Electric Road Bike

The term Road Bike is sometimes used to describe bikes designed for traveling on speed, those with a lightweight frame, thin tyres and a curled handlebar which give riders the most forward leaning position to speed up as much as possible.

but what we intend by Road Bike here is actually the kind of bike that can be ridden on asphalt or paved road for the purpose of commuting fairly long distances.

It could be also called Urban Bike or even Commuter Bike. Regardless of whatever you might want to call it, these bikes for sure are expected to perform on the utmost of functionality.

The thing is, nobody can tell you what a perfect road bike is actually like. As the rider, you need to decide what factors matter to you the most while commuting. But most probably you will consider comfort, speed and efficiency at the top of priorities. The design of the bike or fun features should not be as important. After all, you are going to stay on your ride for a longer time and distance so you should not put the cart before the horse! First make sure the bike is efficient. After narrowing down the list, you can go for the one that catches your eye by look.

Normally, what is expected from a conventional city bike is a comfortable seat providing an upright sitting position, slim tyres and a light weight frame. A road bike also shares more or less the same features except for the sitting position which is actually more forward-leaning. You might be asking why? The reason is forward-leaning position makes the bike go faster. and that’s probably what you need when having to commute a long distance.

Unless you are planning to go off-road or go slow for any reason, in most other cases going fast is one of the priorities. The reason is clear: the distance is long and you need to get to the destination as fast as possible especially if you commute often.

The thing is wide and oversize tyres flatten on asphalt or paved surface and that itself reduces speed as there is more contact with the ground. Such tyres would work best only on rough uneven tracks here stability is vital whereas with fairly thin or normal tyres there is less friction which is number one factor to help you go at full tilt.

However it should not be too thin either. After all, as a non-professional cyclist, you need steadiness while riding as well.

We are discussing Electric Bikes. Even the least athletic cyclists can perform well on an e-bike which doesn’t need much of the rider’s power to pedal because that’s what motor assistance is actually for.

But the reason fitness is brought up sometimes is the sitting position. What mostly experienced cyclists can take in long rides is the forward leaning position. So if you think your back muscles are strong enough to take the pressure, vote for a road bike with an extreme forward leaning position because you will be blessed with the joy of the highest speed. Otherwise, maybe you’d be on the safer side with a less forward leaning position (yet not completely upright).

You might be thinking the most important component of an electric bike is the motor. But in fact it is the battery that keeps your motor running. No matter how powerful and efficient your motor is, you are not going to get anywhere as long as the battery range does not cover the distance you commute.

With a high battery range, traveling long distance will be a cake walk. Clearly you wouldn’t want to run low on battery and be left high and dry in the middle of nowhere. For a road commuter, a battery range of at least 70 to 80 km is a must. Still, how long exactly you are going to travel before you get the chance to recharge is what you yourself need to decide.

Fat tyres approximately cost twice the normal ones. However considering the long life of such tyres (2500-5000 km), this difference in price is neither a drawback nor a deal-breaker.

Getting on the road and traveling a longer distance than a city rider, does not mean you need to limit your options and make your load as light as possible. In most cases, you will have to carry a few items with you especially if you’re commuting a long way. One way or another the rear rack will come to function. So if you feel like it is not gonna be just you and your ride and there will be things which cannot be carried in a backpack, you should definitely get a rear rack.

About the sitting position, first you need to ask yourself: How quickly do I need to get to the destination? You might be wondering how on earth sitting position and speed can be related? The truth is that upright sitting gives you the most comfort while in forward leaning the aerodynamics help you go faster and at some point you can even go fastest with a curled handlebar. It forces your body to get in the most forward leaning position. But how willing you are to stay in that position for long is actually the part you need to decide.

So if your definition of bike riding is NOT mere exercise or highest speed, then you should not go for a bike with curled handlebar or any bike that feels extreme on forward leaning position.

Road bikes are designed for efficiency in long distance. When it comes to traveling long way on a bike, functionality carries a lot of weight. The bike has to be completely functional regardless of the model. DiroDi X-treme is one good example ahead of the curve that can get you to your destination anywhere in Melbourne, Sydney or every other corner in Australia trouble free.

But remember, riding long distance is serious deal. Whatever you choose, it is going to be your right-hand travel companion. Of course you would want to add flair to your cycling experience by choosing a bike that does look good to your taste but obviously it should not be all show and no go.

So think twice and consider everything before you call the shots.