Street Bicycles

Road Bike Customization

There are three kinds of cyclists - the casual cyclist, the dedicated weekend hobbyist, and the fanatic. It's the fanatic who will probably want to get a customized road bike.

There are customized bikes...and then there are custom-built bikes.

What's the difference between the two?

Cusstomized Bikes

Well, anyone who goes to a bike store and has the clerks there help him, or her, fit the bike properly, will usually "customize" their bike by choosing the kind of saddle they like (narrow or wide, gel-filled, etc.), different stem lengths for handlebar height, v-pull or disc brakes, etc.

You can continue to customize your bike with accessories such as bells, compasses, and lights - and you can even give it a paint job if you're good at that sort of thing. (Indeed, I've got a Schwinn Sierra that's about four years old, and I've been thinking of giving it a new coat of blue paint with yellow highlights. Unfortunately, I know I don't have the skill to make it look even halfway decent.)

Road bikes are, obviously, built specifically to ride on roads, and aren't suited for cross-country travel. The tires are very narrow to provide as little resistance as possible to the road, and the handlebars are of the drop-down type which force the rider to lean forward at an acute angle. However, there are various additions to the handlebars one can get so that when resting is more important than speed, it's possible to sit up straight and still control the bike properly.

Lowriders are another type of road bike, though not one used for racing, but rather for cruising around showing off their paint jobs.

Custom Built

What does custom-built mean? A custom-built bike is one that is built for you from the ground up - and hand-crafted more often than not. Your every measurement is taken and the frame is built to those measurements. Cranksets will fit your legs, top tubes will be just the right length, and it'll be built out of the space-age material you prefer.

And in addition to that of course you can choose the types of shifters and breaks you'd like as well.

Custom-built bikes are the most expensive bikes you can get, but they will fit you like a glove and if you are a serious bike rider that is the type of bike you'll want.

Serious road bikers have many different activities in which they can indulge, from"ultra long distance riding" (Randonneuring) to triathlons - where one of the three segments of the race is biking. These type of athletes have to have custom-built bikes.

About the Author

Alastair Hamilton publishes articles for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . You can find more information and resources on
road bike reviews
at his website.

Painting a 1983 Nishiki road bike frame

Scattante R-330 Road Bike $699.99 Scattante R-330 Road Bike. Ready for your first true road bike? The Scattante R-330 was designed to help you take to the road with confidence. The lightweight aluminum frame delivers a responsive ride, and the triple crankset and 27-speed gearing let you set your own pace, no matter how many hills you encounter along the way.

Scattante R-570 Road Bike $999.99 Scattante R-570 Road Bike. With its lightweight aluminum frame, carbon fork and quality Shimano 105 5700 components, the Scattante R-570 road bike is equipped to ensure that the time you spend in the saddle is the best part of your day. Whether you like your rides long and fast, or prefer shorter routes at a more leisurely pace, the Scattante R-570 delivers solid performance, lively responsiveness and a million reasons to through a leg over again the very next chance you get.

Scattante R-670 Road Bike $1299.99 Scattante R-670 Road Bike. The new Scattante R-670 is one of the best values in a race-worthy aluminum road bike you're likely to find. The XRL aluminum frame is stiff enough for efficient power transfer, yet resilient enough for comfort on the longest rides. The carbon fork and seat stays tame road vibrations even further, and the Shimano Ultegra 6700 components ensure precise, crisp, reliable shifts even under load. You don't have to race the R-670 to appreciate it, but it's nice to know it won't let you down if you do.

2011 Diamondback Trace Road Bike $449.99 2011 Diamondback Trace Road Bike. The Diamondback Trace is a road bike you can take off-road. The lightweight butted aluminum frame is outfitted with flat handlebars for an upright seating position, a bump-absorbing suspension fork, and 700x40 tires that provide tons of traction on pavement, path or trail.

AL2 Road Bike $849 AL2 Road Bike. If you're the kind of cyclist who cares more about how well a road bike rides than about the brand name plastered on the downtube, the AL2 is your kind of bike. For one thing, the AL2 rides great -- like bikes costing hundreds more, in fact. Its 6061 aluminum frame and carbon fork deliver a lively ride with excellent vibration damping and efficient power transmission. The Shimano 105 shifters and derailleurs provide smooth and reliable gear changes. Tektro dual-pivot brakes give you all the stopping power you'll ever need, and the lightweight alloy wheels accelerate quickly, roll smoothly when you get up to speed and let you corner with confidence. In short, this road bike's got performance written all over it. What it doesn't have written all over it is a big ol' brand name, so you can enjoy the ride without distraction -- and confound your friends, who'll want to know what the heck you're riding and why in the world you removed all the stickers.

Planet Bike Hardcore Road Fenders $34.99 Planet Bike Hardcore Road Fenders. Hardcore Road bike fenders keep you covered when Mother Nature rains on your parade. These versatile polycarbonate beauties are simple, resilient and affordable. Includes preinstalled stainless steel hardware for hassle-free mounting.

Scattante W-330 Women's Road Bike $699.99 Scattante W-330 Women's Road Bike. Ready for your first true road bike? The Scattante W-330 was designed to help you take to the road with confidence. Its women's-specific geometry helps make your ride comfortable, and the triple crankset and 27-speed gearing let you set your own pace, no matter how many hills you encounter along the way.

Clarks Stainless Steel Road Bike Brake Cable $3.99 Clarks Stainless Steel Road Bike Brake Cable. Replace your road bike's worn or stretched inner brake cables with Clarks stainless steel brake cable to improve braking importance.

Scattante CFR Elite Road Bike $1999.99 Scattante CFR Elite Road Bike. A perennial favorite among cyclists who want to explore every paved byway in their periphery, the Scattante CFR Elite has the stamp of comfort, quality, and performance that promises great rides. This plush carbon bike features Shimano Ultegra shifting components and an FSA SL-K Light triple crankset, putting plenty of gears at your fingertips. Now you can take that road less traveled and lose count of the mileposts you pass.

Scattante W-570 Women's Road Bike $999.99 Scattante W-570 Women's Road Bike. Women cyclists looking for a quality road bike designed especially for them will love the Scattante W-570. It features a lightweight aluminum frame with women's-specific geometry, adjustable-reach Shimano levers -- which are ideal for smaller hands -- a vibration-damping carbon fork for a responsive ride and a responsive Shimano 105 5700/FSA drivetrain for efficient power transfer.

Scattante W-670 Women's Road Bike $1299.99 Scattante W-670 Women's Road Bike. With its women's-specific geometry, Shimano Ultegra components and aero carbon clincher wheels, the Scattante W-670 women's road bike is ready to take you wherever you want to go. The lightweight aluminum frame is stiff enough for efficient power delivery on breakaways and resilient enough to provide hours of comfort on leisurely recreational rides.

Scattante FR-570 Fitness Road Bike $1199.99 Scattante FR-570 Fitness Road Bike. Ready to inject some fun and fresh air in your fitness routine? With its lightweight aluminum frame, carbon fork, quality Shimano 105 5700 components and comfortable upright seating position, the Scattante FR-570 fitness road bike delivers, whether you prefer your workouts short and fast or long and leisurely.

2011 Fuji Absolute 2.0 Road Bike $749.99 2011 Fuji Absolute 2.0 Road Bike. Like to pound out the miles, but prefer a more upright riding position than a traditional drop handlebar road bike offers? The Fuji Absolute 2.0 road bike is the perfect solution. Combining the performance and handling you want on the road with the all-day comfort of a hybrid bike, it's light and responsive enough for long-distance rides and rugged enough for daily commuting.

Scattante CFR Race Road Bike $2299.99 Scattante CFR Race Road Bike. With its feathery-light 3K-weave carbon frame, full-carbon fork, reliable Shimano Ultegra 6700 components and TRP brakes, the Scattante CFR Race road bike is fully equipped to live up to its name. But you don't have to race it to fully appreciate it. The frame has a BB30 shell to lighten the weight and add stiffness for enhanced pedaling efficiency, whether you're driving through a corner in a crit or sizing up the scenery on a leisurely backroads spin. The layups of the oversized, asymmetric tapered carbon tubes are tuned to optimize the balance of stiffness, strength, weight and resilience, making any ride -- at any speed -- more comfortable, more controlled and more responsive. From pavement pacing to podium chasing, you can count on the CFR Race to deliver top performance and one of cycling's best high-end road bike values.

2010 Scattante R-570 Road Bike $749 2010 Scattante R-570 Road Bike. For those who demand quality and economy, new cyclists and veterans alike will appreciate the solid performance of the R-570. Signature XRL aluminum is used for frame stiffness, add a carbon fork for lightweight comfort, and finish it off with the sleek, new Shimano 105 5700/FSA drivetrain to complete this bike's responsive, smooth performance. Equipped with an array of gears at your fingertips, you can flatten hills and enjoy high vistas.

2012 Fuji Roubaix 3.0 Road Bike $869.99 2012 Fuji Roubaix 3.0 Road Bike. There's nothing quite like the feeling of riding a bike that responds instantly to every pedal stroke. It's a fluid sensation that makes the bike feel like an extension of your body. The Fuji Roubaix 3.0 road bike giftwraps that feeling and plunks it into your Cycling Jersey pocket. The lightweight, custom-butted aluminum frame with bonded carbon fork delivers a supple, responsive ride, and the Shimano Sora drivetrain transforms every pedal stroke into an efficient burst of acceleration.

2011 Fuji Roubaix 3.0 Road Bike $789.99 2011 Fuji Roubaix 3.0 Road Bike. There's nothing quite like the feeling of riding a bike that responds instantly to every pedal stroke. It's a fluid sensation that makes the bike feel like an extension of your body. The Fuji Roubaix 3.0 road bike giftwraps that feeling and plunks it into your Cycling Jersey pocket. The lightweight, custom-butted aluminum frame with bonded carbon fork delivers a supple, responsive ride, and the Shimano Sora drivetrain transforms every pedal stroke into an efficient burst of acceleration.

Pearl Izumi All-Road Mountain Bike Shoes $84.99 Pearl Izumi All-Road Mountain Bike Shoes. The All-Road Mountain Bike shoes bridge the gap between price and performance. Low-profile outsole, Pearl Izumi's 1:1 Power Plate and Anatomic Closure System achieve optimized pedaling efficiency, fit, support and comfort for endurance riding.

Fort Gotham Road and Mountain Bike Tires $13.99 Fort Gotham Road and Mountain Bike Tires. A durable, all-purpose urban bicycle tire that's perfect for commuting, training or just cruisin' around town.

2010 Schwinn Sprint Single-Speed Road Bike $699 2010 Schwinn Sprint Single-Speed Road Bike. Get your retro on! The Schwinn Sprint Single-Speed Road Bike is the perfect choice for riders who want a stylish fixie decked with name-brand parts and legitimate track style. The Schwinn custom Reynolds 853 double-butted steel frame blends old-school materials, proven geometry and 21st century components to produce a strong, lightweight road bike that looks like it cruised right out of the velodrome.

2011 Fuji Newest 1.0 Road Bike $749.99 2011 Fuji Newest 1.0 Road Bike. Whether you want a performance road bike that offers an incredibly comfortable ride or a comfort bike that can hold its own on the open road, the 2011 Fuji Newest 1.0 is a stellar performer. A lightweight aluminum frame and carbon fork deliver both responsive handling and a comfortable ride that will make your time in the saddle enjoyable no matter where or how far your riding takes you.

2011 Fuji Finest 1.0 Women's Road Bike $819.99 2011 Fuji Finest 1.0 Women's Road Bike. Any way you look at it, the Fuji Finest 2.0 women's road bike is one fine bike. Equipped with women's-specific details like a compact frame, triple crankset, reach-adjust Shimano levers, adjustable stem and Fuji anatomical saddle, the Finest 2.0 is made for cyclists who want to add comfort and style to their road riding routine.

2011 Fuji SL1 Comp Road Bike $1399.99 2011 Fuji SL1 Comp Road Bike. A high-performance carbon road bike that doesn't have a high price attached? That's exactly what the folks at Fuji had in mind when they sat down to design the SL1 Comp. Outfitted with a carbon fork, Shimano's popular 105 components, lightweight alloy cockpit and smooth-rolling Alex wheels with Vittoria Zaffiro II tires, the Fuji SL1 Comp is a great road bike and a great value.

Ascent Single-Speed Road Bike Frame $99.99 Ascent Single-Speed Road Bike Frame. If you crave simplicity in your cycling life -- but like to express your individuality -- building up your own, customized single-speed road bike could well be the answer. And the Ascent single-speed road bike frame is a great place to start. Just think of the lightweight, butted aluminum frame as a blank canvas and create your own masterpiece with the components and accessories of your choice.

Schwinn Paramount Series 5 Women's Road Bike $999 Schwinn Paramount Series 5 Women's Road Bike. The legendary Schwinn Paramount. Introduced in 1938, the Paramount bicycle represented a high point in early 20th century American bike-building. Nearly three quarters of a century later, the Schwinn Paramount heritage lives on in a line of fully modernized road bikes bearing the classic marque. The Paramount Series 5 women's road bike is a mid-range example of that legacy. It features an aluminum frame with carbon seatstays, a Shimano/SRAM 20-speed drivetrain, and durable Schwinn Road-Tuned cockpit components for comfort, strength and durability.