Among the many bikes available online, road bikes offer the most comprehensive selection based on function. These road bicycles allow you to ride comfortably on paved surfaces. These lightweight bikes have narrow tires, drop handlebars, gear range, and higher seating geometry enabling riders to go as fast as possible on flat roads.

There are many road bike types available depending on usage, riding style, and priorities. Road bicycle materials like aluminum, carbon, and steel affect aerodynamics, efficiency, speed, durability, and performance. The materials will also affect the ride quality.

Types of Road Bike

Before you select from the many road bikes for sale online, you need to identify which type you need. You can determine a bike's suitability based on your usual terrain or habits. For example, you may want one for daily commuting or occasional races. There’s a specific road bicycle for each purpose.

Gravel or adventure

The gravel bike is the best road bike for on and off-road trails. It is a hybrid of different bike types and an excellent road bike for dirt road adventures. You can take it bikepacking and camping without worrying that it can't withstand dirt roads or trails.

Sportive or Endurance

The endurance or sportive is a road bike available in steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber, prioritizing stamina over speed. The endurance bike allows you to participate in long-distance cycling challenges like marathons, rather than short-distance races.

Touring

The touring bike is a road bike that prioritizes comfort during long-distance travel while carrying a heavy load with rugged wheels, more spokes, and low gearing.

Time Trial (TT) or Triathlon

The TT is the best road bike for triathlons, where a third of the race involves cycling. The TT aerodynamic features allow sufficient torque and limited wind resistance with lower gear ratios while riding at increased speeds. Some TT bikes have hidden compartments for storage.

Race

Race bikes are among the fastest road bikes for sale, often made of carbon fiber to reduce vibration and achieve the lowest possible weight during competitions. It's not as comfortable as other bike types and is expensive due to the high-end components needed for accurate braking and shifting.

Aero

The aero is one of the more stylish fast road bikes for sale because it's a mix of race and time trial (TT) bikes with exceptional aerodynamic features. This bike weighs heavier due to its low position geometry.

Commuter

The commuter is an excellent regular bicycle with adequate comfort and durability. It's designed for daily rides on flat surfaces and is easy to maintain, perfect for journeys to and from the office.

Fitness or recreational

The recreational or fitness road bike is primarily about affordability, quickness, and comfort; it's not designed for off-road trails or racing.

Cyclocross (CX)

The CX is a high-performance gravel bike, a cross between a road and a mountain bike with a multi-purpose design. You can ride up steep hills and participate in trail riding races.

Selecting a Road Bike

Once you've decided on the type of road bike you want to buy, you need to check other factors to ensure you get the best riding experience. Remember that every cycle is unique, and you should get one that suits your riding style, habits, and preference: the appropriate bike type, size, and material for optimal comfort and safety.

These are some elements to consider when choosing from the different road bikes for sale:

• Rider height
• Seat height
• Frame geometry
• Frameset material
• Frame size
• Saddle
• Wheel diameter
• Tire size
• Maintenance and repair needs
• Inseam length

You shouldn't get an aero or racing bike for everyday use or a recreational bike for racing. Aside from that, you should know your measurements before picking out your desired high-quality and durable road bike.

Buying Road Bikes

At Bikes Online, we offer an extensive range of road bikes for sale to suit every rider, from athletes and adventurers to commuters. You can filter according to price, availability, brand, wheel size, ride style, suspension type, and material.

Performance

These are the best road bikes for climbing and racing on hills, open roads, and smooth tarmac.

All-Road

These road bikes are great for riding on bike paths, light gravel, and rough roads and are perfect for commuters and endurance bikers.

Drop Bar Road Bikes

This road bike is close to gravel bikes that touring and racing bikers can use for riding through bike paths, tarmac, and gravel.

Flat Bar Road Bikes

The flat bar is the best road bike to take on city alleys, light gravel, and smooth roads.

Men’s and Women’s Road Bikes

Discover the best road bike brands like Polygon and Marin, guaranteed to give you the ultimate road experience based on your unique riding preferences. Check out our wide selection of bikes with accessories for your next road trip.

You’d also find this blog article helpful: Road Bike Buying Guide