Start Cycling Now: The Best Beginner Road Bikes

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best beginner road bike

 

I can give you my reviews, but buying a road bike is ultimately a personal decision. To find the best beginner road bike, it’s important to consider more than just the cost. Choose a bike that fits you well, is a joy to ride and best applies modern technology at that price.

Sounds a little intimidating, right? Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.

I’ve included easy-to-navigate guides to help you understand the difference between component groups and frame materials and to answer questions such as”do I really need disc brakes on a road bike?”

Then I rounded up the best bikes for your budget and riding style.

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Definitive Guide to the Best Electric Bikes + 11 Top Bikes

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Electric bikes have become more common over the past few years, particularly in Europe. In Holland, arguably the cycling capital of the world, more people ride electric bikes than non-electric bikes.

But the US is catching up and with more models coming out every year, there’s never been more choices in the electric bike market. Buying an electric bike can be a bit more complicated than getting a regular bike and it’s worth doing your research before you go shopping.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the pros and cons of electric bikes and everything you need to know to inform your buying decision, including the legal aspects of e-bike use in different states.

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Choose Your Own Adventure: How to Turn Any Bike Into a Gravel Grinder

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Choose Your Own Adventure: How to Turn Any Bike Into a Gravel Grinder

Grinding gravel is all the rage among the cycling community, but cyclists have always ridden dirt roads, often because those were the only roads available to them. Even the pros are opting for dirty adventures and fatter tires as more cyclists have begun seeking out long dirt road routes and races to “grind” out long miles amid the bucolic scenery, and challenging terrain and away from traffic.

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Go Ride a Bike! 3 Reasons Why Cycling Is Best for Your Mental Health

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3 Reasons Why Cycling Is Best for Your Mental Health

 

By Luke S. Mitchell 

The connection between physical activity and soundness of mind has long been emphasized by both athletes and the medical community alike. And out of all the possible sports that you would benefit from in this regard, nothing beats a classic bike ride or its indoor counterpart.

How Cycling Improves Mental Health

Cycling is a great sport overall, but by far the most incredible thing about it is that it’s versatile. It doesn’t matter whether you take your bike out in the park or you’re participating in your gym’s best spinning workout routine, your mental health is still bound to improve. Here’s how that happens.

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Best Road Cycling Shoes: Definitive Guide

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In 2021, looks are vying with functionality on the cycling shoe catwalk. Bling is back, with shiny metallic uppers, funky colors and ‘oil-slick’ (i.e. bright and shiny) soles. Taking the Bling Beauty Queen title is the Gaerne G. Stardust, a shoe which arguably looks more at home at a 70s disco than pedaling up a mountain pass.

While we’re waiting for some of these shoes to hit the market, we’ve been looking at some of our favorite tried-and-tested models. (And yes, many are pretty as well as functional.) While we may not balk at spending thousands of dollars on our bikes and associated components, when it comes to shoes, our wallets often win the battle with our hearts (or feet).

But cycling shoes aren’t just something to keep your feet cool and dry. They can directly impact your performance, both by transferring power efficiently from your legs through to the pedals and by being comfortable enough to allow you to keep that power transfer up hour after hour. An ill-fitting pair of shoes will make cycling a misery and you may be surprised at just how much faster you can go with a stiff, well-designed shoe.

Your perfect shoe will depend on a number of factors including the shape of your foot, the type of cycling you’re doing and the level of performance you’re aiming for. In this article, we’ll be looking at shoes that are designed for clipless pedals. If you’re used to flat pedals and are looking to upgrade, check out this article for tips on getting started with clipless pedals.

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Save Your Brain! The Best Mountain Bike Helmets+Buying Guide

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Save Your Brain!The Best Mountain Bike Helmets+Buying Guide

Without a doubt, the most important piece of equipment you can own for mountain biking, besides the bike itself, is a helmet. Nothing will ruin your ride – or life as you know it – faster than a head injury, so you know to take proper precautions. All commercial helmets will technically do the job, but if you spend enough time in the saddle, you’ll want something that fits well, is light and comfortable, and offers maximum protection for your riding style.

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Best Backpacks for Bike Commuting: 5 Stealth Packs to Survive any Commute

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Best Backpacks for Bike Commuting - 5 Stealth Packs to Survive any Commute

If you use your bike for commuting, you’ve got two options when it comes to lugging your kit to and from work: panniers or a backpack. While panniers are your best bet for heavier loads, many people prefer the simplicity and convenience of a backpack. And if your bike isn’t set up to carry panniers, then a backpack’s your only option!

There are plenty of backpacks to choose from, including models specifically designed for bike commuting and packs with multiple uses. Some backpacks are functional, but quite frankly, pretty ugly, while others are equally at home in the office as on the street. In this article, we cover some of the key features to look out for when shopping for a new backpack and give our recommendations for the best backpacks for different commuters.

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How to Find the Best Cyclocross Bike + 10 Awesome Cross Bikes Reviewed

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Cyclocross is a racing discipline involving a short, closed course packed with obstacles like of mud, stairs, sand, barriers, snow, hairpin turns, mud, and more mud. Heckling, cowbells, and the distribution of hoppy beverages is part of the event and culture, which hails from Belgium. If you’re contemplating pinning on a number, cyclocross is a very beginner-friendly style of racing.

Traditional cyclocross bikes have drop bars, cantilever brakes (although disc brakes are now dominant), and relatively narrow 32-35mm tires. The durability, terrain versatility, and handling characteristics of cyclocross bikes have attracted the attention of many non-racers. Cyclocross bikes are easily adaptable for commuting, trail-riding, road riding, gravel road racing, and wilderness exploring.

While this has led to a market explosion of genre-bending bikes, let’s focus for a moment on some of the best cyclocross bikes you can buy today, bikes that are versatile enough to ride to work on a Monday then rip up your local cross course on Saturday . The cyclocross bike that’s near and dear to my heart is the Raleigh RXM (but more on that later).

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