Road Bikes Explained: Find the Right Road Bike for Your Riding
Modern road bikes are designed to be fast, efficient and versatile, making them suitable for everything from racing and training to long-distance sportives and fitness riding. Whether searching for a beginner road bike, a comfortable endurance road bike or a premium carbon race bike, today’s road bike ranges offer a solution for every rider and budget.
All road bikes share core features including drop handlebars, lightweight frames, 700c wheels and narrow, fast-rolling tyres. From this foundation, different designs prioritise speed, comfort or aerodynamic efficiency, allowing riders to choose the best road bike for their intended use.
Choosing the Best Road Bike Type
Endurance Road Bikes – The Best Choice for Most Riders
Endurance road bikes are widely regarded as the best road bikes for the majority of cyclists. Designed for comfort over long distances, they combine efficient performance with a more relaxed riding position, reducing fatigue on the neck, back and shoulders.
Key benefits of endurance road bikes include wider tyre clearance, disc brakes, stable handling and a geometry that supports long days in the saddle. Bikes such as the Trek Domane, Cannondale Synapse, Merida Scultura Endurance, Cube Attain and Orbea Orca are ideal for sportive events, social rides and everyday road cycling.
For riders looking to buy a road bike for regular use, endurance models deliver the best balance of comfort, speed and versatility.
Road Race Bikes – Performance Focused
Road race bikes are built for speed, stiffness and low weight. With aggressive geometry and aerodynamic design, these bikes suit fit, experienced riders who benefit from marginal performance gains.
Popular race bike platforms include the Colnago V-series, Scott Addict RC, Trek Madone, Cannondale SuperSix EVO and Orbea Orca. These premium road bikes excel in fast group rides, racing and hilly terrain but are less forgiving over long distances.
Beginner Road Bikes: What to Expect
Beginner road bikes typically sit in the £500–£1,500 price range and offer excellent performance for new riders. Most feature lightweight aluminium frames paired with carbon forks, delivering stiffness, durability and improved comfort.
Entry-level road bikes are commonly equipped with Shimano Sora or Tiagra groupsets, while Shimano 105 is often found on higher-spec beginner and intermediate models, offering outstanding value, reliability and smooth shifting.
Road Bike Groupsets Explained: 105 vs Ultegra vs Dura-Ace
- Shimano 105
The benchmark for value-focused performance. Ideal for regular riding, sportives and training.
- Shimano Ultegra
Lighter and more refined than 105, with smoother shifting and reduced weight, commonly found on premium road bikes.
- Shimano Dura-Ace
Shimano’s top-tier race groupset, designed for elite performance and minimal weight.
Electronic Shifting: Di2 and SRAM AXS
- Shimano Di2 offers fast, precise electronic shifting with consistent performance under load.
- SRAM AXS is a fully wireless electronic system with clean aesthetics and intuitive operation.
Electronic groupsets are increasingly popular on high-end road and endurance bikes due to their accuracy and low maintenance.
Disc Brakes, Wheels and Tyres
Modern road bikes now predominantly use disc brakes, providing reliable stopping power in all weather conditions. Wider tyres, typically 28c, improve comfort and grip without sacrificing speed, while carbon wheels are common on premium road bikes for reduced weight and enhanced efficiency.
Road Bikes from Wheelbase
Wheelbase has been supplying road bikes from the Lake District for almost 30 years, shipping bikes to cyclists across the UK. With a long-standing reputation for expertise and customer service, Wheelbase is trusted by riders at every level, from beginners to experienced racers.
The Wheelbase road cycling team has seen many high-level riders progress through its ranks, reinforcing deep knowledge of road bike performance, fit and component choice. This experience translates directly into expert advice, careful bike preparation and a genuine commitment to both customers and the sport of cycling.
Buy Road Bikes Online with Confidence
Wheelbase stocks a carefully selected range of road bikes from leading brands including Colnago, Scott, Trek, Cannondale, Merida, Cube and Orbea. From affordable beginner road bikes to premium carbon endurance and race models, each bike is chosen for performance, reliability and value.
For riders looking to buy a road bike online with expert support, proven brands and decades of specialist experience, Wheelbase offers a trusted destination for road cycling equipment.
