Home > Learning Center > Road Bike

Road Bike

There are a wide variety of different forms of bikes. One of the best in long distance competitions is the road bike. This style of bike minimizes the drag and suspension of the more sturdy mountain or downhill bikes, and in lieu of the weightier amenities, provides a minimalist approach to maximizing the effort or force you put into each push of the pedal. These bikes are most easily characterized by their small stature. The bike seat is typically much higher than other forms of biking because the most efficient position for the bike to push his or her way through the air is with the legs vertical and the back nearly horizontal.

The road bike also uses the stability of the forward momentum to capture a wasted portion of the pedaling circle. On a typical bike the upward stroke of each pedal is wasted as effort is transferred from the downward motion of one leg and the corresponding pedal to the downward motion of the opposite leg and pedal. The road bike clips your feet to the pedal with specialized shoes which allow you to pull up with the opposite leg meaning more force is garnered from each stroke, not using the full circuit, instead of just half of it. The efficiency of the road bike is unparalleled in the biking realm, although the suspension is nonexistent and the tire is the thinnest. The tread is almost nonexistent as the best force is exerted if the tire is in constant contact with the road surface.

 

Cycles | Bike Parts | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home

©