Road Bike
Road Racing Bike
Problems tend to happen with frames at the top end and wheels at the low end. The first issue is that "race only" equipment is being sold to the public as everyday riding gear. The top end carbon fiber frame of just about any companies line will be paper thin. The bikes stand up to riding but a stone chip can crack the frame. This sort of thing isn't covered under warranty.
The other is simple economics. Your going to get more durable wheels on a $1500 bike than on a $800 bike. The nice thing about wheels though is that it is an easy and relatively affordable upgrade. Cheaper bikes tend to have lower quality bearings in the hubs and cranks which you don't know to look at but make a big difference in durability.
With the aim of giving pros the lightest and stiffest frames to win races the limits of carbon fiber construction are really being pushed. For the most part they stand up to riding well but in the real world, stuff happens. If you watch the Tour de France you may have seen shattered bikes from crashes. Heavier, tougher frames have a better chance of surviving the wipe outs that will happen. Stone chips, the bike falling over, car racks and wipe outs can write off one of these frames which of course isn't covered under warranty. When you spend this kind of money (usually over $5000) it's fair to expect some durability.
If you have the budget for a high end race bike, buy a companies mid range carbon road frame such as the Kuota Kharma and put the money you save into wheels, drive train and cockpit controls. You will have a bike that is the same weight or lighter and a frame that will stand up to day to day use much better. In a carbon frame, an extra couple hundred grams means a huge difference in toughness. The plus is that the slightly heavier carbon frames are much lower priced. As an example the Kuota Kharma frame is around 200 grams heavier than the top end KOM. The Kharma frame set is half the price of the KOM. With the money you save you can cut way more than 200 grams off the overall package. Some people would argue that the higher end frames ride better or are stiffer but the big secret is that the wheels make much more of a difference in over ride quality than the frame does.
And don't be brainwashed into thinking Carbon or aluminum are the only options. A nice steel road bike like the Soma Smoothie is a great balance between bike fit (18 sizes between the Smoothie and Smoothie ES), ride quality, durability, cost and weight. If all other things are equal, the extra weight from a steel frame will not affect your speed but is much more forgiving.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not dumping on carbon bikes. But they aren't the instant speed boost that companies would have you believe. Lighter weight matters but mainly going up hill, which when you do the math, isn't a huge percentage of a given ride.
And while faster, most carbon fiber rimmed wheels are for racing and special occasions, not everyday use. If you are looking for an everyday riding wheel that you can also race on Spinergy Stealth Carbons are a great riding wheel that isn't overpriced like Zipp wheels. The price of the Zipp wheels keeps going up making them a poor value regardless of performance. If you are looking at top performance regardless of price I recommend the Edge Composites rims and wheels as they are built better than just about any carbon rims on the market. As a test to their toughness, they make mountain bike rims that stand up to real world riding conditions so their road rims are going to as close to bombproof as you can get.
If you want a fast road bike but can't afford to replace it if it breaks, follow my guidelines and you will be on your way to a high performance bike that will survive the real world.
How to Maintain Your Road Bike
|
|
Wader Road MTB Bike Cycling saddle Seat VD669 Black $10.72 |
|
|
Origin-8 PRO-LITE Alloy Handlebar pro lite handle bar BRAND NEW road bike fixie $16.99 |
|
|
NIB 70'S SHIMANO DURA ACE CRANE ROAD BIKE REAR DERAILLEUR DOUBLE $45.00 |
|
|
Comfort Cycling Bike Bicycle Road Seat Saddle Q4-9 $0.99 |
|
|
Fixed Gear Bike Fixie Bike Road Bicycle W/BMX handlbar SZ 48 52 56 cm Celestial $310.00 |
|
|
Wader Road MTB Bike Cycling saddle Seat VD669 Black $9.99 |
|
|
Bike Head 6 LED Lights Torch Road Cycling Safety Back Warning Singal Flash Light $5.58 |
|
|
Road Bike Pint Glasses - Set of Four $29.00 Enjoy your re-carb beverage of choice in these fun pint glasses.... |
|
|
Road Bike Coffee Mug Generously sized cycling coffee mug with a classic road bike image and subtle bike reflection. Available in Red, Brown or Lime. THESE MUGS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SHIP ON 12/19.... |
|
|
Park Tool PZT-1 Big Wheel Pizza Tool $9.99 Arguably, one of the most important tools in Park Tool's line, this pizza cutter is an excellent addition to any bike enthusiast's kitchen. Large, stainless steel blade Includes stand, so you can leave it on display... |
|
|
Harley-Davidson Cycles: Road Songs $20.98 ... |
|
|
Bike Rally USA: Renegade Roads $8.76 RENEGADE ROAD - DVD Movie... |
|
|
The Art of the Motorcycle: Songs of the Open Road $10.03 The official CD of the 2005-2006 Art Of The Motorcycle exhibition, this CD covers classic American road songs and is sure to "get your motor runnin'. It's the kind of CD that goes into your CD player and the miles just disappear. Apart from blues and rock, it features a jazzy rendition of "King Of The Road," a folk song ("1952 Vincent Black Lightning") and even a country song (Wally Ford's hilla... |
|
|
Biker Women Biker women is one road trip you'll never forget. From the annual motorcycle rally at Sturgis, North Dakota, to sunny California, four beautiful women take to the highway for 1,500 miles of adventure. Through bitter cold, buring heat, clouds of bugs and roadside breakdowns, these ladies can handle it all. Sharing intimate stories of their passion for motorcycles, they reveal the true reasons why w... |
