A diverse sport, cycling consists of different disciplines--and there is a racing bike for each discipline. In general, racing bikes will be as light as possible, yet still strong and able to hold up to the terrain, the weight of the rider and gear, and any crashes or other demands riders place on the bikes. There are many materials frames can be made from, including aluminum, steel, carbon fiber and titanium, and each material is used for various types of racing bicycles.
Road Bicycles
Within the road discipline is a variety of race events, including road races, triathlons, criteriums, time trails and stage races. Most of these events use variations on the same type of bicycle, a road bike. Road bikes are lightweight and stiff. The geometry is aggressive and places the rider in an enhanced aerodynamic position, especially when riders are in the drops of drop bars. The tires are thin and narrow and inflated to high pressure, allowing lower rolling resistance. Each component of race road bike is selected for durability and, above all, light weight, helping to reduce the overall drag of the bike.
Specifically designed for time trials, but also used in triathlons, time trial bikes place riders in an extreme aerodynamic position, partly via frame geometry and partly via aerobars that stretch the rider out in front of the handlebars and on the front edge of the saddle. The tubes of a time trial bike are often configured flatter than those of a road bike to cut through the air. These bikes may also have a rear disc wheel, a solid wheel designed for maximum airflow and to reduce wind resistance. The lack of spokes can improve air flow. However, with a crosswind, the disc catches wind, decreasing performance.
Mountain Bicycles
Although all mountain bikes are designed for off-road events, the requirements of each event vary, making the bikes different. Mountain events include cross-country racing, downhill and slalom.
Cross-country race mountain bikes are first and foremost stiff and strong enough to withstand rough terrain. Components are as light as possible, yet durable. Depending on the terrain, the bikes may be hardtails--with just a front suspension fork-- or full suspension, with a suspension fork and rear shock. Tires are wide enough to grip the surface, yet not too wide to cause unwanted rolling resistance. Tires may be tubed or tubeless. Tubeless tires have an additional benefit because they can be pumped to lower pressures, allowing for more tire contact and thus traction.
Bicycles designed for downhill and slalom are heavier and more stout than cross-country bikes so that they can hold up to the rougher terrain. These bikes also have more travel in the suspension so the rider can negotiate over the more extreme terrain.
Cyclocross Bicycles
For cyclocross races, a cross between a road bike and mountain bike is used. This bike, a cyclocross bike, has geometry similar to a road bike, is light and stiff. The bottom surface of the top tube is flat so the bike can be easily hoisted and carried on the racer's shoulder when jumping over obstacles. Cross bikes typically have cantilever brakes, located higher on the frame to allow for mud clearance. There can be two sets of brake levers, on the flat top part of the handlebars and above the drops. A cyclocross bike handles well on tight courses, much like a mountain bike. In addition, the wheels are knobby, like a mountain bike's, yet thinner. The tires for cyclocross are typically inflated to pressures between a road and mountain bike's pressure, though some tubeless tires allow lower pressures for more surface contact.
Track Bicycles
Races performed on a track require a fixed-gear bike that is lightweight, aerodynamic and very stiff. Like other types of cycling races, there are different track events, though the same type of bike can be used. This type of bike, called a track bike, looks similar to a road bike. However, a track bike does not have brakes. It has only one gear. The pedals do not spin freely and are, instead, "fixed," in that they turn whenever the rear wheel spins. The wheels on a track bike are stiffer than most wheels. This feature transfers more power during sprinting. Tires are thin and narrow and inflated to high pressures for reduced rolling resistance.
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