Road bikes in carbon and aluminium

What is a road bike?

A road bike is designed to cover ground quickly and for hours on tarmac. It combines a light frame, a drop handlebar that offers several hand positions, narrow tyres, usually 25 to 32 mm wide, and a drivetrain with a wide range of gears. It suits the sportive rider training for an event just as well as the cyclist who racks up weekend rides or is discovering the sport.

Race, endurance or aero: which road bike for which kind of riding?

Geometry sets your position, and therefore the character of the bike. A race model puts your upper body low and stretched out: the steering responds quickly and every acceleration goes straight into the wheels, the choice of racers and riders chasing speed. An endurance model raises the front end and slightly lengthens the wheelbase: your back and neck are relieved, the bike stays stable on descents and often takes wider tyres, a good compromise for long distances and rough roads. An aero model shapes its tubes to reduce air resistance, at the cost of a firmer ride.

If your rides often take in gravel tracks or forest roads, a gravel bike keeps the drop handlebar but runs much wider knobbly tyres. For everyday journeys, city bikes favour an upright position and urban equipment, while mountain bikes are built for the trails.

Carbon or aluminium: what difference does the frame make?

Carbon lets the manufacturer tune stiffness tube by tube: the frame can be light, stiff under power and good at filtering vibration all at once. It is found on most high-end race and endurance bikes. Aluminium remains more affordable and copes well with the knocks of everyday use; with hydroformed tubes and smoothed welds, recent frames feel lively. Many aluminium-framed bikes come with a carbon fork, which lightens the front end and softens the vibration transmitted to your hands.

The frame is not the whole story: the wheels count for a lot in how light a bike feels, and a lighter or stiffer pair sometimes transforms a bike more than a new frame would.

Groupset, brakes and spec: what sets each level apart

Shimano's road groupsets range from Claris to Dura-Ace, by way of Sora, Tiagra, 105 and Ultegra: as you move up the range, the number of gears, precision and lightness all increase. 105 and Ultegra also come in an electronic Di2 version, where gear changes are made through electric shifters. SRAM, for its part, offers wireless electronic groupsets, designated AXS. On a road bike, two chainrings at the front remain the norm to cover both steep climbs and fast descents.

Disc brakes have become the standard: they stay just as effective in the rain and free up room for wider tyres. Hydraulic versions need less effort at the lever than cable-operated ones. To improve the comfort or efficiency of an existing bike, road wheels and tyres are the first upgrade to consider.

Many road bikes are supplied without pedals or with basic flat pedals: choose a clipless system and its cleats from the road bike components. Helmets, shoes and clothing are in road cycling gear, GPS computers and sensors in road cycling electronics.

What size road bike do you need?

Measure your inside leg barefoot, with your back against a wall, holding a book between your legs as if it were a saddle: the distance from the floor to the top of the book is your starting point. Multiplied by 0.66, it gives an estimate of the frame size in centimetres; an inside leg of 84 cm therefore points to a frame of about 55 cm. Brands that give their sizes in letters, from XS to XL, publish charts based on rider height: always cross-check the two methods.

Between two sizes, the smaller one gives a livelier bike and a sportier position, the larger one a more upright position. Two geometry figures help you decide: stack, the height from the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube, and reach, the horizontal distance between those same two points. Small sizes, from 47 cm on some models, suit smaller riders, women and men alike. Once the bike is chosen, saddle height and setback, then stem length, complete the fit.

Which road bike brand should you choose?

SAVA offers road bikes from aluminium to full carbon: the Levar 2.0 pairs an alloy frame with a carbon fork and a Shimano 105 groupset, while the Vegur moves up to a frame and fork in Toray T800 carbon.

Polygon, an Indonesian manufacturer that builds its bikes in its own factories, offers the Strattos road range, from Shimano Tiagra up to electronic 105 Di2.

Cannondale brings together three approaches: the SuperSix Evo for racing, the endurance Synapse, whose SmartSense versions integrate lights and a rear radar, and CAAD, the long-standing name of its aluminium frames.

Bianchi, the Italian firm recognised as the oldest bicycle manufacturer still in business, is known for frames in its celeste colour; the Sprint is its entry into carbon, with internal cable routing and clearance for tyres up to 32 mm.

Where can you find a road bike on sale?

Road bikes replaced by a newer version move to road clearance, and recent arrivals are gathered in new arrivals. Black Friday and the seasonal sales are also worth watching before you make up your mind.

Frequently asked questions

Which road bike is best for a beginner?

An endurance model with an aluminium frame and a carbon fork, fitted with a Shimano Tiagra or 105 groupset and disc brakes, meets most needs when you are starting out. Its more upright position makes your first long rides more comfortable. Also plan for clipless pedals and a careful position set-up, which matter as much as the frame.

How much does a road bike weigh?

The rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale set the minimum weight of a racing bike at 6.8 kg, a limit that high-end carbon models come close to. A carbon endurance bike often weighs around 8 to 9 kg, an aluminium model a little more depending on its spec. Claimed weights refer to a reference size, often without pedals.

Can you ride a road bike on gravel tracks?

On dry, fast-rolling tracks, an endurance bike on 30 or 32 mm tyres copes without difficulty. Beyond that, narrow tyres lack grip and puncture resistance, and the geometry quickly becomes uncomfortable. If off-road tracks make up a large part of your rides, a gravel bike will be better suited.

How do you set the saddle height on a road bike?

Sitting on the saddle with your heel on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, your leg should be almost straight; pedalling normally, on the ball of your foot, your knee then keeps a slight bend. Adjust in steps of a few millimetres and check over several rides. Persistent discomfort justifies a professional bike fit.

How do you maintain a road bike?

Degrease the drivetrain regularly and then re-lube the chain, especially after a ride in the rain. Wash the frame with soapy water rather than a pressure washer, which forces grease out of the bearings. Before every ride, check your tyre pressure and brake pad wear.