Road Bikes

74 Main Street Middlebury Vermont (802) 388-6666

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Frame Materials

Affordable Carbon -- "affordable" here is a relative term -- prices hover right around $2,000.

That said, here's why this is the best time ever for a rider with a $2K budget to go carbon with our manufacturers:

	Advanced frame design -- our manufacturers, all of which provide bikes for top-ranked pro teams, use frame designs for their $2K models almost identical to their top-of-the-line frames just a few years ago. Same molds, just a slightly different carbon lay-up without high modulus.
	Advanced features -- features like tapered steerers, oversize bottom brackets, and oversize head tubes are now standard at this price level.
	Advanced components -- SRAM Apex, Shimano 105, and Shimano 10spd Tiagra deliver race-like performance with a minor weight penalty at a budget price.

See our Road Bike Highlights page for our best carbon selection ever.

"Modulus" is the keyword when comparing carbon frames. When applied to composite frames "modulus" = ability of a material (in this case, carbon filaments) to deform under load. The more resistant to deformation (stiffer) a carbon filament is, the higher its modulus (msi = millions of pounds per square inch). According to Easton, the four most commonly used moduli are:

	Standard (32-34msi)
	Intermediate (42-44msi)
	High (50-62msi)
	Very High (100-130msi)

While high and very high modulus are stiffer and lighter, they are also more brittle, so the manufacturer must mix in some intermediate (medium) modulus fiber for strength.

Carbon's disadvantages:

	More expensive than aluminum
	Less durable than titanium

Aluminum -- light, stiff, and relatively inexpensive: aluminum is the performance alternative for the rider who can't afford carbon or titanium. Almost all budget road bikes (under $1000) are made from aluminum. Aluminum is easy to shape, so it can also build into a top-notch performance frame. The key to making aluminum competitive with carbon is an oversized bottom bracket (like BB30), with highly advanced designs like the Specialized Allez EVO and the Cannondale CAAD10.

Aluminum's disadvantages:

	Not as light as carbon
	Not as durable as titanium

Titanium -- unbeatable durability and longevity, light, and, when it's properly engineered, stiff: all this is yours when you purchase Lynskey titanium. Lynskey uses Helix and BB30 technologies to create a metal frame that is competitive with carbon for stiffness, with an unmatched ride quality. Skeptical? Check out our Road Racing on Ti page, and follow the season of an elite road racer riding a Lynskey Helix for competition.

Titanium's disadvantages:

	More expensive than aluminum
	Not as light as carbon

Steel -- svelte ride, durability, the classic look.

Steel's disadvantages:

	Not as light as the other three materials
	More subject to oxidation

Road Bike Fit: Give Yourself a Simple Body Flexibility Test

The public is more savvy than ever about the importance of fit, but we still can't say it too often: Fit is where it starts. If your bike doesn't fit properly, you won't get the most out of it in terms of performance or comfort.

Going outside your range of motion limits your power output and over-stresses key parts of your body, especially your lower back. To get a sense of what road bike geometry to look for, take a moment after you exercise and give yourself a simple flexibility test -- lock your knees, bend end over and reach for the floor:

Touch with your palms -- high flexibility. You can bend over further on your bike and still be comfortable and powerful.

Touch with your fingertips -- medium flexibility. You should choose a frame that allows a more upright riding position than a high flexibility rider.

Can't reach the floor -- low flexibility. You need to be more upright than a rider with medium flexibility. There are more road bike choices than ever for your kind of ride, so don't limit yourself to a hybrid.

Images courtesy of Trek Bicycles

For riders who have low or medium flexibility, a higher riding position reduces strain on the gluteal muscles and the hamstrings, and consequently on the lower back. It also allows for easier breathing. Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, and Lynskey all offer excellent alternatives for riders who lack the flexibility of a pro athlete.

Good Wheels, Great Wheels

Every major road bike manufacturer compromises on wheels to hit specific price points, with the exception of their most expensive models. Especially on bikes priced below $3,000, what you most often get is a set of stable, reliable, relatively inexpensive wheels.

If you are a performance-conscious rider, upgrading from good wheels to great wheels is a very worthwhile investment. Visit our wheels pages to see why, and take advantage of the wheel upgrade credit we offer with every road bike.