Out of all the sorts of bicycles out there, the road bike is one of the oldest and most popular. You will want to invest in one of this kind if you are primarily going to be riding on tarmac, and distance or speed are important to you. These bicycles have lightweight frames meant to allow aerodynamic posture without discomfort, and are meant for racing usually. Working with a road bike is certainly seriously recommended, and among the preferred are the Colnago Road Bikes and the Fuji Bicycles.
Road bicycles do not have the uneven surface most people associate with mountain bike tires - they generally have narrow tires that are kept at a high pressure, and which are smooth surfaced. These minimize contact with the road, giving you the least amount of rolling resistance. However, they allow you to feel more when it comes to bumps and stones - that's why they are best suited for tarmac that's in good repair.
You will need to look closely at the frame, too. Road bike frames are made from a variety of different materials, and the costs vary based on the way they are made and the material. More expensive frames are usually lighter - better for climbing. Bikes which weigh more lead to slower times for competition riders. This may or may not be a factor for you.
Almost all entry level bicycles have frames made either from aluminum or steel, with aluminum progressively taking up more and more of the market. Each has its pluses and minuses - neither is a bad choice.. For instance, aluminum frames are created to be especially inflexible, which results in a slightly harder ride. Steel frames weigh more, but offer more flex, and can handle bumps a little better. How do you decide which one's the bicycle for you? Test as many as possible and make your mind up which one feels the best.
As bike prices increase, you'll start to see bike frames made from different materials. For example, the front fork may be made of carbon fiber - a strong, but light material. Top quality bicycles may have an entire frame made of carbon fiber, providing great strength and lightness. Other high end bicycles are made of titanium and other specialist materials. Given that these are such expensive bikes, the bulk of them are owned only by serious cyclists.
Another very important element are handlebars. On road bicycles, they generally project straight from the stem, then curl under so that riders who want to avoid resistance to the wind can bend forward. Riders are also able to sit in a position that's more upright and keep their hands higher up on the bars. Brake levers and gear shift are normally handle bar mounted on road bikes, offering more control.
Be aware of riding position, too. Most modern road bicycles are meant to let riders bend over, allowing them to put the most power from the legs and hips into the pedals, and decreasing their wind resistance. This aerodynamic position is good for short term speed, but can be unpleasant in the long term, inducing hand and arm problems.
Road bicycles normally come with many speeds in the gearing - two or three chain rings and eight or nine gears - allowing anything from sixteen to twenty seven different combinations of gear speed. You will also usually get platform pedals which come with toe pedals, but pedals without clips are also to be found. They give you the ability to pedal the bicycle on the downstroke as well as the upstroke.
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