Street Bicycles

Road Bike

Customizing Your Road Bike

Customizing your road bike is a great way to show your personality and imagination. As you customize your road bike, you will find that you are using it as an extension of your personality.

You will find that no other bike is like one that is customized for you. It is the right fit for your body, including the right weight, height, and feel, and it is made with the right parts and components. A customized bike will be more expensive, but it will be well worth the money because it will ride better and be more comfortable.

One of the first things that you need to decide upon is the top tube. If you have a longer torso, then you will want a bicycle with a longer top tube. You can choose to get a handlebar stem that is longer, but if you do this, then you will need to sit so that your weight will be focused on the front wheel. This may affect the control and handling of your bike, so you may not want to do this. Choosing a bike with a longer top tube would be a much better choice for you.

Woman may find that longer top tubes are not very comfortable because it may cause them to have to stretch to reach the handlebar. This may cause them to turn the stem backwards or they can choose to get a seat post that is longer and a bike stem that can be raised higher.

Bicycles come in a few standard heights. The shorter height is approximately 47 cm and the taller height is 63 cm. You may find that some of the bicycle manufacturers make bikes that are 40 cm for women to ride, but the tubing is usually of a standard size, which makes the ride uncomfortable. To determine which height fits you the best, you will need to try out several of the bikes.

The frame is one consideration, but the handlebar can have a big impact upon the bike's feel as well. The handlebar needs to be at the right depth and width so that it feels right and so that you can control the bike properly. It should be comfortable to ride during races and long distance rides as well. A 73-degree angle is the optimum angle for the head and seat tube for maximum stability.

You will also find that parts like hubs, the headset, bottom bracket, and the seat post are also important facets of your bike. By choosing more lightweight features, you will find that your bike is easier to control and it will go much faster.

Now that you have a bike that fits your body and your needs, you can also add in your personality to aesthetically make it into the bike of your dreams. Adding your own personal touches can be the most fun part of customizing your bike.

It sounds like a dream to have the bike that you have always wanted, but it can cost you quite a bit of money if you are not careful. The fitting costs and special components can cost quite a bit and add in the cost of assembling this custom bike and you could be looking at quite a bill. By making your decisions carefully, you will be able to get the bike that you want and that fits your budget.

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.

What do you consider the best entry level road bike?

I am looking into purchasing an entry level road bike and I was wondering what was considered a good buy. I would like one with a carbon fiber fork and the shifters to be integrated with the brakes. I was looking at the Giant Defy 3, but I was wondering if a better deal might be found elsewhere. Any thoughts?
I also am a large man who is cycling to both lose weight and get more healthy over all. I clock in at just over 6'5 so I would need a larger frame size as well.

well, you'll certainly need a larger frame. i'm 6'0" and i was fitted with a 58cm Serotta. for 6'5", you'll need at least a 60-62cm frame (unless you have really short legs!). going to your local bicycle center with qualified bike fit specialists will ensure you get a bike that fits you properly. of course it will cost you a little bit more but your back and shoulders will thank you down the road. most road bikes today have integrated brake/shift levers. if you're comfortable with finding the right size you can go through internet/mail order and find some really good deals. even on ebay, if you know what you're looking for. some of the ebay sellers will take your sizes/measurements and get a bike that will be a pretty good fit. you may also want to take a look into a "hybrid" bike. it's frame is designed about 1/2 way between a dedicated road bike and a mountain bike. if you're not looking to race, it's a nice mix. just remember your contact points, get good shoes, good shorts and a decent pair of gloves and you're riding will be MUCH more comfortable. (and please wear a helmet!)

Awesome dude on road bike gets away from the police!!