If your idea of cycling consists of riding on sealed roads, going fast, riding longer distances or a combination of all of these, then a road bike is probably for you.

There is something really addictive about riding a road bike. Like a fine sports car, they are light, fast, agile, responsive and you just feel like smiling every time you go out for a spin.The uninitiated often consider road bikes to be for professionals only, but not any more. Originally, road bikes were designed strictly for racing but now there are road bike models that cater for differing levels of cycling fitness, experience, age and ability. In fact, road bikes are one of the fastest growing segments of our market.

So the big question is, how do you choose the road bike that best suits you?

Before you will be able to answer this, you need to learn the basic differences between road bike models, the main features, components and how they all benefit you.

ROAD BIKE FRAMES: The frame is the most important part of your road bike; to a large extent it controls the way your bike will ride and handle, how comfortable it is to ride and sit on and how light your bike will be. Up to 80 percent of the ride quality of your new road bike will be related to the quality of your frame so taking some time to look at this area of your new road bike is well spent.

Frames on entry-level road bikes are generally made from different types of alloys. Alloy is used because it is light, stiff, strong and durable and relatively economical to manufacture which gives you a lot of quality and value for your money. The trade off with the entry-level alloy road bikes is they tend to have a slightly rougher ride quality compared to other more expensive models. But don’t let this scare you off buying a road bike as not all alloy frames ride the same so it is worth trying a couple of different bike models and brands so you can choose the bike that you feel comfortable on. Make sure that you look at models (budget allowing) with a Carbon fork rather than alloy or steel as they absorb more of the bumps in the road and add to the overall ride comfort.

In road bike frames, carbon is currently the material of choice. Carbon is lighter and stronger than alloy (there are some exceptions), better absorbs road vibrations improving comfort and can be strategically placed to improve stiffness in the frame where you want it most. There are different types of carbon used in road bike frames so be sure to compare the quality of the carbon frames in the bikes you are considering.

WHEELS: Road bike wheels are light and slim. Narrow tyres and wheels do not affect your ability to balance the bike while riding nor are they related to how well they grip the road. Slim wheels and tyres are lighter and more aerodynamic; they run on higher pressures than other bikes because they are thinner which in turns makes them faster as there is less rolling drag or resistance from the road.

Choosing the right wheels and tyres for your bike is important. Consider the condition of the roads you are likely to be riding on and select an option that will be suited to the task. For local conditions it is recommended you choose tyres with a high level of puncture resistance. If the bike you like doesn’t have tyres best suited to your needs ask if you can change or upgrade to tyres that do.

HANDLEBARS: The handlebars of a road bike have bends and curves in them rather than being straight. The purpose of this is to provide you with several different hand and body positions. The curved bars allow you to have aerodynamic, normal and upright riding positions all on the same bike simply by changing where you rest your hands on the handlebars. On longer rides this is a very important feature, as straight bars tend to greatly fatigue the rider over distances of more than 30kms.

GEARS: Generally the more is better principle applies when it comes to gears. Fitness levels of road bike riders vary greatly and over time they improve so road bikes tend to come with a large selection of gears to suit your current and future needs. A wide range of gears on road bikes, allow you to climb inclines more easily, and also go much faster on the flats. Road bikes typically have two or three chain rings as part of the crank assembly, with eight, nine or ten gears in the cassette on the rear. This might sound like a lot but once you start riding you will quickly appreciate the benefits of the more is better principle!

Gear and brake levers are positioned on the handlebars giving you easy access regardless of where your hands are positioned on the bars giving you full control of your bike at all times. Today’s gear systems are also very easy to operate!

PEDALS: Most road bikes do not come with pedals attached as there are a different options available and you need to choose the one that is best suited to you. The basic platform style pedal can be used on a road bike, but generally Clipless pedals are better suited. Clipless pedals allow you to “clip” your shoes in and out of the pedal whenever you choose. The benefit over platform pedals is the improved pedaling efficiency they provide, allowing you to use a pedal through action, making better use of the energy you put into each stroke of the pedals. Along the flats and up the hills, Clipless pedals simply make riding easier.

Clipless pedals take a bit of practice to get comfortable with, but once you are comfortable with them, you will never give them up.

RIDING POSITION: Once you have chosen your new road bike you then have to be fitted to your bike, this is the final and most important step! A normal bike fitting will take between 40 and 60 minutes and usually you have to book yourself in to have this done. Depending on the deal you have struck, this might be included in the price or something you need to pay extra for. A quality Bike Fitting Service is not available at all stores so be sure to ask the store you are purchasing your bike from if they offer this as a service.

Purchasing a bike that has not been properly fitted, or is the wrong size, can lead to neck, shoulder and back pain and strain as well as soreness and loss of circulation in the hands and wrists. If you already own a bike and are experiencing any of these symptoms when you are riding it might be a good idea to book yourself in for a bike fitting.

ROAD BIKE ACCESSORIES: Helmets, Lights, Computers (speedos), Pumps, Tool Bags, Water Bottles and Cages, Shoes, Pedals, Gloves, Jerseys and Knicks, CO2 Inflators.

ROAD BIKE BRANDS:At Bums On Bikes we go to great lengths to ensure that the road bikes we stock offer excellent value for money, quality and suitability to local riding conditions. The brands we carry are selected on these criteria as well as their level backup service and range of product.

We are authorized dealers for Azzurri, Cannondale, Eddy Merckx and Scott.

THE FINAL WORD: If you are buying a new bike and are reasonably certain you're going to stick with it for a while, buy the best frame you can afford, and if you have to cut corners to save some money, do it on the components. You can always upgrade them later. Buying a bike with a junky, heavy frame to save a few bucks will usually prove unsatisfactory, and you'll end up buying a whole new bike later on, rather than being able to improve it piece-by-piece as your desires and wallet allow.