Buying A Road Bike Frame

If you are looking at purchasing a frame for your bike, then you need to consider the type of frame you require. Road bike frames are frames that are designed for bikes that are going to be used on the road, and therefore an off-road bike frame will not do.

Road bike frames are a lot lighter and thinner than off-road frames such as mountain bikes. This is to help the bike move a lot quicker on road surfaces.

Road Bike Frames And Size

The size of your bike frame is another very important factor to consider. Your bike frame needs to be the correct size for you, so you will need to take some measurements before you go to any bicycle shop. You need to measure your inside leg measurements first. Once you have this number, you will need to subtract 9" to have the correct measurement for road bike frames. When you stand over your bike frame, you should be able to rest your feet comfortably on the ground, and you should also have plenty of clearance from the crossbar too. Standard clearance distances are 7 to 13cm for mountain bikes, 5 to 10cm for racing bikes, and 1 to 8 cm for hybrid bikes.

Is Your Bike For Sport Or Fun?

The next thing that you need to decide on is whether your bike is going to be used for racing or just for fun. If you are looking for road bike frames for racing bikes, then these frames will be designed for speed, and in many cases, they are lighter and less stable than other road bike frames.

Bike Frame Types

The last thing you need to decide on is the material used for your road bike frame. There are a number of choices available with steel being the least expensive. Steel frames are the heaviest, even though they have been made lighter over the years.

Titanium frames are great if you have the money to spend on them. They are very light, but their ride can be hard, and it is suggested that the main tubes should be mixed with carbon forks to give you great handling and better comfort. The great thing about these frames though is that made properly, they will last you forever.

Carbon fibre bike frames are what most people want. These are very popular and less expensive than titanium frames. These frames are very strong, and they give you a comfortable ride too. These are perfect if you don't have enough to spend on titanium frames, but still want a frame that is built to last.

Personal preference is always going to play a part when it comes to choosing the right bike, and there are a number of questions you will need to ask yourself, such as what type of performance you want from your bike. Is comfort important? If you want to sit more upright on your bike, then you will need a slightly larger frame, but you still need to ensure that you have the correct crossbar clearance.

Visit Road Bike Frame for the best selection online in the UK.