Different types of Road Bikes

[roguerower]

I just joined my universities crew team after a 2.5 year void and am looking to complement my workouts with the team on the weekends. A friend of mine suggested looking at getting a road bike and going out with him when he goes to haze himself.

I was wondering what the ins and outs regarding road bikes are and what the differences are between the manufacturers and the different frames.

 

[MegaVovaN]

http://bikeforums.net/

 

[vailr]

Depends on how much money you want to spend. And how heavy you are, and whether you want to safely carry heavier items, for bike camping, for example.
A local Target store recently had an aluminum frame, 21-speed road bike, with bolt-on wheels; clearance priced for ~$108.
Or, for about $500, you can get a decent quality (made in China) aluminum-frame Giant or Trek, at your local bicycle dealer.
Then there's used: via eBay, Salvation Army store, newspaper ad, local sheriff's auction, or other sources.
The three main frame types: Cro-Mo Steel, aluminum, and carbon-fiber.

 

[UTmtnbiker]

Too much to debate/talk about/cover in regards to road bikes.

Only words of advice I have is that if you're not sure this is something you want to invest heavily in, buy used: craigslist, ebay, etc.

I'm currently riding a 07 Specialized Tarmac S-Works SL, which cost an arm and a leg (with options on spleen and kidney to be paid at a later time), but I've also been riding for over 10 years and finally decided to go all out and treat myself (mostly the wife said it was okay )

 

[Dirigible]

The most important thing to me is fit and comfort. Most frame manufacturers make good frames. Make sure you're fitted properly and the thing is comfy for long periods. Shimano and Campagnolo are the big names in components (shifters, cranks, etc.), and they both make fine stuff.