How to Compare Road Bicycles
Unless you are Lance Armstrong (who gets his bikes for free anyway) or you have serious cash to blow, you will be just fine with a road bike that costs less than $2,000. Sure, the expensive stuff is nice--and if you can afford it, go for it--but it is not necessary. There is a big difference, though, between a $750 road bike and a $2,000 model. When comparing road bikes, the decision ultimately comes down to how often, and why, you ride a bike.
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Instructions
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Determine the style of road bicycle that best suits your needs. Race-style road bikes (with "drop" handlebars) offer better aerodynamics. If properly fit on this type of bike, your back will be angled while you're on it, cutting down on wind resistance and making for a faster, more efficient ride. Hybrid-style road bikes, often selected for commuting or general fitness, have upright handlebars (like a mountain bike), but frame geometry and wheels suited for road riding. Since you will be sitting more upright, though, you will face more wind resistance on a hybrid, so you will likely go slower.
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Consider the level of components you require. This will significantly impact the price of your new bike. Components include the front and rear derailleurs, brakes and wheels. Most road bikes are equipped with Shimano or SRAM components. Each brand offers various component models, each one better than the other. For instance, a $750 road bike will likely be equipped with Shimano Sora and/or Tiagra components and a low-end set of wheels. A $2,000 bike is likely to have Shimano 105 components and a Mavic wheelset, both serious upgrades. To get to the next level of components (Shimano Ultegra and then Dura-Ace), you are looking at prices north of $3,000.
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Test ride a $750 bike and a $2,000 bike. These are ballpark figures, as of March 2010, for a base-model bike and an intermediate-level road bicycle. See if you can tell the difference in shifting and ride quality. If you can't, you should probably stay in the $750-$1,500 price range. If you can, you might want to consider a more expensive ride. Ultimately, better components make for smoother gear shifting and wheels that can take both a beating and plenty of miles. If you intend to ride a lot or race, spend more for better parts. If you will only head out on the weekends or for short rides, save your money.
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Tips & Warnings
Bicycling Magazine suggests several bikes for new road riders, including the Giant Defy 3. Another bike in this class, but with slightly more aggressive frame geometry (meaning you will be less upright when properly fit), is the Specialized Allez. Both are great choices for casual and moderately serious riders.
As noted, you get a lot when you jump to a $2,000 bike, with components that are truly superior to those that will come with a cheaper option. Once you head above that level, the difference in quality will be negligible, though the difference in price will be great.
Don't be fooled by a bicycle shop salesperson who insists that you need a carbon frame. Carbon frames are nice. They are light and soak up vibration from the road. They look good. They make a nice sound when you flick them with your fingernail. They also drive up the price of a bike. An aluminum frame with a carbon fork can be had on many base model bikes, including the 2009 and 2010 Specialized Allez. This combination will suit most casual to moderately competitive riders fine, since aluminum is relatively light and durable, and the fork is where much of the road chatter goes anyhow.
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- Photo Credit Piste cyclable, Paris image by Bruno Bernier from Fotolia.com
