When choosing different types of bicycles, it's hard to make a decision and you may suffer from "choice difficulty"? How can you choose a bicycle that suits you?
The author will explore together with cycling enthusiasts the category of road bikes, taking a close look at the various extended models that have emerged as road bikes have evolved.
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Aero Road Bikes (Aerodynamic Road Bikes)
A cyclist once joked, "Cervelo flattened the frames of the world, and Rapha removed the patterns on cycling jerseys." Years ago, Cervelo not only introduced "Reach" and "Stack" to the cycling world but also incorporated aerodynamics into the design of road racing frames. When riding on the road, the biggest enemy is not the cyclist but various resistances (wind resistance, road resistance, etc.). Aerodynamic road bikes can save riders a certain amount of wattage output when riding at high speeds. To this day, manufacturers and engineers are continuing to explore aerodynamics and have launched more extreme products.
- Representative models: Cervelo S5, TREK Madone 9.9, Specialized Venge ViAS, Scott Foil, Canyon Aeroad CF SLX, Giant Propel, Merida Reacto, BMC TMR01, etc.
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Ultra-Light Road Bikes
In recent years, the global carbon fiber manufacturing technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, enabling carbon fiber materials to achieve unprecedented strength under different conditions while greatly reducing weight. Major manufacturers have been launching ultra-light road bike frames weighing less than 700 grams, and the weight of ultra-light road bikes has even dropped to the range of 4 kilograms. Since ordinary cyclists do not participate in UCI events and are not subject to the UCI's 6.8-kilogram weight limit for bikes (currently in China, even the national championships are not UCI events...), lighter road bikes make it easier for us to ride in various environments such as climbing.
- Representative models: Merida Scultura 9000 LTD, Cannondale SuperSix EVO Black Inc, Trek émonda SLR 10, Scott Addict SL, etc.
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All-Round Road Bikes
As the name suggests, all-round road bikes have more comprehensive performance and are designed to handle all types of road conditions. Each brand has its own understanding and adds different "elements" to road bikes. Due to different focuses, some models are often classified by cyclists as "climbing bikes" or "semi-aero bikes".
- Representative models: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Ultimate, Cervelo R5, Pinarello Dogma, Norco Tactic, Giant TCR, Focus Izalco MAX, Cube Litening C68, Orbea Orca M10, Wilier Cento1 SR, etc.
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Endurance Road Bikes
This type of road bike has many different names, such as endurance road bike, long-distance road bike, comfort road bike, etc. Its characteristics include a high head tube, low reach, and long wheelbase. The geometry and frame design are focused on comfort for long-distance riding, allowing riders to have a more relaxed riding position. It is also the most suitable branch of road bikes for the majority of cycling enthusiasts. As the saying goes, "Ride hundreds of miles a day without a sore back or a tired neck", which is exactly what endurance road bikes are all about. Giant Defy even helped John degenkob win the 2015 Paris - Roubaix classic.
- Representative models: Giant Defy adv SL0, BMC GF01, Canyon Endurace, Merida Ride, Norco Valence, Cannondale Synapse, etc.
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Extended Model of Endurance Road Bikes - "Classic Race" Road Bikes
Every spring, the world's top professional cycling teams enter the racing season one after another, and the first "gatekeeper" is the spring classic races! Among them, the "cobblestone classic races" are the most exciting, which not only consume the riders' physical strength but also test their willpower. Some manufacturers have added more shock-absorbing designs to the original endurance models to enable riders to perform at a higher competitive level. Although ordinary cycling enthusiasts do not have to participate in "cobblestone classic races", the targeted design of the geometry and frame (more comfortable than ordinary endurance bikes) makes our riding more comfortable. Why not? (Before the 2016 season, Cancellara even used the improved version of the TREK Domane, the Koppenberg, for top-level mass start races throughout the season)
- Representative models: TREK Domane, Specialized Roubaix, TIME Fluidity, Pinarello K8s, Bianchi Infinito CV, etc.
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Cyclo-Cross Bikes (CX Bikes)
Cyclo-Cross has a history of over a hundred years and is the originator of all bicycle cross-country sports (the first recorded event dates back to 1902). Cyclo-Cross, commonly known as CX, is a popular winter cycling sport in Europe and America.
- Representative models: Norco Threshold, Giant TCX, Cannondale SuperX, Ridley X-Night SL, Colnago Prestige, Specialized Crux, Stevens Super Prestige, etc.
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Extended Model of Cyclo-Cross Bikes - Gravel Bikes
Gravel Bikes are not the same as Cyclo-Cross (CX) bikes. They can be used for commuting, touring, off-road riding, training, grocery shopping, and even racing (long-distance endurance races). They are all-purpose "versatile road bikes". Simply put, they are a combination of Cyclo-Cross bike configurations and the comfortable geometry of endurance road bikes. Their unique features have quickly become popular, especially among cyclists in North America and Canada. It can also be seen from the recent model upgrades of brands that Gravel Bikes are gradually replacing the original endurance, long-distance, and comfort road bikes.
- Representative models: Cannondale Slate, Cervelo C5, Norco SEARCH, Specialized Diverge, Giant Anyroad, Santa Cruz Stigmata, Niner Rlt 9, etc.
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Time Trial Bikes (TT Bikes)
In world-class events, there are "mass start races" and "time trial races". The riding position and frame of time trial bikes are more aerodynamic, minimizing wind resistance. Time trial bikes are "time machines" designed for speed.
- Representative models: Cervelo P5 Three, Specialized SHIV TT, Canyon SpeedMax, BMC TimeMachine TM01, Giant Trinity Advanced Pro 0, etc.
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Extended Model of Time Trial Bikes - Triathlon Bikes
The number of triathlon events in China is increasing, and more and more endurance sports enthusiasts are joining the "triathlon" community to challenge nature and themselves. In triathlons, since there are no UCI restrictions on bicycles, manufacturers can use more exaggerated aerodynamic frame designs, which can provide riders with greater aerodynamic benefits than time trial bikes. (Time trial bikes can be used in triathlon events, but triathlon bikes cannot be used in UCI-regulated time trial events)
- Representative models: ARGON - 18 E - 119 TRI+, TREK SpeedConcept, Specialized SHIV, Canyon SpeedMax, Ceepo Viper, Falco V, Scott Plasma Premium (the above models are triathlon versions).