Choosing a Road Bike Frame

There are so many road bikes frames out there, how can you possibly know which one to choose? Here is a look at the different types of road bike frames and what to look for when purchasing one.

Road bike frames come in different sizes – there is no such thing as one size fits all with road bikes. By not getting the right size of frame, you put yourself at risk for injury as well as an unpleasant cycling experience. Do not be like your girlfriend who bought a pair of shoes a size too big just because they were Gucci and were on sale for ½ off. Wearing a pair of thicker socks isn't going to fix the problem.

The frame size of a road bike is determined by measuring from the middle of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. That length in centimeters is the size of the frame. (A mountain bike is measured the same way, only the measurement is in inches.)

To determine what size road bike is best for you, straddle the bike. There should be a 1-3 inch gap between the top tube and your crotch. If you had to jump off your saddle in a hurry and straddle your bike, you wouldn't want your oh-so-delicate parts being smashed by the top bar of the bike.

The next thing to look at the distance between the seat and the handle bars. You don't want to have to over extend your reach or strain your lower back. To get this distance right, you can look at getting a longer handle bar stem or a different seat post. This can be done after you get the right sized frame.

When it comes to measuring yourself for your road bike frame, I would strongly suggested you go into your local bicycle shop and have them measure you. They do it all the time and know exactly how to fit you with the right size frame. Most bike shops will charge a nominal fee for doing this. If you plan on purchasing your bike there they'll do it for free.

Entry level road bikes start around $750 and go up from there. Cheap road bike frames in this category are either aluminum or a mix of aluminum and carbon fiber. The main frame is aluminum while the seat post and forks are carbon fiber. Engineering techniques and integrating carbon fiber into the frame, makes the bike lighter than it otherwise would be. The aluminum thickens for strength near the welding spots and is hallow in other places.

Alumni is significantly cheaper than carbon fiber, and much heavier. This is why road bikes made with it are so cheap.

Carbon fiber only road bike frames start around $2,000 and go up from there – way up. Trek's newest high-end road bike is a cool 10 grand.

Carbon fiber frames are made from strands of carbon fiber nanotubes woven together. This creates an incredibly strong and lightweight material that doesn't rust or corrode. Ideal for cycling.

There is a huge price range for carbon fiber road bike frames anywhere from $2,000-$10,000 and more. The most significant differences between carbon fiber road bike frames are:

weight

aerodynamics

welding quality

Once you know your frame size, you can start shopping around. There are many great online bike shops that always have big sales in the fall and in the spring. Some of my favorite place are Bike Nashbar, Performance, and Bikes Direct.

I'm a big supporter of local business, so I would swing by your local bike shops. By looking at last year's models, you can save a lot. Also, local bike shops are willing to bargain or take a trade in.