What is the Best Part 5

You thought this was an easy question, and here I am 5 posts laterstill trying to answer it. Think about it, though. The bicycle is oneof the most important inventions in modern times, and the entire
industry is built around this question. Everyone is trying to improve
the bicycle.It's hard to improve on a product that has been around for 120 years.The bicycle is already pretty good. This explains why all my bikes areold, and I have never cared to update them. In fact, many of theinnovations lately actually diminish the ride quality for me. Theydon't make bikes like they used to. For instance, I like the oldmountain bike thumb shifters (as we called them). They were plain oldlevers on top of the handlebar that you pushed forward or pulled back.They were fine. I always push the wrong lever on rapid-fire.The ride quality has improved. I notice that the technology moves downthe line. The bike you buy today for four or five hundred dollars isoverall better than the best bikes you could get 20 years ago.Now, about road bikes:Road biking is a different sport. It's more about the experience ofcovering distances. It's about rhythm, concentration, and spirit. It'salso about overcoming adversaries like wind, hills, and pain. Youdevelop techniques for turning corners and for climbing. I had a goodtechnique for turning hard. I got off the seat and leaned over whilekeeping the bike upright. For some reason, that gives the bike a lotmore stability. My climbing technique is probably not recommended, butI use higher gears and stand up. It's more methodical, and that worksfor me.Road bikes are much more nuanced than mountain bikes are. It takes alot of riding to notice or care about the differences. In other words,if you have never ridden a nice road bike, you will like any of them.The point to a road bike is to conserve energy. A better bike putsmore of your effort into motion. From there, you consider the ridingposition. How far back is the seat compared to the pedal position? Howfar over the front wheel are you? A lot of this has to do with fit,too. You should be careful about finding a bike shop that can fit youcorrectly. In the old days, we actually certified in fitting bikes. Wehad tools like Fit Kit. Look for that stuff.There are two major kinds of road bikes: racing and touring. And thereare three kinds of racing road bikes: criterion, road racing, and timetrials. Oh, wait. There is another one: track (velodrome). You stillsee it in the Olympics. You stand around for a while, and then, at theright moment, like the moment in a gun fight at high noon, you takeoff, and everyone follows trying to pass you.Criterion bikes are stiff, steep, and quick. They pass well, turnhard, and sprint. They are designed for the fast-paced brutal tortureof a criterion where, you race in a pack around a course taking sharpturns, sprinting on short straightaways, carefully maneuvering overbumps, and powering up short hills.Road racing bikes are a little more forgiving but still quick. Theyare designed for long race courses where you ride for miles in apace-line scheming a strategy for catching up to the break away... orstaying ahead if you are in the break away.Time trials bikes are built for one riding position going in astraight line for a long time. They are all about rhythm and keeping aconstant speed and not about cornering. They are designed for longrides alone fighting against the wind and the clock.Touring bikes are heavy, comfortable, and long. They have more gearsfor climbing hills with loads, and they have a lot of places to mountthings like racks, water bottles, and more water bottles. They aredesigned for extended trips where you carry everything you need forcamping when you stop overnight.A little bit about frame materials: Frame materials are more importantin road bikes. They give the bike its road feel. Steel is the mostcommon (or used to be), but different types of steel have differentproperties. Steel has a lively feel that gives nice feedback from theroad. Aluminum has a more dampened feel. To me, it's more of a deadfeel. You might say it insulates the feedback from the road. Titaniumis more like steel but has some characteristics of aluminum.Composites (carbon fiber) are all different depending on the design.It's a science by itself.A little bit about frame design:Lighter is better as long the bike is not too flexible. It should bestrong enough to put your effort into the road without pounding onyou. You don't want the bottom bracket (the crank) swaying back andforth. You want the bike to feel solid but not harsh and flexible butnot whippy. Short chainstays translate to quicker response but aharsher ride. Steeper head angles translate to quicker steering butless stability at higher speeds.The most important concept is that you have to experience riding a fewbikes to know what you like. Your bike shop knows that, too, and theywill let you ride a bike before you buy it.Let me tell you about my bikes to give you some insight:My Lotus is a sport bike. It's meant for riding in all conditions. Ithas a good road feel, and it's easy to handle. It has medium-lengthchainstays so it gives a little bit in the middle for a smoother ride.The bottom bracket is a little bit forward for a more comfortableriding position. It's fun to ride but comfortable enough to ride allday. It makes a great touring bike. I rode it through Yellowstone Parkseveral times, and had a lot of fun. Don't get me started onYellowstone Park. That's for another post.My Colian 753 is a custom road racing bike. Colin Lange made it for mein the late 80s. It is very light, very tight, and fast. To this day,it's the lightest bike I have ever seen. It weighs 17 pounds with theracing wheels and 19 pounds with the trainers. This makes itresponsive and easy to move. It was perfect when I was at 130 lbs,but, at 180, it's a little whippy. It has very short chainstays forquick response. The frame angles are laid back so the riding positionis just right. I like the rear wheel right under me. The head angle issteep, but it is not squirrelly. The springy action of the extremelylight steel (TI 753) is forgiving making up for the quickness insteering. The bottom bracket is stiff, and it does a good job gettingpower to the rear wheel. I rode it in the Tahoe Death Ride once and itmade the ride much more bearable. I rode it a few times in criterionsand road races, but I never did that well. I am not all thatcompetitive. I just enjoy riding bikes.As you can see, I don't like recommending specific bikes. However, forthe sake of argument, I will tell you about some bikes I have liked:Specialized. If you want to be sure you are getting a great bike, youcan always trust Specialized. They have been building some of the bestroad bikes for as long as I can remember – long before mountain bikescame along. These bikes have always impressed me in ride quality andcraftsmanship.Any Italian bike. The Italians are geniuses in elegant style andcraftsmanship. When riding one, it's hard to separate the technicalaspects from the joy and honor pedaling one. If you want the realthing, go Italian.Kestrel. Carbon fiber is hard to work with. It takes a lot ofengineering to make a carbon fiber bike that functions well. Kestreldoes that with great craftsmanship and surprising style. The thingKestrel can do is manipulate the direction of the fibers to apply theexact characteristic to each point on the bike.Trek. It's no coincidence that Trek is a huge bike company. Trek trulycares about the riding experience. They build their bikes with you inmind, and you will notice it.Raleigh. If you want to be part of the classic tradition of roadbiking, take a look at a Raleigh. It's hard to describe it, but theyjust feel right. I think they simply have it figured out after allthese years. It's one of those things you can't put into technicalterms.Custom bikes. You might consider a custom bike if you are adventurous,and you want the perfect fit. There is no substitute for the exactbike for your body.