There are lots of reasons for cycling on the road and there are numerous different types of road bikes. The four main types of bikes for road bike cycling are road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes and folding bikes. All of these kinds of bikes vary from design to design so selecting the best one for you can be a big decision.
What type of bike you choose to ride on the road depends on how often you will use it, the purpose and distance of the journeys you make, as well as which type of bike you feel most comfortable riding, as they all have different riding positions.
Usually road bikes have dropped handlebars and skinny tyres, and they are very light. As they are mainly designed for speed the riding position is aerodynamic by being low down, not upright. This kind of bike is the fastest kind for road bike cycling and is chosen for racing by experienced road cyclists.
Road bikes can essentially be divided into two sub-categories - touring bikes and racing bikes. Touring bikes are perfect for long distances and cycling holidays, but race bikes are designed for speed and acceleration.
Touring bikes have lower gear ratios, which makes them suitable for carrying stuff on a long ride or touring holiday. Racing bikes are very light but have rigid frames to make sure the maximum amount of power is transfered from rider to wheels, to give a smooth ride.
A great choice of road bike for commuting to work, keeping fit and cycling for fun are hybrid bikes. They are a combination of a road bike and a mountain bike, and they are becoming more and more popular. They have fast spinning wheels like a road bike, but the riding position is more upright and similar to a mountain bike position, because they have flat handlebars.
Mountain bikes have tryes with tread designed for off-roading but they can easily be adapted to road cycling if you have one and don’t want to spend money on another bike. A mountain bike can be adapted by changing the tyres for narrower road tyres. This will reduce resistance and make cycling on the road quicker and easier.
If you cycle on the road as part of your commute a great bike to use is a folding bike. These are superb if you use any public transport on your journey, or if you have any storage issues at home or work. Instead of thinking about where to secure your bike you can just fold it up and take it indoors with you.
Whichever style you choose, when road bike cycling always think about making yourself obvious to other road users by wearing reflective items and using lights. This is imperative for your safety on the road, regardless of the type of bike you choose.
