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You’ll have seen these in the Tour de France.
Racing bikes (also known as road bikes) are designed to go as fast
as possible on tarmac. Everything is pared down as much as possible
to save weight and improve aerodynamics. Racing bikes have quite a
lot of gears, but they are very close together so the rider can choose
a gear which perfectly matches the conditions. The riding position
is quite hunched over to cause less wind resistance, and the drop
handlebars give a choice of riding position depending on conditions.
Tyres are very thin and at very high pressure.
Pros... On
tarmac, road bikes are very fast. The slick tyres mean there’s
very little drag on the road, and your aerodynamic position keeps
wind drag to a minimum.
Cons... Because racing bikes are very skinny (especially
the saddles) they can be uncomfortable. On cobbles and rough surfaces,
the high-pressure tyres don’t absorb much of the vibration,
and the hunched-over riding position can be sore on neck, back and
wrists. |
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