Customized Road Bikes

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.

By Andrew Caxton

Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like cycling for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com. Find more publications about road bike reviews at his website.

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Adjusting your Bike Saddle

There is always talk about proper bicycle fit and making sure that the body angles are ideal on your new bike.  No one will argue that this is important and I would encourage you to view our posts on bike fitting.  However, it is equally important to remember that the rider/bike connection is very dynamic.  By that I mean, there are numerous positions that a rider can assume while mounted on their bicycle.
This article is a closer look at the saddle position of the rider.  For many amateur and upper level recreational riders a common mistake is that is made is to mount the bike and wherever the seat meets the bottom is where they stay for the entire ride.  I will admit that for most of the riding that we do there is an ‘ideal’ position in the saddle.  However, micro-adjustments forward and backward in the saddle can have significant impact on performance and endurance.
One example would be on moderate to steep sustained climbs.  The natural tendency is to migrate your butt toward the rear part of the saddle.  This is usually accompanied by a lowering of the upper body.  I don’t know what riders who do this are trying to accomplish.  There is no aerodynamic benefit as the speed is simply too low in this situation and as a result the knees are moved backward out of the best mechanical advantage position.  Instead the better move is to actually move slightly forward on the saddle and sit up a bit taller.  The knee is then moved even more over the pedals when the rotation comes around into the power portion of the spin and allows for maximum mechanical advantage.  The move forward should only be around 1-3 cm but the increased power and efficiency is undeniable.  Try it next time your out.
Also, frequently shifting to and fro during long rides and slightly altering your seat position will help with fatigue, soreness, and endurance in your legs and arms and shoulders.