| Gears |
Frame Size |
Seat, Handlebars, and Stem |
| Road racing bicycles use high gear settings to achieve fast speeds. Switching
the freewheel into a lower gear beforehand makes for a much easier ride
on courses with lots of upward and downward slopes. |
Road racing bicycles with their high average riding speeds can only achieve
efficient motion if you select a frame that fits your body. Make sure to
select the frame best for your particular size. |
Standard practice is to set the saddle height using the 3-point positioning
method so that the upper portion of the handlebars are about 5 cm from the
saddles surface. This makes it easier to reach high speeds. |
| Tires |
Pedals |
Brake Levers |
| Normally, road racing bicycles are equipped with 700C WO tires or tubular
tires. Bringing along a spare inner tube or tire makes it easy to replace
a flat. |
These days, binding type pedals used in combination with special shoes are
the norm. However, in cases where riders often dismount and walk around,
normal pedals fit with toe straps or toe clips that can be used with regular
sports shoes are a better choice. |
When using drop handlebars, standard practice is to set the brake levers
so that their ends are parallel to the bottom portion of the handlebars
when either the upper or lower levers are squeezed. |
| Air Pressure |
|
| Failing to use the right amount of air pressure in 700C WO tires or tubular
tires not only hurts performance, it might also damage the rims. Use an
air gage or similar device to maintain proper air pressure according to
manufacturer specifications. |
