Road Bikes

Two-wheel travel has evolved over the past few decades, and that includes the great strides made in road bikes and specialty designs. While popularity dived when mountain bikes hit the market, street bicycles once again gained in demand and the industry geared up for the onslaught. All ages enjoy freewheeling and entire families can get in on the act.
 
Recreational riding, touring and competition all involve the use of road or street bikes. If you're a novice or expert rider in search of the right bicycle, you'll be amazed at the many options.
 

Road Bikes Explained

By a very specific definition, road bikes are those that go fast, are generally lightweight and feature drop-bar handles. In a much broader sense of the term, road bikes are any bicycle used on pavement, trails, streets and highways. You'll find them in many sizes for all ages. Specialized bikes also fall into this category, including:
  • cruisers
  • recumbents
  • tandem styles.
Each classification of road bikes has its distinctions. Some feature greater comforts for long rides and multiple terrains, while others, including racing bikes, are trim and meant for hard surfaces only.

Road Bikes and Lifestyle

Choosing a road bike to fit your lifestyle and intended use is as critical as fit and price. You can expect to spend from $200 to more than $1,000 for a quality product that will give you long-lasting performance and enjoyment in any category.
 
In larger cities, many choose a commuter bike that is both rugged and comfortable. You may be excited about touring styles that will let you add storage compartments for packing supplies. Families tend to look for comfort designs that include flat-bar handles and heavy-duty frames. Many enthusiasts own more than one road bike style.

Types of Road Bikes

Main road bike categories are:
  • recreational
  • racing
  • specialty
  • touring
  • utility.
Within each category, you'll find subgroups that offer styling choices.

Recreational Bikes

Recreational bikes are perhaps most popular for all-around leisurely enjoyment. They're a great choice for families and individuals who enjoy a few hours of riding on weekends. Some styles also have features for competition and distance riders.
 
These road bikes include such designs as:
  • comfort/leisure: These can be upright or racing style and feature multiple or single gears. They are usually in lower price ranges, but most shops offer a range of bells and whistles depending on the manufacturer. Age-friendly designs include standard mountain bike tires and suspension seating.
  • cruiser: These are rising in popularity and feature greater comforts than most other road bikes. They're designed as uprights with wider seats and tires. Their main purpose is to provide a comfort ride on straight, flat terrain at the sacrifice of speed.
  • hybrid: These typically can go from pavement to off-road use, but feature leisure qualities that make them an all-around choice for most types of riding. This style focuses on both comfort and efficiency of pedaling action with attention to speed.
  • recumbent: Included with specialty road bikes, but are also highly competitive in races and some touring. The horizontal positioning does indeed cut wind resistance, but many people find them a more relaxing ride as well.

Racing Bikes

Racing bikes are often at the top end of pricing. They're lightweight and equipped for the greatest speed. They must be built for fierce competition, whether professionally or for friendly weekend road races. Various designs include those road bikes for long distance and time trials, each with a host of sport-specific features. They also absorb road noise, which plays to a rider's energy consumption.
 
Specialty bikes include:
  • electric: a motor offers assist with hills, but pedaling is still the main form of mobility.

  • folding designs: newer to the field, but practical when storage is at a premium. Some commuter styles are foldable for those who work in smaller offices.

  • semi-recumbent: a blend of horizontal comfort with wheelbase and with wheel sizes of uprights.

  • tandems: the "bicycle built for two" with updates for road riders and weekend warriors.

  • trikes: a safe way to enjoy cycling, these "three-wheelers" are popular for the elderly. They can be customized for transporting heavy loads as well.

Touring Bikes

Touring bikes were originally popular for rides extending over one or more days. While fewer people are engaging in this type of ride that includes camping stops, these bikes can still haul gear with a design focused on ease of pedaling and load-shifting support for hills.

Utility Bikes

Utility bikes encompass a wide range of styles, but generally provide a rugged frame for daily commutes. You may find them listed as "city" or "urban" bikes, and their main purpose is to arrive at Point B under a variety of circumstances.
 
Utility bikes also offer conveniences designed for expected terrain, whether that's mainly stop-and-go traffic or for traversing hills and rough roads. They feature fewer gears and incorporate many comfort features for that long, hard ride to and from work or school. Many of these road bikes also feature internal hubs to keep maintenance to a minimum. Utility bikes can fall into the hybrid category, but with a very specific purpose.
 
Resources
 
Americanbike.com (2005). Buying a New Hybrid Bike. Retrieved June 10, 2007, from the American Bike Web site.
 
Custom-street-bikes.com (nd). What is a Recumbent Bicycle? Retrieved June 10, 2007, from the Custom Street Bikes Web site.
 
Familybiking.com (nd). Bike Buyer's Guide. Retrieved June 10, 2007, from the Family Biking Web site.