Black Friday Road Bike Deals

Christmas is just around the corner, and you’re looking for the perfect road bike. Maybe for you, or maybe for someone you love. If this sounds like you, then you’ve landed in the right place. We’ve got a list of the best Black Friday road bike deals around.

If you’re looking for the abridged version of today’s post; we understand. Check out the Diamondback Century 4.

It is easily my favorite bike on this list. Why? Because it is built for speed while maintaining superb comfortability; a combination that many road bikes fail to be able to achieve.

Bikes have come a long way in recent years. They are becoming lighter, faster, more durable, and all-around better. Thanks to the rapid improvement in technology, bikes are even becoming more affordable than ever. And we’re not talking about cheap bikes either; we’re talking about the good stuff.

But even with all of these technological improvements and the price drops that accompany them, bikes can still get pricey. That’s why you should take advantage of a sale when you see them. And what better time to take advantage of sales than the infamous Black Friday sales? 

Bikes on Sale – Black Friday Road Bike Deals

With all these bikes to choose from, you may be finding it difficult to figure out which you should purchase. You might be thinking; I should definitely get a bike rated at five stars. Or maybe you think you should get the bike with the most bells and whistles on it. We get it, choosing a bike isn’t easy when you’re doing it for yourself, let alone trying to find the perfect bike for someone else.

Luckily, we’re here to help you out with that. Just like anything you purchase, there is no one size fits all product. Everybody has different needs, and every bike has different strong suits and weak points.

All Road Bikes Aren’t Equal: Racing vs. Endurance vs. Aero

There are different reasons that someone might need a road bike. Maybe they need a new bike for their daily commute to work. Or maybe they want something to help them get into better shape. And then there are competitive riders, who need a bike that can stand up to all the rigors of long endurance races. Each category of riders has different requirements for their bike; this is why manufacturers make different tiers and classes of a bike.

There is no sense in coming out with a highly aerodynamic frame meant to slice through the wind and reach higher top-end speeds, for the guy that is only using his bike to ride to and from work. And there is no sense in relegating endurance riders to bikes that aren’t equipped with the ergonomics necessary to keep them comfy during their never-ending rides.

Racing Bikes

These bikes are meant for the highest speeds possible. Isn’t that what racing is all about? They tend to be a lot more responsive and twitchy than other road bikes. That twitchiness is great for maneuvering around the competition and is a giant advantage when scrambling for position.

You’ll also notice that the handlebars on racing bikes are positioned lower on racing bikes (for aerodynamic purposes). In addition, the tires on racing bikes are narrower than other road bikes in order to shave weight off of the bike and bolster your top-end speeds.

To sum up, racing bikes are built for speed and aggression. They are more streamlined than any other road bike and have as few parts as possible.

But what does this mean for you? It means that if you are shopping for someone who has zero interest in racing or is new to cycling, then you most definitely should not buy them a road bike. Sure, they’ll be able to ride fast, but they will be uncomfortable while doing so.

Endurance Bikes

Commuter bikes (though still road bikes) are entirely different than racing bikes. These bikes are made for the majority while racing bikes are made for… well, racers. They might look the same to an untrained eye, but once you’ve gotten to see them side by side, you’ll be able to distinguish the two. Hell, even if you can’t see the difference, you’ll instantly notice it once you hop on an endurance bike.

As the name suggests, endurance bikes are made for longer rides, so they have an entirely different makeup than racing bikes. The longer headtubes keep the handlebars higher for a more comfortable ride. This lets you ride in a more upright neutral position and reduces the stress on your back.

Endurance bikes also use disc brakes. Due to a slim window that racing bikes are required to fit in, they are prohibited from using disc brakes. Why? Who knows. But that does mean that endurance riders enjoy the benefits of a superior braking system.

Aero Bike

These bikes are Ricky Bobby’s best friend. They are made to go fast. If you aren’t too committed to comfort or weight, then Aero bikes are going to be your best friend as well. They have larger tubes than ordinary road bikes adding a more aerodynamic element, but also adding extra weight.

In fact, everything on these bikes is made for aerodynamic excellence. From hiding the cables, and even the brakes. To the construct of the frame molded to fit perfectly with the wheels so that wind can’t pass between the two. Nothing on this bike is done without thinking of wind resistance first.

Which is Better

One thing I’ve learned in the world of cycling (and this really could apply to anything) is that there is rarely such thing as a better category. Instead, it is mostly up to what the rider needs his or her bike to do.

Are you using it for a commute? Is the most important aspect of your ride safety, comfort, speed, or weight? These are the questions you’re going to have to ask yourself before you purchase the bike. And if you are purchasing it for someone else, then you’ll have to ask them. So hopefully you aren’t trying to surprise them with a bike this year.

Get the Right Size

Once you’ve got the type of road bike you want to have down, now you need to get the right size. Sizes are based on the frame, and the most common sizes are medium, large, and extra-large. The size chart is as follows:

Note: The first number is height in feet and inches, the second is the frame size

• 5’6″ – 5’9″      Medium Frame (54cm – 55cm)
• 5’9″ – 6’0″     Large Frame (56cm – 58cm)
• 6’0″ – 6’3″     Extra-large frame (58cm – 60cm)

Once you have the frame size down, you can start to look at the handlebar and saddle heights. You may also want to go and test different bikes out before making your purchase. This is especially true if you are making your first road bike purchase

Wrap – Up

Buying a road bike for yourself can be one of the most difficult decisions you will make. There are so many different options to choose from, and that’s the easy part. After that, you’ve got to figure out the frame size that fits you best, and a host of other things that come into play when shopping for a bike.

Hopefully, today’s post helped you decide on what type of road bike best suits the needs of you, or whoever you are purchasing the bike for.

Are you looking for some other Black Friday deals where you can score awesome bikes for an awesome price? Check out our other articles: Black Friday Mountain Bike Deals and BMX Bike Black Friday Deals.