When I started out cycling regularly, rather than getting a road bike, I started out with a second hand hybrid bike because I found the price point of a road bike rather daunting. I am sure one of the foremost questions that many of have pondered over (as did I) would be- is a road bike worth it?
Getting a road bike is not worth it, if the cyclist is a beginner or unsure of the terrain they would enjoy cycling in. It is better to get a second hand hybrid bike that gives the flexibility to explore mountain biking as well as road biking, and later buy a road/mountain bike.
Rather than pushing new cyclists towards expensive road bikes, which most cycle stores tend to do, I am giving you advice that I followed myself, and has held me in good stead. Let me give you some clear recommendations on WHO should buy a road bike
Who Should Buy A Road Bike?
#1 You Plan To Ride On City Roads or Highways
Road bikes are NOT meant for off-roading. However, say you’re someone who plans to use the bike to commute to work regularly or cycle in and around your city getting a road bike makes sense.
#2 You Cycle Frequently And On Long Routes
If you’re someone who wants to cycle in and around the city but doesn’t really cycle more than once or twice a week, you might enjoy a more casual ride, such as a hybrid bike.
But if you’re clocking in, let’s say 100 miles a week, then you definitely should get a road bike.
#3 You Care About Speed
Riding fast on a road bike is an absolute thrill. The carbon-fibre body feels feather light and the bike feels so easy to handle, especially when you’ve been riding heavier bikes for a while.
If you care particularly about your riding speed, then you should upgrade to a road bike. Also, if you regularly go cycling long distances, then, the reduced effort in riding a road bike is also a big plus. You can ride longer, faster, because you do not have to exert as much energy.
I regularly borrow my friend Col. Pande’s road bike. Based on my experience, you can expect a 2-4 kmph (1-2.5 mph) boost to your riding speed if you upgrade to a road bike.
#4 You Are Ready To Give Up A Bit Of Comfort While Riding
Road Bike tires are thinner than other bikes, which means the air volume inside the tires is also lower. This reduces the cushioning effect on the road, due to which you feel the road vibrations a bit more, than what you would while riding a hybrid.
This isn’t a deal breaker for most- just something to get used to.
Factors To Consider While Buying A Road Bike
Now, after reading this far, if you feel that a road bike will be correct for you- here are a few things you should think about while choosing a road bike:
#1 The Bike Frame
The body or ‘frame’ of Road bikes is built of either carbon fibre, aluminium or steel.
Carbon fibre, which is the most expensive, is reserved for the high end bikes because it is extremely durable while being ultra light and has the ability to absorb maximum vibrations from the road.
Mid-range road bikes usually will have an aluminum frame. The cheapest bikes usually have steel frames which are the heaviest.
Another factor to consider is how ‘aggressive’ is the road bike frame? There are racing bikes that require the rider to sit in an advanced bent forward position for aerodynamic efficiency (that is, to increase speed). This might not be the most comfortable option for you. There also are other road bike models that allow you to sit in less aggressive positions. You will need to try out a couple of bikes to figure out which one suits you best.
#2 The Tire Size
As I mentioned, thinner road bike tires do not provide the comfort of other bikes due to reduced air volume.
However, recently, there has been a trend of fitting road bikes with wider tires, which have been found to provide increased speeds while riding as well as increased comfort. I wrote a post on this recently that you might want to read, before you go on to the rest of the points.
#3 The Type of Brake
You have hydraulic and mechanical brakes, with further variety of disc brakes and calliper brakes. Without going into too much detail here- I’ll recommend you buy a road bike which has a mechanical disc brake. Disc brakes are more efficient than calliper brakes, and provide better braking function. Also, I have recommended you go for a mechanical disc brake instead of a hydraulic one because it saves you the maintenance and upkeep issues that one generally has to face with hydraulic brakes, especially in winter- as I wrote in this post recently.
#4 Clip Vs Clipless Pedals
Clip pedals are your regular ones, and the clip-less pedals require you to wear cycling shows that get attached on the pedal. The shoe will contain one or multiple holes that will fit onto the pedal. This effectively attaches your foot to the pedal.
While this takes some getting used to, it makes your riding more efficient and faster. You will have to buy additional clip-less pedals and cleats, though, which will cost around $200. If you do want to check out some options, I really liked this set of pedals by Shimano on Amazon, that can be used as clip pedals AND clip-less both.
#5 The Road Bike Components
After the bike frame, road bike components are the second costliest items. These include the drivetrain, derailleur, chain, the gears, brakes, etc. On mid to high end bikes, the components used are mostly either by Shimano or SRAM, two of the biggest companies manufacturing bike components.
Lower end bikes will have un-branded components, however. In my experience, it is better to pay a bit extra upfront and buy a mid-high end road bike, than having to constantly pay for upkeep and upgradations on the un-branded stuff.
Is It Worth It Buying a New Road Bike?
For most cyclists, buying a new road bike is not worth it. Rather, a second hand branded road bike with relatively little use will be easily available in the market, for approximately $800-1500 (half the market price for a new model).
I would additionally suggest that you look for a road bike model from the last 5 years from one of the top brands like Trek, Giant, etc. These bikes are affordable AND have great resale value. This way, you can sell it off at the same price or approx. 10% lesser if you don’t get much use out of it or find out later that road bikes aren’t for you.
How Much Should You Pay For A Road Bike
For most cyclists, spending around $1000-1500 will get them a nice new road bike. For the experienced cyclists that will cycle for longer and more frequently, buying some of the more expensive options, in the $2000+ range will make sense.
Cost Of Maintaining A Road Bike
The maintenance costs for a road bike come to around $50-100 a year, depending on how much you ride. This is mainly comprised of replacing the tyres, brake cables, housing, brake pads and a yearly tune up of the bike (adjusting the derailleurs and the brakes).
Other costs such as replacing the chain, cassette, etc are more of a once in 2 years event for most riders that do less than 6000 miles (or approximately 10000 km) per year.
How Long Will A Road Bike Last
Assuming regular maintenance, for an entry level or mid level road bike, expect it to last at least 5 years or 10000-15000 miles (16000-24000 Kms). For higher end road bikes, generally the life expectancy is around 20000-30000 miles (32000-60000 Kms).