A road bike allows you to travel long distances on smooth surfaces. Most people prefer using bicycles for transportation because of the health benefits and lower expenses compared to daily public transport and car costs. You save money while improving your cardiovascular fitness, stamina and muscle strength.
There are various selections of road bikes for sale online with corresponding situational pros and cons. Knowing more about the specifications will help you decide which ones to purchase.
Types of Road Bikes
Road bikes have big wheels, drop bars and lightweight components perfect for fast speeds and long distances on various surfaces. However, most road bikes fair well on flat surfaces. Ultimately, the function should dictate the selection, whether you want a bike for daily work transport, paved long-distance road trips, racing or marathons.
These are the types of road bikes according to function:
Commuter bikes
The commuter bike is arguably one of the most popular bicycles for everyday folk, with durability and comfort built for daily use in all weathers. Commuter road bikes Australia often features mudguards and racks to help with your belongings. It's great for everyday use but can't compete with racer or aerodynamic bike speeds.
Race bikes
The race bike is lightweight men's road bike for fast speeds, characterised by low handlebars, flat stem and shorter head tube. The bicycle has higher gearing for more speed and better handling with carbon aero or lightweight skinny wheels. It's perfect for speed thrills, racing and going fast speeds but not appropriate for extended rides on steep terrains and touring.
Triathlon or Time Trial (TT) bikes
The triathlon, time trial or TT road bikes defy wind resistance and allows the rider to glide at the highest possible speeds. The aerodynamic properties will enable the biker to propel themselves forward with little effort or power. TT is ideal for quick rides in short periods but not for running errands around town.
Aero bikes
The aero road bike has a great aerodynamic form similar to the TT bike but for regular road use. It has identical gearing to race bikes, and it's excellent for going against wind drag at higher speeds but not suitable for relaxed and slower rides.
Touring bikes
One of the typical and most popular road bikes is the touring bike, mainly built for comfortably travelling long distances while transporting heavy loads. It features low gearing with rigid wheels and more spokes. Touring bike is excellent for sightseeing and travelling long distances but a letdown on anything speed-related.
Endurance or sportive bikes
The sportive or endurance bike design allows the rider to participate in cycling challenges, prioritising stamina and endurance rather than speed. It's a comfortable and stable version of aerodynamic or race road bikes, offering better handling when riding long distances. It's appropriate for travelling around hilly terrains but not for short-time racing needing speed bursts.
Gravel bikes
The gravel bike is a league of its own with the ability to tackle both flat and off-road terrains. It combines touring and commuter bikes with comfort for rough road conditions. However, there are high-speed gravel bikes designed for off-road racing that are more sturdy and durable than the standard road bikes for sale.
Road Bike Selections
You must familiarise the builds and styles to choose the perfect road bike in Australia for you. The geometry, measurements and materials will determine how your bike will withstand your usage frequency and capacity. Aside from the type, which would immediately give their intended use away, you need to consider how the bike size compares to your body shape and size.
While most modern trail bikes for sale have better technology or improved functionalities, it's still important to understand the components of a road bicycle:
- Frameset or frame - made from steel, aluminium, carbon or titanium with the geometric design based on its type.
- Wheels and tyres - 18mm to 25mm for bikes focused on racing and 28 to 30mm for those concentrated on endurance. Tyre pressure is usually around 70 to 120 psi.
- Saddle - road saddles are often sparsely-padded and narrow, offering better support during long rides.
When looking at the different road bike types and designs, you should consider the geometry to size ratio (RH - rider height, ILW - inside leg width and BFS - bike frame size) with the following examples:
- 5'1" to 5'3" RH, 27" to 29" ILW, 48cm BFS
- 5'3" to 5'5" RH, 28" to 30" ILW, 50cm BFS
- 5'5" to 5'7" RH, 29" to 31" ILW, 52cm BFS
Most road bike Australia can accommodate up to 62cm bike frame size for riders as tall as 6'3" to 6'5".
High-Quality Road Bikes for Sale
Bikes Online's wide selection of road bikes features different materials and specifications, perfect for your next road adventure. We deliver high-quality products at reasonable costs because we believe that cycling is for everyone. Check out our full range of bikes on sale today.
