Things You'll Need:
- money
- time
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Step 1
Ask yourself a few questions about your cycling habits. Be honest, you'll end up with the right road bike for you if you are.
How often do you ride? Once a week or every day?
Where do you ride? Urban streets or country roads?
Do you ride in the rain or only sunny days?
Is comfort or performance a priority?
Is bike weight an issue? If you climb a lot it should be a consideration.
Do you have any physical conditions that should be accounted for? Like a bad back or knees?
Make sure the bike salesperson addresses all your questions. -
Step 2
Determine a budget and stick to it. You can find a the right road bike for you without breaking the bank.
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Step 3
Decide what you need in your road bike. The answers in step #1 will help but now you'll need to prioritize. High end components come with a premium price tag. Many times you can save money on features you don't need.
For example: the wheels. Unless you are a competitive cyclist and race often you don't need top of the line wheels. The average road cyclist needs sturdy and low maintenance. -
Step 4
Invest in the features you need. You don't want the parts you depend on the most to fail. For example: if you ride over 100 miles a week you'll want to spend more on the chain rings and cog set. Higher quality components will last longer and give you a better ride.
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Step 5
Shop around. Different bike shops carry different brands. Different brands carry different price tags. There's no need to pay a premium price for a trendy brand name if you don't need to.
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Step 6
Test ride. Not all road bikes feel the same. Bike manufacturers use their own size specifications and geometric designs. You may feel rather precarious on one bike and very comfortable on another. No matter how often or far you ride, comfort is important.
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Step 7
Shop the sales. Road bikes can be expensive. Fortunately, most bike shops have annual sales to clear out last years models to make room for the current year bikes. Find out when your local shop has their sale and wait for it. You'll save a lot of money this way.
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Step 8
Be patient. The right road bike for you is out there. With a little persistence and detective work, you'll find it.
