Do you want to get into road cycling, but don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’ve been cycling for years, but you feel like you need a bike which is more suited to your preferred style of riding? This buyer’s guide should be the perfect tool to help you to sort through all the available information and to find the perfect bike for you.
Motivation
What kind of cycling are you looking to do?
Before we get too far, ask yourself the question of what motivates you to cycle?
Do you dream of podium finishes and endless sufferfests? Or maybe you want to go exploring through the countryside for hours on end. Perhaps you’re just looking to gain a little fitness spending time outdoors at a reasonable price. Every reason to spend time cycling is a good reason, whether it is for sport, adventure, or even just commuting.
Terrain
Where do you Ride?
It’s crucial when picking the right bike to know where you will ride predominantly. If your local roads are flat as pancakes and there isn’t a hill in sight, then perhaps a bike with more of a focus on aerodynamic features will benefit you most. On the other hand, if you live in a mountainous area where your either always going up or down, you’d be better off investing in a lightweight “climbing” bike. If you just need a solid commuter bike for work and perhaps some recreational riding on the weekends, then you can afford to have some bigger tires and other comfort features while keeping the budget lower.
Bike Categories
Have you answered the first two questions? The answer to what bike is best for you should be below.
Lightweight Road Bikes
Every gram can make the difference between winning and losing when the road gets steep. Lightweight road bikes are designed for all-round road racing and come with aggressive geometry, incredibly light frame sets and quick handling. If you love to hunt for KOMs and race trophies, then the Addict RC is the bike for you.
Aero Road Bikes
Aero bikes are designed to cut through the air with as little resistance as possible. These bikes also have geometry that puts you in a pretty aggressive position. In general, these bikes are known to be heavier and provide less comfort than lightweight bikes, but this doesn’t have to be the case anymore. Despite being tested multiple times as the most aerodynamic road bike on the market, SCOTT’s Aero road bike, the Foil, comes with a surprisingly light frame set and enough comfort for rougher terrain. Mathew Hayman even won on the fabled cobbles of Paris Roubaix on this bike.
Endurance Road Bikes
Endurance bikes have a slacker geometry which puts the rider in a more upright position to allow for more comfort and increased stability. They are perfect options for recreational riders who love long days in the saddle no matter the profile/terrain. If getting out on the bike means that you’re going to be gone for hours, chewing up mile after mile in the search of freedom without trying to win every KOM on the way, then the endurance road bike such as the Addict or Speedster with their more comfortable geometry would be your perfect choice.
Gravel and Adventure Road Bikes
Gravel bikes are ideal for multi-terrain adventure seekers – they’ll take you on bridle paths, farm tracks, and of course gravel. You can even expect these bikes to handle advanced off-road riding but to still be fast on tarmac. If you want your road bike to be as versatile as possible then the Addict Gravel or Speedster Gravel will be your first choice.
Flat Bar Road Bikes
In case you plan to use your road bike mainly as a fast commuter bike and you don’t feel confident using a drop handlebar then the Metrix would be your preferred option. It will offer you all you need to go quickly to work, but also provides enough performance for some longer weekend rides.
Contessa Road and Gravel
Don’t get us wrong, any bike is a women’s bike. That said, our women specific bikes have saddles, cranks, handlebars and grips that are thoughtfully selected to offer cyclists the best comfort, performance, and handling experience.
Bike Size
How to Find your Perfect Bike Size?
An entry-level bike that fits you like a glove will still be a much better choice than an ill-fitting superbike, therefore you should always make sure that you find the right size for you.
The best option is to go to your local bike shop. An experienced bike salesperson should easily tell you by looking at your proportions. Nevertheless, many bike stores use fitting systems or calculators to determine a suitable frame size for you. A great option is also to use the size finder on the SCOTT website.
Once you have selected the right size frame — you then need to get your saddle and handlebar height correct. Again, a professional fit at a good shop is invaluable here. Most good bike shops will work with you to fine-tune other elements of your fit, too, such as the distance to the handlebars, the angle of the handlebars and even the feel of the saddle.
