When you decide to get in to cycling, the first question you will ask, is, what bike shall I get.
This is not a straight forward question, but has many dimensions. The key areas to focus on are as follows:
- What is your budget?
- What are your goals?
- How flexible are you?
What is your budget
You can buy an entry level road bike for as little as $600 or you can spend $12,000, the choice is yours.
But it comes down to what you can afford.
That does not always mean getting the most expensive bike you can afford, what if your break a wheel, can you afford to buy a new $1000 wheel for that bike you could barely afford?
In my opinion as you go from a $2,000 bike and up, you are really buying marketing, and a feeling of acceptance from other riders, there is little value.
Why do some bikes cost more than others?
Usually bikes in road cycling cost more because they are lighter or more aerodynamic. These are two things you should only worry about if you ride semi professionally.
For most people, if Bike A at $2,000 weighs 2 KG more than Bike B at $6,000 you can lose some weight if that's so important to you.
In the most modern bikes the clever technology has dripped down through the ranges and even low end bikes have what was deemed cutting edge technology just a few years ago.
What are your goals?
Maybe you want to win local criterium races, maybe you want to complete epic 200 km rides.... The type of bike you buy will depend on your goals.
Some bikes have a more relaxed geometry for more comfort when on long rides, some bike have more aggressive geometry for racing.
Sit and think about what you want the bike for, here are some examples of common goals and suitable bikes:
| Goal | Bike option |
|---|---|
| Crit racing | Giant Propel, Specialized Venge, Cannondale CAAD x |
| Fast bunch rides | Giant TCR/Defy, Specialized Allez/Tarmac, Cannodale Synapse/CAAD, Trek Emonda/Madone |
| Endurance | Giant Defy, Specialized Allez, Cannondale Synapse |
(Crit racing is not my thing, I just know those boys like aero and responsive)
How flexible are you?
Some of the higher end bikes, as ridden by the pro riders are made for people who are very flexible. hence the riding position can be quite harsh.
If you have poor flexibility, then a racing bike like a Giant TCR or Cannodale CAAD x may be uncomfortable for you. Getting a bike with a more relaxed geometry like a Giant Defy or Cannondale Synapse may be more beneficial.
Conclusion
It depends.
However i would recommend going to an independent bike shop who stocks several manufacturers and getting their opinion. They will measure you, ask your budget ask about your goals and fit you to the right bike.
Support your local bike shops guys!
Another thing is, those top-end pro bikes in the $10,000 range are designed to be taken apart, cleaned, and overhauled after nearly every ride. Because they're designed for pro race teams that have team mechanics that break them down after every single race. So if you don't have the time, knowledge, and money to do that then the quality diminishes way faster than mid-range bikes.
Great point!
Very informative and well-structured article!
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