What We Should Pay Attention To When We Plan To Purchase a Carbon Road Bike?

Road bikes are most riders want.It can take you to view different beautiful  site on the way. Because of the carbon fiber materials advantages,more and more people want to but a road carbon bike.But how do we choose the carbon road bikes before we buy it? now let’s talk about the core points to really pay attention to when approaching your local bike shop.

1. Frame material

The bike carbon frame is the heart of any bike.There are plenty of excellent alloy road bikes on the market as well, but typically the highest performing and most expensive bikes are carbon fiber. We also want to point out that just because it is carbon doesn't make it better than alloy. There are many cheap carbon bikes available which feels dead and often doesn't have any of the lightweight characteristics and superb ride qualities of a well-designed and perhaps more expensive frame in any material.

A carbon-fiber bike frame generally provides a more comfortable, vibration-absorbing ride than an aluminum frame. They are more expensive than aluminum-framed bikes due to their labor-intensive manufacturing process.

If you must have the lightest and strongest, then a carbon-fiber frame is going to appeal to you. If you tend to ride for fun and fitness without aspirations of being the fastest, then an aluminum frame will suit you well.

Be mindful that all carbon is not equal quality. You could buy an alloy frame bike that rides well based on your actual needs!

2. Intended use

What you intend using your bike for is the most influential decision you need to make. Yes, it is a road bike, but maybe you'll mostly be riding it to work and back. You might also be living in a rural area where an all-road / cyclocross bike could offer far more flexibility for the local conditions. Take a good look at your riding history over the past three months and see what you did the most - this will really help you make the right decision.

3. Frame design

Traditional road frames use a flat top-tube and a shorter seatpost, but compact geometry is now most common, with a sloping top tube to make a smaller, lighter frame and also improve the standover height. It’s very important that you buy the right size and shape frame for you and the type of riding you’ll be doing.

Similar to frame material, you must also consider frame design. Most brands now offer road bikes in a 'Performance' as well as an 'Endurance' category. Performance frame designs have sharper angles, steeper forks, and twitchier handling, in general. They're designed to go fast from the outset, with the frame geometry offering improved aerodynamics and shorter wheelbase lengths. If you plan on doing longer rides, rides on rougher roads, (or you've just aged gracefully like all cyclists do), then you might want to consider an endurance setup. These endurance frame geometries offer built-in shock absorption areas, slightly more vertical frame compliance, and longer wheelbases for relaxed handling and ease of riding.

4. Groupset

The groupset is a commonly used shortcut to define the quality of a bike and to compare different bikes. Shimano and SRAM are the most popular component suppliers of drivetrains.

5. Carbon Wheelset and carbon fiber Rims

Running in parallel to the groupset is the wheelset. Road bike wheels don’t have to be as robust as those of mountain bikes, so they tend to have fewer spokes and lighter rims. Aerodynamics are important. For commuting road cyclists, those that carry a bit more weight than others, or distance riders, something focused on durability might be more suited to the job at hand.

Traditionally, fiber road rims were very narrow, but in recent years they’ve been getting wider as research shows this is more aerodynamic, increases tyre volume for a smoother ride and potentially leads to fewer flat tyres.

Road bike tyres are also skinny, but not as skinny as they used to be because wider tyres are comfier and often faster in the real world. 25mm is a typical width for race-focused bikes, while more endurance-oriented machines might come with 28mm or 30mm tyres. In the past, 23s were common and some riders went as narrow as 18mm. To minimise rolling resistance, road tyres usually have a slick or near-slick tread and run at high pressures of around 4.8 to 8 bar / 70 to 120psi.

6. Components

Carbon road bikes tend to either be modest or extravagant. You'll either find your new bike with a carbon frame and alloy components, or you'll find your new carbon bike with carbon componentry. Have a look at the benefits of the alloy or carbon bits and see how it will benefit your riding. If you're riding long distance, consider a set of carbon bars for extra shock absorption. The same applies for your seatpost, which is a great flex point for rough rides. A carbon seatpost can greatly improve the feel of a bike, especially over the little bumps you only notice three hours into your ride...

7. Bike fitting/accessories

Tying in directly with frame design is your bike fitting. There are vastly different bike fitting protocols for endurance bikes as opposed to performance road bikes. For instance, your endurance bike may have wider handlebars or a shorter stem. The longer wheelbase also changes your seat offset and your seat height. All these things mean you have to fit each bike for its intended use, as well as for the rider's unique requirements.

if you are a beginner,you can ask a bike shop about their bike fitting services.  A quick chat can make you more know what you choose.If you can test ride several bikes, you should be able to narrow down your selection to 2 or 3 bikes.At last you know you'll be getting a good bike!

These tips apply to buying any bike, but buying a carbon road bike does have its unique points of interest. Browse through the various brands and see what they offer in terms of technology specific to your riding needs. or you might try to find a local cycling club or some willing and able friends to provide guidance.