While a desire to ride faster and more competitively usually spurs the decision to buy a new road bike, comfort and budget are also key. What you gain by choosing aggressive angles and shaving weight, might not balance with your riding style or pocketbook. We hope this lowdown on how features affect performance will give you some tools for making the ultimate decision and finding your perfect ride.
Questions to ask yourself before you shop:
What sort of riding am I going to do? a) racing b) club rides c) leisure rides
What’s more important? a) performance b) comfort c) both!
What’s my budget? a) $2000+ b) under $2000 c) under $1000
Frame Geometry
Road bike geometries range from aggressive and racy to relaxed and comfortable, with a lot of variations in between. Women’s-specific designs have, until recently, been heavily skewed toward comfort; offering cushy rides with longer wheel-bases, extended chainstays, and reclined seat-tube angles-all of which can compromise responsiveness. Increasingly, race and performance-oriented women’s-specific bikes are emerging that balance more aggressive,but still comfortable, geometry scaled for women, and bottom-bracket designs that improve stiffness and efficiency.
Wheels
The wheels that come with a bike might be burlier than what you need, particularly if you’re buying a unisex bike. Because wheel weight corresponds directly to the energy you’ll spend, reducing it is an easy speed-enhancing change. When bike shopping, ask about upgrades and wheel sets, which is where some manufacturers scrimp to save money.
Components
Some cyclists spend big money to shave ounces of weight, and the quality of a bike’s component kit can improve ride performance-and more than double a bike’s price. While top-tier components (including derailleurs, cranksets, shifting levers, and brake calipers) usually compare in terms of performance, the same isn’t true for lower-end kits which will weigh you down, wear more quickly, and will be less smooth. When considering componentry options on frame-sets, consider if you’d get more out of a best-of-the-best ready-build or a budget-friendlier intro kit that you’ll opt to upgrade one piece at a time. One thing worth noting: Pedals are an upgrade option that provide a huge efficiency boost.
Frame Material
Design and construction contribute to a bike’s strength and stiffness, but frame material is key to your ride’s feel and longevity. Lightweight carbon is stiff but expensive and prone to damage and inconsistencies based on manufacturing. Aluminum is lightweight, stiff, and less expensive than carbon. Titanium is expensive but balances light weight with a combo of carbon-like stiffness and steel-like flex. Steel is common and affordable, but its heft and spongy feel make it less appropriate for performance-oriented riding.
Cannondale Supersix Women’s 3 Ultegra
Stiffness and tortional rigidity-enhanced by the oversized bottom bracket configuration and a wide-radius head-tube-mean that this carbon frame transfers every watt of your energy into forward-pushing power. Ride feel and control-focused handling aren’t compromised by weight-saving construction complemented by lightweight Shimano Ultegra components. ($3,199; cannondale.com)
Specialized Amira Comp
A wholly-equipped training and racing bike, this full-carbon frame comes outfitted with lightweight Shimano 105 components and a flat-spoked wheel set that saves nearly 5-ounces. Women’s specific geometry carries from shallow drop bars-which ease the transition between relaxed and hammer-fest riding stretches-to a body-geometry designed saddle. Responsive steering is enhanced by the tapered headset while shock-absorbing inserts in the chainstays, fork, and seat post dampen road vibrations. ($2,700; specialized.com)
Trek Madone 3.1 WSD 105
A stand-by favorite for Women’s Adventure testers, Trek’s Madone WSD series ups the ante for price-point bikes with this new edition for 2011. The 3.1 WSD feels like a performance racer in terms of handling, feels like a touring bike in terms of comfort, and maintains the Madone’s reputation for fast-reacting power transfer with its stiff bottom bracket. ($1,800; trekbikes.com)
REI Novara Carema Pro 105
It’s the entry-level price-point that might attract you to this aluminum-frame bike, but its versatility, comfort, and performance that will keep you on it as your riding skills progress. Touring and commuter-friendly accommodations (fender-compatible brakes, and rack brackets) paired with Shimano 105 components mean this bike is versatile enough for your first tri, commuting around town, and casual club rides. ($1,099; rei.com)
Bianchi Infinito Dama 105
Bridging the gap between performance and comfort, this carbon frame has an extended wheel-base and a relatively slack seat angle-but maintains a rider’s even weight distribution over the bike. The result? Responsive, confidence-inspiring handling and century-ride-worthy comfort on a frame that’s also a contender as a race machine. ($2,699; bianchiusa.com)
