What is the difference between racing bikes and regular bikes? Professional racing bike combines the best features of the most comfortable bike for disciplines such as road racing, triathlon, track racing, and cyclocross. These include the following characteristics: good inertia, low weight, aerodynamics, specific fit of the athlete to achieve the greatest pedaling efficiency.

Types of racing bikes

All road racing bikes do not have shock absorption, because it sways when riding and dampens vibrations. They also have narrow and large 700c wheels. The front wheel is most often spoked radially. This type of knitting is not used on rear wheel, as it may not support the athlete's weight. The rest of the features will be discussed below.

Highway

These bikes are used for driving on smooth roads. Unlike some types of city road bikes (fixes), they have a free ride and a multi-speed transmission.

Road racing is a very dynamic sport. Cyclists on road racing bikes reach huge speeds. These bikes never have disc brakes. This is explained by the fact that when falling, you can severely cripple yourself and those around you with a brake disc.

Lightness is the main attribute of a racing bike. That's why the best riders ride high quality carbon frames, as well as a top body kit. The frame has been lengthened for greater stability and aerodynamics.

The “ram” steering wheel allows you to change your position while driving: you can grab the steering wheel from above, and after picking up speed, grab the bottom of the steering wheel

How to improve the efficiency of pedaling a cyclist? To do this, install on. They are needed to fix the foot on the pedals, due to which you can not only press on the pedal from above, but also pull it from below with your other foot. As a result, two legs will work at the same time, and not alternately.

Previously, this function was performed by touklips - special straps holding the leg. They are cheaper than contacts, but they hold the foot much worse. It is also more difficult to get out of touklips in case of an unforeseen situation. Their positive feature is that there is no need to buy special shoes. Clipless pedals require shoes with fastening spikes.

Excellent aerodynamics are given by the special geometry of the bicycle, narrow wheels and the “ram” steering wheel. The athlete stretches along a long frame and creates minimal wind resistance. The wheels are usually 28-inch tubular, very rolling. They do not have an aggressive tread, as they are designed for flat roads. The tires have only water-removing grooves.

Sometimes carbon fiber discs are installed on a road bike. So the bike becomes even lighter, and there is even less wind resistance.

A frequent occurrence for road bikes is the presence of a mount for a bottle (or even more than one) and a pump, while there is no way to put a rack. On a bike for speed competitions, the possibility of transporting goods is useless.

These bikes are highly specialized, because you can’t ride them on the ground, you can’t jump off the curb, and so on. A road bike is needed for fast riding only on paved roads.

Cyclocross (CX)

The frame of such a bike is more durable than a road bike. It is adapted not for asphalt, but for natural forest paths. The frame is designed somewhat differently from a road bike. First, the saddle position is not as high as the handlebars of a road racing bike. The landing is completely different, because here it is no longer just necessary to rush forward rapidly, but also to think over the trajectory of movement in order to successfully pass all the natural obstacles on the way. A sports cyclocross bike is designed for the fact that the cyclist will have to carry it on himself from time to time: go through viscous mud, water, and so on. This bike is easy to carry on your shoulder.

Cyclocross can be considered a hybrid of road and mountain bike

Off-roading also requires more grippy brakes and studded tires. Therefore, hydraulic calipers with brake discs are installed on CX bikes. Tires are wider than road bikes and also have a tread similar to mountain bikes. Thanks to these tires, you can ride a cyclocross bike in winter.

The CX bike can be equipped with a rack and bottle holders, so the bike can be used as a touring bike.

The ground clearance is increased so as not to touch the ground with the carriage, especially when cornering.

Gear ratio designed so that you can drive in low gears. Obviously, you won't get as fast off-road as you would on the highway, which is why a cyclocross chainring is slightly smaller than a road bike.

Cables and hoses are located above the top tube of the frame, dirt and moisture do not clog in them, so the brakes and transmission work well even in harsh conditions.

The CX most commonly uses contact pedals for MTB (mountain biking). They are less reliable, but it is easier to get out of them.

In general, a cyclocross bike is perfect for a person who wants everything at once. It is good to ride on it both on roads and on the ground, as well as go on long bike trips and participate in competitions. It can be ridden at any time of the year.

track

A track bike is not designed for anything other than riding a dedicated track. Bicycle hubs are designed to prevent free play. Spin the pedals - the bike rides, stop pedaling - slows down. That is why there are no brakes on track bikes, because you can slow down with pedals.

From track bikes to city bikes with a fixed gear

The wheels are made lighter by fitting high profile rims or carbon fiber rims. They are very good indoors, but dangerous on the street: the discs have excessive windage, and the wind can blow the bike sideways. The consequences for the athlete can be fatal. On a closed track, the discs perform excellently: they not only lighten the bike, but also give the bike good aerodynamics.

There are track bikes for racing:

• sprint,
• tempo,
• leadership.

Sprint and tempo bikes are practically the same. Only the lengths of the wheelbases, landing and some other characteristics of the frame geometry are slightly different.

Leader bikes are very different from other track bikes. Race for the leader is riding a special bike behind a motorcycle, increasing speed and braking when necessary. The leader bike looks rather strange: the fork is bent back, not forward, like all other bikes, but front wheel reduced.

There is a traffic limiter on the back of the motorcycle, showing the “air bag” area in which the cyclist needs to ride.

The aerodynamic properties of the bike are very important here, because a little something goes wrong, the bike leaves the zone of no headwind, and this can affect the outcome of the race. A pro race bike cannot be used in the city or even in other disciplines of track cycling. This bike is so highly specialized!

Bicycles for the Tour de France

The most popular road race in the world - the Tour de France. She gathers thousands of fans from all over the world. This race was first held in 1903 and has been attracting athletes who want to participate in such a large-scale event for more than a hundred years.

Competitors amaze the audience with their amazingly cool bikes. Let's consider some of them.

Scott Addict R2 TT: Scott Plasma 3

This bike is equipped with a seat post integrated into the frame, additional beds for comfort during long rides, and carbon discs are installed on it.

The rear brake mount is located on the lower stay. The best solution was to install the most high-tech equipment from Shimano, including transmission, brakes, rim. The Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic system shifts gears smoothly and precisely.

Tubular tires from the equally well-known manufacturer Continental fit perfectly into the image of the bike.

This bike is not the pinnacle of engineering, but deserves admiring glances. It is equipped with hitch from Sram, FSA, Lightweight, Continental. Sram Red is professional shifting quality. Carbon parts - handlebars and high-profile rims - make this bike ultra-light.

Athletes of the Milram team ride it.

This Lapierre frame weighs just 850g. Including the rigid Easton EC90 carbon fork, innovative Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain, Ritchey stem and handlebars and other bike components, the bike weighs 6.5kg.

Look 595 Origin and 595 Ultra

Look is a leading manufacturer of road bikes. The Campagnolo Super Record 2x11 chainring allows for smooth acceleration without injuring your knees. Zipp rims, the front wheel is spoked radially, which improves not only the ride quality of the bike, but also appearance.

The white wrapping looks great on a Full Speed ​​Ahead handlebar. The Fi "zi: k saddle was created specifically for marathons such as the Tour de France.

Pinarello is pure Italian. This is a unique frame with a reduced wheelbase, which results in a slightly curved seat tube. The bike is equipped with sunbeds. Campagnolo Super Record 11 made all the transmission and brake components for this bike. Wheels assembled from Easton and Continental.

A professional bike is always a specialized bike that cannot be used for other purposes and in other conditions. If you are not going to stubbornly engage in cycling, prepare for competitions, then you do not need an expensive racing bike. It is better to buy yourself a more versatile bike for the city and not too extreme off-road riding.

Let's be clear: we're talking about racing bikes here. That means a low mutton handlebar, a long top tube, and an extended rider position with a flat back. Combined with the typical race bike geometry of a 73-74° seat angle, the short chainstays are bikes that have a sense of speed, responding quickly but predictably to steering and it feels comfortable all day if you're trained enough to last that long in the saddle.

Here I will talk about driving and handling. Other specs vary on any elite race bike. Not everyone manages to hold out in the lean-to-handle position due to the long stem; due to the low handlebars, the cyclist leans on the front wheel with all their weight, which provides good grip and control.

A good road bike has a high quality gearing system - 53/39 front sprockets and a rear cassette with 11-23 sprockets. However, there is no shame in using a compact 50/34 or a wider range chainring. Even some pros use these parts, and the latest Shimano pro-grade Dura-Ace kit includes an 11-30 cassette.

However, some things are vital. Race bikes either have very light wheels or, even better, aerodynamic rims. Lightweight wheels add a bit of speed on mountain roads, simply due to the overall light weight, but aero wheels always add speed, which far outweighs the disadvantage of them from excess weight.

Lightweight and rigid frame required attribute, so it could be aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, or one of the steel alloys like Reynolds 931 or Columbus Spirit. If weight matters to you - and if you're considering buying a race bike it certainly does - then carbon fiber should be your choice. even the best metal frames are a couple of hundred grams heavier. But metals still have their merits. For very tall cyclists, an aluminum frame might be a good fit - stiff yet lightweight, and the characteristics of steel and titanium also have a lot of fans.

Usually, caliper rim brakes are used on racing bikes, but there are now other options. Shimano's Direct Mount brakes are tighter set calipers that are usually tucked under the stays to look neater.

But in last years breakthrough in brake systems steel disc brakes. If you're going to race, you should use rim brakes, but outside of racing, you can take advantage of discs that provide better braking while still keeping the rims.

What are racing bikes good for?

In short: for fast driving. Including racing, of course, but to enjoy a racing bike, you do not have to race, you can simply add the whistle of the speed of a fast rushing bike to the sounds of nature.

These bikes are suitable for any type of trip where speed is important, especially if you need to cover a decent distance. Carrying options are mostly limited to backpacking, but if you're careful with your selection, you can find a bike that can handle 25mm tires and low-profile Crud Road Racers or SKS Raceblade Longs fenders, so you'll at least have a dry butt as well. It will turn out to soak in bed for a few minutes longer.

And if we talk about trips for a few days? With the right bags, and maybe some changes to the sprocket system to compensate for the extra weight, you can be a great cyclist. However, race bikes almost never have rack mounts, and it's fair to say that it's not a very good idea to try to build them yourself on a lightweight frame. Then you will put on it the weight for which it was not intended, and the short chainstays of the road bike will not allow you to pedal if you put a rack on the frame with any load.

During events such as the transcontinental race, cyclists carry a minimum of things with them, sometimes supplementing the luggage with only a bag on the frame or on the handlebars. This is very convenient if you are staying at a hotel or sleeping on a bus, and the positioning of the bag in line with your body does not greatly affect aerodynamics.

Five Superb Race Bikes

The choice is huge, as well as the variety of prices. To understand a little what is how much, we give below an example of five great bikes, the price of which is more like the price of cars.

B'Twin Ultra 700 AF – 900 €

Most often, when we consider the characteristics of bicycles, we emphasize those places that require improvement or where they would be useful, but this does not apply to B "Twin's Ultra 700 AF. This is one of the best options for the money in terms of price-quality ratio .

We do not want to say that there is nothing to improve in Ultra. With a rigid triple aluminum frame, you can easily place some "trinkets" on it without overshadowing the main components.

In this case, with regard to Ultra, it cannot be said that the price is not justified. It's not easy to find a bike with an 11-speed Shimano 105 system at this price, and even though B "Twin cut the cost slightly with the RS500 compact (50/34) gearing system, it is still a very specific bike. Shifting is slightly less clear without the 105 series of 5800 chains, but you hardly notice it.

Specialized Tarmac Sport – €1,345

We liked the Ultegra-equipped big brother of this bike. However, the younger one is very attractive and well equipped and suggests a very fast and exciting trip, which is quite suitable for beginners racers.

As with the previous generation Tarmacs, it's easy to live with. There are no surprises in handling, it is very predictable and fits very easily into the home interior. This is a bike that can be used for a day trip in complete comfort, or for diving into winding and narrow chains of forest trails; for commuting and commuting; and, finally, for a stroll on a lazy Sunday morning to a coffee shop. Ride and relax!

Boardman Road Pro Carbon SLR – €2,160

If you want to achieve good results and show them off on Strava or just want a fast, comfortable and easy ride, the Boardman Road Pro Carbon SLR should be at the top of your list. With features such as a full carbon frameset, SRAM Force kit, Mavic Ksyrium wheels and a weight of just 7kg, the SLR is a real contender, even considering the price - and it can challenge even direct sales professionals.

The Road Pro is worth a closer look. Silver paint with a mirror effect makes it stand out from the rest, especially in the sun; you will definitely get noticed.

However, beauty is not only in appearance. In the harsh world of cycling, where bikes start to go through all sorts of rough patches, the Boardman knows exactly what's what, and a good racing bike only begs for opportunities to overcome the odds. He likes to ride on asphalt, go down the hill along the very edge of a narrow path, and compete for speed in the ascent.

Cannondale CAAD12 Disc Dura-Ace – €2,550

There are several brands associated with aluminum, like Cannondale with their legendary CAAD - "Cannondale advanced aluminum design" series. American company made a name for itself with aluminum frames, and although they have invested heavily in carbon fiber over the years, the devotion to aluminum remains at a level that few have retained.

The new CAAD12 is a very polished bike with a level of comfort that will make you wonder why you would buy anything else at all and of course why aluminum was a popular material for such a short time, only during the development of advanced technology in racing bikes. in the 90s. It's so light it outshines many of the carbon road bikes we've tested over the years. This is nothing but a miracle.

The Shimano Dura-Ace shifting system and hydraulic disc brakes are expensive icing on a wonderful cake. The brakes give a feeling of solidity and tremendous power, even with just one finger on the brake lever, and the subtle modulation ensures that the wheel doesn't lock up. The system of stars is just a song; when mechanical shifting is so easy to use, you wonder why you wanted an electronic Di2.

Trek Madone 9.9 – €10,200

The Trek Madone 9 series characterizes latest technology felt in a fast and comfortable ride, but as is often the case with innovative engineering, nothing good comes cheap. However, this bike is exceptional.

In short, the Madone 9 is an aerodynamic race bike that delivers comfort with Trek’s IsoSpeed ​​decoupling to noticeably smooth out bumps and bumps. The effect is subtle but very noticeable.

The combination of IsoSpeed ​​and aerodynamic frame profiles gives the Madone 9 a whimsical feel of a combination of soft seating and super speed. It quickly picks up speed and holds it beautifully.

The climbs on this bike are great. It's punchy on short, steep climbs, nimble when you're off the saddle, and feels comfortable when you've got your hands on the Madone XXX's handlebars for long rides.

Racing road bikes or group racing road bikes are the most popular type of road bike. They are designed for high-speed walks, fitness, training, brevets (marathons) or for participation in road competitions. These bikes are presented in several levels - from beginner to top, so that every person, whether an athlete or an outdoor enthusiast, can find a bike that suits his abilities and needs. Equipped with shorter frames for a comfortable fit and 25 to 28 mm wide clinchers, amateur racing road bikes are suitable for both beginners and veteran riders who, due to their age, find it difficult to ride road bikes with a long stretched seat. Advanced and top level racing road bikes have similar racing geometry and can be used for both fitness and competition. Currently, disc brakes and electronic transmissions are starting to become common among the top models of racing road bikes.

Indeed, such bicycles exist. They are called road or racing, they are designed for fast driving on roads with a good asphalt surface. How to distinguish such a bike and its other counterparts? Road bikes are characterized by a low riding position, lightweight body, handlebar bent downwards, narrow smooth and a large set of gears. At the same time, these bicycles are not well suited for other roads, are not suitable at all for tourism and are very inconvenient for pleasure riding.

By the way, a track bike, like a racing bike, is also a kind of road bike. It is only used for sports racing on the track and usually, unlike the racing one, it does not have brakes. By the way, a racing bike also does not have a brake on the rear wheel, only on the front, and you need to brake with the front brake very carefully so as not to roll over the handlebars. How to do bike ride more comfortable and safer

The bike first showed up at the Critérium du Dauphiné, a French road race where new bikes are often tested before being released into the Tour de France. The bike weighs only 640 grams (with a frame size of 56 centimeters) and is the lightest among all models of the manufacturer.

Trek plans to put this marvel into production. Thus, the Emonda could become the world's first lightest production road bike. Weight with all components - 4.65 kilograms.

Nuance: only bikes weighing 6.8 kilograms or more can take part in the Tour. So the engineers still have a place to "roam".

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX

This bike is perhaps the most successful balance of weight and aerodynamics, which play a decisive role in road cycling. All thanks to the wind tunnels that make up the frame of this time-trial horse from Canyon.

Source: feedthehabit.com

Specialized S-Works McLaren Tarmac

The brand new S-Works first lit up before the start of the Giro d "Italia (the Italian analogue of the French Tour). And its McLaren modification was presented a few days before the start of the Tour de France 2014. The peculiarity of the latter is that it is made of a special carbon fiber alloy. For this bike frame is 10% lighter than the standard one.Another good thing is the limited edition of only 250 bikes.All of them are hand painted and have custom:

• EE Cycleworks brakes;
• wheelset Roval CLX40R;
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 equipment.

Source: cyclefit.co.uk

Merida Reacto COM

The Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer Merida also tried to combine successful aerodynamics and a light weight. The result is a bike that, fully equipped (together with a Shimano Dura-Ace outboard and a Fulcrum Racing Speed ​​XLR wheelset), gained 6.8 kilograms.

Today there are only 3 such bicycles. One of them belongs to Rui Costa - a Portuguese professional cyclist, 3-time winner of the Tour of Switzerland, winner of 3 stages of the Tour de France, world champion in the group race (not to be confused with Rui Costa - a former Portuguese football player) .

Source: thaimtb.com

Pinarello Dogma F8

The development of this road miracle was carried out in collaboration between Pinarello and Jaguar. The result is a road bike that:

“12% stiffer, 16% more balanced and 42% more aerodynamic. And we saved 120 grams in weight,” says the engineers of Pinarello, the Italian manufacturer of sports bikes.

The fate of Jaguar is also far from the last: the British automakers conducted an aerodynamic examination of the frame in a special wind tunnel.