Activities

Bicycling - Road

There aren't many experiences that rival that of cruising along on a smooth, open road on two wheels, powered by your own efforts. Without the speed and attention required to operate a motor vehicle, one is free to take in more of the beauty of the natural surroundings during a ride.

Road biking, for the purposes of Xploritall, covers bicycling activities on roads and paved bike paths. It includes recreational riding and competitive racing, whether on two wheeled, geared or fixed gear, folding, tandem, or recumbent bicycles.

EQUIPMENT

BIKE
You'll need a bike to get started road cycling, obviously. A road bike almost always comes with 700 cm circumference wheels, or 650 cm for smaller sized frames. The tire width can range slightly, but are most commonly 23cm for racing widths or 25cm for more casual riding. Frame materials include steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, and even bamboo. Aside from some personal preference, the material decision usually boils down to cost consideration. Titanium and carbon are the most expensive of the list. Most entry level road bikes will be aluminum, or a mix of aluminum and carbon. Very few companies make steel bikes these days; it was the predominant material of choice several years ago.

The most important consideration when selecting a bike is to get the correct size for you. Please do not even think about riding a bike that is not your size, no matter what kind of deal you're offered. Riding a bike that is not your size can cause short or long term physical issues, especially with your knees. We highly recommend getting your first road bike from an established, reputable local bike shop that can size you to the correct frame. Also inquire with the shop about giving you a bike "fit" - an adjustment of the seat height and forward position, handlebar height, and stem length to get you into a comfortable position.
>>Browse Road Bikes from popular online stores

HELMET
You MUST MUST MUST wear a helmet when riding a bike... ALWAYS! There's no predicting when or if you will take a fall. It can happen for the stupidest of reasons, and it does happen to all of us at some point. The range in pricing for helmets can run anywhere from $50 up to several hundred dollars. The added cost usually gets you more ventilation to keep you cooler, and reduced weight. Just remember that better summer ventilation also means more colder air coming through in the winter. For road cycling, if you will be riding in a more aggressive position or in "the drops" - the lower part of the curved handlebars - it's probably best to select a helmet without an attached visor, as the visor may slightly block your field of vision; though, these are usually removable.
>>Browse Road Bike Helmets

PEDALS AND SHOES
Road cycling is vastly more efficient with "clipless" pedals, in which you attach your shoes via a cleat on the sole. You gain pedalling action not only by pushing down as you would on the old flat platform pedals you used as a kid, but you gain forward momentum from the pulling force applied on the remaining portion of your pedal stroke. The big decision here is the kind of pedal system you wish to go with. Will you be stopping and walking around a lot (e.g. running errands)? If so, an SPD system would be ideal. These use cleats that are recessed below the tread of the shoes, allowing you to walk around easier. SPD setups will allow you to use the same shoe for a mountainbike or cyclocross bike to save some cost. Another popular pedal system is the Look style. In this system, the shoes do not have a tread and the cleat attaches below the sole of the shoe. These are very awkward to walk around in more than a few feet. They do provide a larger platform, which translates into slightly more efficient pedalling and less foot pressure and fatigue over long distances. The shoes, cleats, and pedals must be compatible with the same systems.
>>Browse Road Clipless Pedals

GLOVES
Gloves are recommended for several reasons. Most cycling gloves have some sort of padding on the palm to cushion vibrations. Without gloves, you can experience numbness in your hands. Gloves also give you some protection if you wreck. The natural instinct when you start going down is to put your hands down to cushion your fall; just imagine the effect of sliding across pavement on a bare hand to see the benefit of gloves. Gloves also give you a better grip in wet conditions. If you live in an area that gets cold seasons, you will likely need a pair of full-fingered gloves, and possibly heavy duty winter gloves if you want to keep riding throughout the year.
>>Browse Cycling Gloves

OTHER GEAR
Pumps - a floor pump for at home. A frame-mounted or pocket-sized hand pump OR a CO-2 canister pump for fixing flats.
Flat Kit - Containing one of more tire levers, an extra inner tube, Shrader-to-Presta adapter, patches, allen keys.
Sunglasses - Prevent dust, grime, bugs, and glare from getting in your eyes.
ID, cash, cell phone for emergencies.

>>Browse Cycling gear price comparisons from many popular online stores