This text shall give you an overview so that you can make the right choice for your road bike.

Equipment can differ too. For instance, you can go for a classic road bike with rim brakes or a modern road bike with disc brakes. There are mechanical and electric derailleurs with up to 24 gears. Tyres are mainly 28 inches, but 27.5-inch (650B) wheels offering greater off-road mobility are worth considering. And think about tyre width: 25 to 28 mm on classic road bikes and up to 2.1 inches (54 mm) on all-terrain gravel bikes.

What’s different about a road bike?

Unlike a regular bike, a road bike is light and has one major feature: racing or drop handlebars. They offer lots of grip positions on the top and bottom of the handlebars. Their width should be adjusted to the rider’s shoulder width. These handlebars also feature combined gear shifters and brake levers – Shimano calls this system STI and the controls are easy to access in the sprint position, i.e. from the bottom.

Another important road bike feature is the height difference between the top of the handlebars and the top of the saddle, which enables an aerodynamic riding position. This sitting position along with a steep seat tube angle is also assisted by a long wheelbase. The seat tube angle is steeper on a women’s road bike. Another salient feature is the frame - nearly always unsprung, and usually combined with a rigid fork.

Road bike tyres are designed for high speed. They are thinner than MTB tyres and have less tread. With their gear ratios and increments, the built-in derailleurs help you reach high speeds.

Carbon, aluminium or steel-frame road bike?

The frame is key to any road bike, affecting both weight and power transmission. Carbon and aluminium road bikes are the most common. Aluminium road bikes are generally cheaper, with the benefit of a lighter, rigid and robust frame. Carbon road bikes are dearer, but even lighter than aluminium road bikes. Wall strengths are optimised for the best weight/stability/comfort ratio.

Alternatively, some road bikes are made of steel. These bikes look distinctive, last a long time with the right care and riding is comfortable and lively. But they are usually heavier than aluminium and carbon road bikes.

Buying a road bike from PROBIKE

Buying your road bike from the PROBIKE online shop is hassle-free. It’s important to choose the right frame size. So have a look in our guide how you can determine the frame size. Enabling you to buy your road bike online and assemble it at home in minutes, we do most of the assembling first.

Still have questions? Then contact our friendly customer service team any time.