| If you are reading this article because you want to | | | | qualities of both steel and aluminum. Carbon fiber is |
| purchase a new road bicycle, or you're just doing a | | | | both lightweight yet gives a very smooth ride to the |
| research on the subject for no apparent reason, then | | | | bike. |
| you should know that there are three things that | | | | Titanium is the priciest. A lot of handwork goes to |
| you need to know about road bikes: frame materials, | | | | the bike that is made with it as titanium is an |
| frame geometry and components. | | | | extremely hard metal, thus making it hard to work |
| Materials | | | | with. |
| First things first. There are four materials that most | | | | Frame Geometry |
| bike manufacturers use nowadays: aluminum, steel, | | | | This generally refers to the length of the frame |
| carbon fiber, and titanium. Each material has different | | | | tunes and the angles from which they were |
| properties which are carried off and affect the ride | | | | assembled. This feature determines how the bike |
| of the bike. There are also bikes that are made from | | | | rides and how the bike handles. For instance, a cheap |
| a combination of these materials to achieve particular | | | | road bike made with more acute frame angles, a |
| ride characteristics. | | | | shorter wheel base and less fork rake, handles more |
| Aluminum is the most commonly used material | | | | like a Porsche or Ferrari: light quick and responsive |
| because it is lightweight yet sturdy. A lot of cheap | | | | which are all desirable qualities for racing bikes. |
| road bicycles available online are made from these | | | | Components |
| particular material. It's lightweight feature allows the | | | | Every component attached to a bike all contributes |
| bike to flex less under load thus channeling the rider's | | | | to the bike's ride quality. You may have a cheap road |
| energy into motion. | | | | bike but as long as each component is machined to |
| Steel, on the other hand, had been used to produce | | | | closer tolerances, you will be assured that it will work |
| expensive and cheap road bicycles for decades. It | | | | better and last longer. |
| gives a smoother and a more comfortable ride | | | | Shimano is a brand that dominated the bicycle parts |
| because of its more pliant material which absorbs | | | | market. While they are the leading manufacturer, a |
| road vibration. | | | | lot of cheap road bikes are branded as such. This |
| Carbon fiber is like a cross between the two | | | | simply implies that cheap road bikes can have a |
| previous materials. Rarely would you find cheap road | | | | better ride than branded ones. |
| bikes made of carbon fiber because it touts the best | | | | |