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Racing Bikes

Racing bikes are a different breed of bike from nearly any other type. Their next of kin would be road bikes, but the differences between a road and racing bike can be staggering. The first thing you’ll notice about racers is the profile. They are designed to allow the rider to sit facing down with their back parallel to the ground if need be. This gives the rider the ability to put more force into the pedaling than they would otherwise be able to.

Racing bikes achieve this not by making their frame longer, for that would sacrifice agility. Rather they lower the handlebars to bring the rider’s front end lower. This is in keeping with the “less is more” philosophy that dominates racing bicycle construction. About the only part of a racing bike that doesn’t benefit from this philosophy is the price.

The price tag on good racing bikes can be as much, or even more than a good car. This is to be expected when they’re using exotic materials such as carbon fiber frames, Kevlar joint reinforcements, and aluminum disc brakes. The disc brakes are something of a hot topic for racers. While their stopping ability is unparalleled, they are weightier than caliper brakes, and so some racers deign not to use them.

 

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