Not sure if a road bike is right for you? Check out more of our category guides below.
Gravel Bike Guide
Choosing the Right Type of Road Bike
Performance Road Bikes
Choose a performance road bike if...
- Top speed and tight handling are the top priority
- You plan on joining races or competitive group rides
- You want a lightweight, hi-tech bike
If performance and speed are your top priorities – whether that’s because you want to sign-up for races, set some KOMs on Strava, or lead the pack on your weekly group rides – these are the bikes for you.
Performance road bikes are sometimes split into two categories: aerodynamic bikes that are focused on being as fast as possible and lightweight bikes that shed weight to increase efficiency during rides with lots of climbing. As technology has advanced, some brands have started to combine these categories in an effort to simplify their lineups and create more versatile race bikes.
In any scenario, these performance-focused bikes are willing to sacrifice comfort for increased aerodynamic advantage, stiffer and more responsive frames, and lower weight. They’ll generally have aggressive geometries and race fits that put riders into the most aerodynamic, powerful, and efficient riding position possible. Luckily for us, advances in materials and frame design have made the latest generation of race bikes more comfortable than they’ve ever been so going as fast as possible won’t have to mean bone rattling rides and sore rear ends.
Featured Models: Trek Madone, Specialized Tarmac, Giant TCR, and Liv Langma
Endurance Road Bikes
Choose an endurance road bike if...
- All-day comfort is a top priority
- You plan on riding long days with lots of kilometers
- You want more versatility to ride in different scenarios
Endurance or all-road bikes are the right choice for you if your goal is to rack up the kilometers, stretch your rides out as long as possible, or if you just want to put more emphasis on comfort while you’re on the road. These bikes are focused on balancing performance with all-day comfort so that you can ride as far or as long as you want.
You’re likely to see increased tire clearance for a more supple ride, more relaxed geometry that puts less strain on your body, and features that increase frame compliance to soak up rough roads and potholes.
That focus on comfort features also increases the versatility of these bikes and allows you to keep riding even when the pavement ends. With wider tires and more forgiving handling – modern endurance bikes are more than capable of tackling sections of broken pavement and gravel roads. This is also where the lines start to get blurred between endurance bikes and gravel bikes, but in general endurance bikes are designed around pavement first, even though they have the chops to handle a variety of terrain. Endurance bikes are also closely related to touring bikes, with the biggest difference being that touring bikes put an additional focus on overall simplicity and gear-carrying capacity for rides that are measured in days or weeks instead of kilometers.
Featured Models: Trek Domane, Specialized Roubaix and Aethos, Giant Defy, and Liv Avail
Cyclocross Bikes
Choose a cyclocross bike if...
- You plan on training for and competing in cyclocross races
Cyclocross racing started out as a way for road racers to keep riding their bikes through the off-season. This meant that traditionally, the only thing that really separated them from normal race bikes was being able to squeeze in slightly larger tires – 33c to be exact. Over the years, as cyclocross has grown bigger and evolved into its own unique discipline we’ve seen the bikes change as well.
Modern cyclocross bikes have wide range gearings, clearance for mud and larger tires, have lightweight and open frames that make carrying the bike easier, and they aren’t generally optimized for aerodynamics. In many ways, cyclocross bikes paved the way for dedicated gravel bikes and both share many of the same characteristics. Some brands have even combined the two, but in general cyclocross bikes are more aggressive and race-focused while gravel bikes put more emphasis on versatility and all-day comfort.
Featured Bikes: Trek Crockett and Boone, Specialized Crux, Giant TCX, Liv Brava
Gravel Bikes
Choose a gravel bike if...
- You plan on riding mostly gravel or an even mix of gravel and pavement
- You want the most versatility to ride in a variety of terrain
- All-day comfort is more important than pure speed and performance
Though they’re starting to define themselves as a separate category, gravel bikes share most of their DNA with road bikes. They evolved from endurance and cyclocross bikes while mixing in cues from the mountain bike world. Their versatility is the driving force behind their growth, since a gravel bike can do a bit of everything – from pavement rides to open gravel roads, and even some flowy single-track.
Gravel bikes share many similarities in geometry and fit to modern endurance road bikes but usually with even more generous frame and tire clearances. The ability to run a standard road tire all the way up to a mountain sized tire means they can tackle all sorts of terrain. With less of an overall focus on speed and efficiency though, they sometimes struggle to keep up with dedicated road bikes which can be an issue especially during group rides. Like we mentioned with endurance bikes, think carefully about the type of terrain and who you normally ride with to help guide your decision between the two types of bikes.
Looking to learn more about gravel bikes? Check out our complete guide below.
Time Trial & Triathlon Road Bikes
Choose a time trial or triathlon bike if...
- You plan on training for or competing in time trial races or triathlons
In the world of road bikes, certain race disciplines need bikes designed around an even more niche set of parameters. Though more versatile road bikes might be able to do the job, at the highest levels they just aren’t specialized enough to keep up with the competition.
For time trial racing, courses are short, flat, straight, and there are no other riders around – so optimizing for speed and aerodynamics above all else is the most important factor. These bikes have deep airfoil-shaped tubes, aero-optimized cockpits, giant chainrings, and incredibly stiff frames to try and eke out every last bit of power from the rider. This is done while sacrificing comfort and control, and not even the most seasoned racers would dare ride them on longer routes. It’s important to note that these bikes still need be approved by the world governing body for cycling (UCI) and have to abide by their strict rules about bike design.
Triathlon or tri-bikes share a lot of similarities with time trial bikes because their courses are often of similar length and terrain and because of that, aerodynamic optimization is just as important. The biggest differences between the two are that tri-bikes make food and hydration storage an added priority and since Triathlons aren’t governed by the UCI, tri-bikes can have even more aggressive aerodynamic optimization and outside-the-box engineering and designs. As a rule of thumb, you can’t race a Triathlon specific bike at any UCI sanctioned event, but you can use any standard road bike at a Triathlon.
Featured Bikes: Trek SpeedConcept, Giant Trinity
Choosing the Right Frame Material
Road bike frames come in an array of frame materials, each with their own benefits and drawbacks, and choosing what works best for you can be a daunting task. The two most common frame materials these days are either aluminum alloy or carbon fibre but materials like steel and titanium are still used by more boutique brands.
Aluminum Frames
- Durable and affordable
- Offers excellent performance for entry-level or casual riders
Aluminum alloy, sometimes shortened to just alloy, is one of the most popular frame materials due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and relative affordability. Alloy bikes are built from engineered tubes which are welded together to form the frame.
Modern hydro-forming techniques have allowed bike designers and engineers to vary the wall thickness and tube profiles so they can tune specific traits like aerodynamic efficiency, stiffness, and comfort. Though hydroforming has its limitations and aluminum frames are usually simpler in design than their carbon counterparts, their performance and ride feel have come a long way in the last decade. Aluminum tends to be very durable, especially against abrasion and impact damage, but can have long-term durability issues like stress cracking and weld failure due to the nature of metal fatigue. Aluminum is also recyclable and can be made from or turned into products after the end of its usable lifespan.
Carbon Frames
- Strong and lightweight
- Can be stiff or compliant based on design
- Ideal for competitive cyclists or racers
Carbon bikes are made by combining carbon fibre threads or fabric and impregnating it with resin. Carbon fibre can be made into tubes which are then glued together to create frames in a similar manner to welding traditional metal bikes.
In more advanced designs, carbon fibre bikes can also be built from the ground up in a single mould – known as monocoque construction. Because carbon frames are built from layers of threads and resin, they can be highly customized and tuned by engineers and designers to get the exact qualities they’re looking for. And because they’re not constrained by the limitations of rigid metal, bike designers and engineers can create cutting edge bikes with built-in aerodynamic or comfort features. That freedom, along with the fact that carbon fibre is 2-5x stronger by weight than aluminum, means carbon frames are generally the lightest on the market and the go-to option for the most advanced and high-performance bike models.
As far as durability, carbon fibre has developed a bad reputation for being delicate and fragile – but that’s not necessarily the case. Though carbon frames are more susceptible to blunt-force impacts, they don’t fatigue over time like alloy frames. With the proper care and maintenance, carbon frames can last a decade or more of constant riding.
Steel Frames
- Comfortable, lively ride qualities
- Durable and easy to maintain
- Classic styling and design
Steel is real – or at least that’s what you’ll hear from its dedicated fans. Steel bikes existed long before alloy or carbon and the popularity of steel has always been tied to its comfortable, lively ride qualities combined with great durability – but as road bikes got lighter and faster, heavier steel bikes literally couldn’t keep up.
Even though steel has fallen out of favour over the last few decades, there are still bike manufacturers building classic and not-so classic bikes made from the time-tested material for a dedicated and growing fan base.
Titanium Frames
- Comfortable, lively ride qualities
- Lightweight and incredibly durable
If steel is the past, then titanium is the future. Even though it’s one of the most expensive and exotic frame materials, titanium bikes are starting to grow in popularity because they have many of the sought-after ride qualities of steel while being stronger and lighter than aluminum.
Titanium can also be 3D-printed allowing bike makers more freedom to experiment with novel designs. That’s not to mention maybe the biggest benefit to Titanium which is its durability – incredibly corrosion resistant, not prone to metal fatigue, and tougher than basically every other bike frame material – a titanium bike will last as long as you want to keep riding it while looking new as the day you bought it.
Our Take on Road Bike Tire Widths
Our Take? Bigger is better.
- Wider tires increase comfort while decreasing overall rolling resistance.
Road bike tire sizing has never been as popular of a topic as it is today. Traditionally, if you wanted the fastest tires with the lowest amount of rolling resistance you would opt for as narrow a tire and as high a pressure as you dared ride on. In recent years, that thinking has been flipped on its head as both bike manufacturers and riders are opting to go with wider tires, even on their highest-performance race bikes.
In some ways, this has to do with a change of perspective in the bike world as we’ve put more emphasis on rider comfort. Even the fastest riders in the world can perform at a higher level when they’re not having to deal with unnecessary pain and discomfort.
New research has also proved that having as hard and narrow a tire as possible can actually increase overall rolling resistance. If a tire can’t conform to changing road surfaces, it translates forward momentum to upwards momentum and slows riders down. With that data in mind, tire manufacturers have put more emphasis on creating more pliable, supple tires in larger sizes and bike manufacturers have followed suit by expanding tire clearance in even their raciest bikes. So the next time you’re looking at road tires, our recommendation is to try a wider size than you might be used to – you might find that you’re setting new speed records while improving comfort on your bike at the same time.
The Rise of Electronic Shifting
Main features:
- Precision shifting with minimal maintenance
- Consistent performance over time
- Cleaner cockpit designs
The latest trend in road bikes (and bikes in general) is the rise in popularity of electronic shifting. Electronic drivetrains ditch the levers, ratchets, and cables for buttons, Bluetooth, and batteries. As counterintuitive as it might sound, the biggest benefit to electronic drivetrains comes from their simplicity.
Without as many moving, mechanical parts – friction and wear is minimized, and overall shift quality is more precise and more consistent over time. Electronic shifting has become so pervasive that on some of the most performance-focused bike models, there isn’t even the option to run a mechanical drivetrain.
The two most popular electronic shifting technologies are Shimano Di2 and Sram AXS. Shimano Di2 was first to be introduced in 2009 and its main differentiating features are its larger, more discrete batteries that are hard-wired to the drivetrain components. Sram AXS on the other hand has been wireless since its inception but its batteries are smaller and need to be charged more often. With either option, you can expect quick, precise shifts and less time having to adjust your drivetrain compared to mechanical shifting – just don’t forget to charge your batteries before any big rides!
What Factors Affect the Price of Road Bikes?
Materials: Lightweight, high-strength materials like carbon fibre and titanium are more expensive to produce and manufacture.
Components: Higher-end components are lighter and more precise while high-performance technologies like lightweight wheels and electronic shifting can increase the price even more.
Design and Engineering: Cutting-edge aerodynamics, performance, and comfort features take time and money to engineer and implement.
Road bikes increase in price as they get lighter, increase in overall performance, and include more advanced features. This can usually be attributed to the cost of materials like carbon fibre and titanium and the added time and money involved with designing and engineering the most cutting-edge technologies. Luckily for us, modern entry-level road bikes from brands like Trek, Giant, and Specialized offer an excellent mix of affordability and performance and are a great place to start for new or casual riders. As you ride more and want to go faster, ride longer, or gain an edge in performance – the latest designs and added features can make your rides more fulfilling and enjoyable.
FAQ - The Most Common Road Bike Questions
What are the differences between road and gravel bikes?
Both bikes are designed to be quick, efficient, and focused on performance but are each optimized for different road surfaces.
Road bikes are built for riding smooth pavement and have skinny-ish tires, stiff and aerodynamic frames, and are designed around more aggressive fits and snappier handling. They’re designed for you to eke out as much performance from your rides as possible.
Gravel bikes are designed for when the pavement ends, and the dirt and gravel begin. They have wider tires and compliant frames to soak up rough terrain with more relaxed fits and stable handling so that they can handle longer or gnarlier rides. Their focus is on versatility, letting you ride wherever and whenever you want.
Can I use a road bike as a gravel bike?
If you see a lot of dirt and gravel in your future, stick to an endurance bike or even a dedicated gravel bike and your backside will thank you later.
Can I fit a gravel tire on a road bike?
Should I run a wider road tire?
Should I run tubeless tires on my road bike?
Can I run a 1x drivetrain on a road bike?
Can I commute on my road bike?
What does an aggressive fit or race geometry mean?
What size gravel bike is right for me?