Can anyone explain all the different road-bike classes?
08-29-16, 04:17 PM
#1
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Can anyone explain all the different road-bike classes?
hi,
I'm just starting to get into the world of road bikes and am pretty much just flooded with all the road bike types and classes.
So far I think I got a somewhat rought image of everything.
So lightweight bikes/ climber bikes are the types of bikes pros use on races like tour de france, meant to tackle hills easily and be light.
Endurance bikes are more for the average guy with a more relaxed geometry, made to be a bit more comfortable
Aero bikes are made for straight line speed and are a bit heavier because of the aerodynamic shape
Gravel bikes are road bikes that are able to handle gravel roads
Cyclocross bikes are made for cyclocross races with mud and such (but what's the difference between this and a gravel bike?)
Anything else I'm missing?
I'm just starting to get into the world of road bikes and am pretty much just flooded with all the road bike types and classes.
So far I think I got a somewhat rought image of everything.
So lightweight bikes/ climber bikes are the types of bikes pros use on races like tour de france, meant to tackle hills easily and be light.
Endurance bikes are more for the average guy with a more relaxed geometry, made to be a bit more comfortable
Aero bikes are made for straight line speed and are a bit heavier because of the aerodynamic shape
Gravel bikes are road bikes that are able to handle gravel roads
Cyclocross bikes are made for cyclocross races with mud and such (but what's the difference between this and a gravel bike?)
Anything else I'm missing?
08-29-16, 04:44 PM
#2
Prefers Cicero
I don't know how much these are "classes" of bikes as opposed to marketing niches invented by sales strategists - I'll be interested to hear from others about that.
08-29-16, 04:45 PM
#3
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Road bike is a generic term. There are flat bar and drop bar, I'll try to explain drop bar.
Climbing are light weight and optimized for hills.
Aero are heavier but more aerodynamic and faster on fkat roadster.
Endurance have a more relaxed fit and are more compliant.
Gravel have higher bottom brackets and wider tires to absorb the rough road.
I'm sure others will add more detail.
Climbing are light weight and optimized for hills.
Aero are heavier but more aerodynamic and faster on fkat roadster.
Endurance have a more relaxed fit and are more compliant.
Gravel have higher bottom brackets and wider tires to absorb the rough road.
I'm sure others will add more detail.
08-29-16, 04:49 PM
#4
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Seems like you have an understanding of the differences.
I've always looked at the cyclocross bikes as lightweights with extra tire clearance whereas the gravel bikes are more like endurance bikes with extra tire clearance.
I've always looked at the cyclocross bikes as lightweights with extra tire clearance whereas the gravel bikes are more like endurance bikes with extra tire clearance.
Last edited by ahanulec; 08-29-16 at 04:53 PM.
08-29-16, 05:28 PM
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hi,
I'm just starting to get into the world of road bikes and am pretty much just flooded with all the road bike types and classes.
So far I think I got a somewhat rought image of everything.
So lightweight bikes/ climber bikes are the types of bikes pros use on races like tour de france, meant to tackle hills easily and be light.
Endurance bikes are more for the average guy with a more relaxed geometry, made to be a bit more comfortable
Aero bikes are made for straight line speed and are a bit heavier because of the aerodynamic shape
Gravel bikes are road bikes that are able to handle gravel roads
Cyclocross bikes are made for cyclocross races with mud and such (but what's the difference between this and a gravel bike?)
Anything else I'm missing?
I'm just starting to get into the world of road bikes and am pretty much just flooded with all the road bike types and classes.
So far I think I got a somewhat rought image of everything.
So lightweight bikes/ climber bikes are the types of bikes pros use on races like tour de france, meant to tackle hills easily and be light.
Endurance bikes are more for the average guy with a more relaxed geometry, made to be a bit more comfortable
Aero bikes are made for straight line speed and are a bit heavier because of the aerodynamic shape
Gravel bikes are road bikes that are able to handle gravel roads
Cyclocross bikes are made for cyclocross races with mud and such (but what's the difference between this and a gravel bike?)
Anything else I'm missing?
There are defined competition disciplines you can find on most country bike sites and the world site Union Cycliste Internationale
Then there is whatever you want category that is not competitive. Beach cruisers to ???
So within the USA:
Mountain bike
Track - bunch of race types
Cross - road bike on dirt
Road
Mass Start - Road Bikes - aero matters - some gravel introduced
TT - Aero bars not mass start legal
Last edited by Doge; 08-29-16 at 05:32 PM.
08-29-16, 07:05 PM
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I can explain in one word
Marketing
Marketing
08-29-16, 07:10 PM
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Right. The only person who can answer your question is a marketing person. And his/her answer will change next year.
I suggest you go into a performance or REI or LBS and ask to ride a variety of bikes. They'll probably put you on a hybrid, endurance geometry, race geometry etc and then you can see what you like. Be careful to focus on how your setup feels not the ride quality of the bike.
08-29-16, 07:13 PM
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hi,
I'm just starting to get into the world of road bikes and am pretty much just flooded with all the road bike types and classes.
So far I think I got a somewhat rought image of everything.
So lightweight bikes/ climber bikes are the types of bikes pros use on races like tour de france, meant to tackle hills easily and be light. - Yes and no, to me its more about gearing than bike weight. Unless you are pushing crazy watts and weigh 140 pounds, I can deal with a 20 pound bike.
Endurance bikes are more for the average guy with a more relaxed geometry, made to be a bit more comfortable. They usually have a sloping top tube and higher headtube giving you more of an upright position. Most of these "endurance" bikes now come equipped with disk brakes standard. Depending on the geometry and material used you can have a sloppy feeling bike or a twitchy bike.
Aero bikes are made for straight line speed and are a bit heavier because of the aerodynamic shape. Yes, they can be heavier because more material is used to create thicker sections on the bike, especially the deep section rims. Weight doesn't really matter in flat sections, aerodynamics matter more at that point.
Gravel bikes are road bikes that are able to handle gravel roads. Some call them gravel, some call them monster cross. They are usually able to accept larger tires than most cross bikes (40-50mm). Usually a more relaxed geo than a traditional race cross bike.
Cyclocross bikes are made for cyclocross races with mud and such (but what's the difference between this and a gravel bike?) - They are pretty much the same thing with some minor geo differences and bottom bracket height. Unless you are racing cross, either will suffice.
Anything else I'm missing?
I'm just starting to get into the world of road bikes and am pretty much just flooded with all the road bike types and classes.
So far I think I got a somewhat rought image of everything.
So lightweight bikes/ climber bikes are the types of bikes pros use on races like tour de france, meant to tackle hills easily and be light. - Yes and no, to me its more about gearing than bike weight. Unless you are pushing crazy watts and weigh 140 pounds, I can deal with a 20 pound bike.
Endurance bikes are more for the average guy with a more relaxed geometry, made to be a bit more comfortable. They usually have a sloping top tube and higher headtube giving you more of an upright position. Most of these "endurance" bikes now come equipped with disk brakes standard. Depending on the geometry and material used you can have a sloppy feeling bike or a twitchy bike.
Aero bikes are made for straight line speed and are a bit heavier because of the aerodynamic shape. Yes, they can be heavier because more material is used to create thicker sections on the bike, especially the deep section rims. Weight doesn't really matter in flat sections, aerodynamics matter more at that point.
Gravel bikes are road bikes that are able to handle gravel roads. Some call them gravel, some call them monster cross. They are usually able to accept larger tires than most cross bikes (40-50mm). Usually a more relaxed geo than a traditional race cross bike.
Cyclocross bikes are made for cyclocross races with mud and such (but what's the difference between this and a gravel bike?) - They are pretty much the same thing with some minor geo differences and bottom bracket height. Unless you are racing cross, either will suffice.
Anything else I'm missing?
agreed. however, if you can justify it, there are differences.
08-30-16, 07:29 AM
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Marketing can cure a vast number of woes if it's done well.
I tend to lump bikes into fewer catagories. Race bikes, endurance bikes and cyclocross bikes. Maybe a 4th for the TT bikes.
I tend to lump bikes into fewer catagories. Race bikes, endurance bikes and cyclocross bikes. Maybe a 4th for the TT bikes.
08-30-16, 07:36 AM
#11
Farmer tan
Marketing wouldn't invent it if people didn't want and buy it.
Regards,
-Marketing
Regards,
-Marketing
08-30-16, 07:59 AM
#12
Non omnino gravis
How is the fact that my CX frame can fit 700x50 tires marketing? There are road bikes out there today where 700x25s are a squeeze. I wanted a bike that could accommodate wider tires, so I shopped for a CX frame. Marketing played absolutely no part in it.
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08-30-16, 08:10 AM
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Don't forget all-road. Road bike geometry with room for 38-42 tires. It's not just marketing. All these bikes have differences. The type is just what the bike design was optimized for. Of course you can ride a CX bike on a gravel road or climb a mountain with an aero bike, I haven't read any marketing that says otherwise. Now is a great time for the cyclist, so many great choices. Some folks just want to grumble about everything.
08-30-16, 08:29 AM
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20 years ago the race, endurance, aero and gravel bike were all the same and made of steel and lasted forever. And then marketing came along to save the industry
08-30-16, 08:30 AM
#15
Senior Member
If you do more with it than just go on 'club rides' with your bike, you very likely paid quite a bit of attention to these fairly small but significant details on different classes of 'road bikes.'
08-30-16, 08:34 AM
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I don't understand this "it's just marketing ploy" train of reasoning at all, because there are real differences between types of road bikes which make them more amenable to their target discipline. Those differences include handling traits, components, and frameset features.
I mean, if it's not obvious what distinguishes a TT/tri bike from an adventure bike from a racing bike from a cyclocross bike, I honestly don't know what to say.
Aero road bikes I would not really distinguish from racing/lightweights, as they're both designed to be used for the same kind of riding. Aero bikes offer additional benefit to those who can afford them, but you'd ride one for the same kind of cycling you would a typical racing bike.
I mean, if it's not obvious what distinguishes a TT/tri bike from an adventure bike from a racing bike from a cyclocross bike, I honestly don't know what to say.
Aero road bikes I would not really distinguish from racing/lightweights, as they're both designed to be used for the same kind of riding. Aero bikes offer additional benefit to those who can afford them, but you'd ride one for the same kind of cycling you would a typical racing bike.
08-30-16, 08:51 AM
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If you think it is just marketing, please bring your gravel bike to my time trial tomorrow. 
08-30-16, 09:18 AM
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08-30-16, 10:08 AM
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I don't understand this "it's just marketing ploy" train of reasoning at all, because there are real differences between types of road bikes which make them more amenable to their target discipline. Those differences include handling traits, components, and frameset features.
I mean, if it's not obvious what distinguishes a TT/tri bike from an adventure bike from a racing bike from a cyclocross bike, I honestly don't know what to say.
Aero road bikes I would not really distinguish from racing/lightweights, as they're both designed to be used for the same kind of riding. Aero bikes offer additional benefit to those who can afford them, but you'd ride one for the same kind of cycling you would a typical racing bike.
I mean, if it's not obvious what distinguishes a TT/tri bike from an adventure bike from a racing bike from a cyclocross bike, I honestly don't know what to say.
Aero road bikes I would not really distinguish from racing/lightweights, as they're both designed to be used for the same kind of riding. Aero bikes offer additional benefit to those who can afford them, but you'd ride one for the same kind of cycling you would a typical racing bike.
08-30-16, 10:24 AM
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08-30-16, 04:24 PM
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08-30-16, 04:43 PM
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08-30-16, 05:11 PM
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Here's the thing - it doesn't matter how many different types of road bikes that there are: what matters is what YOU are going to do with it. Once you decide that, your choice of type of bike is made.
Last edited by longbeachgary; 08-30-16 at 10:12 PM.