Is road bike faster than city bike?

City bikes and road bikes are two common types of bikes with clear differences in design and purpose. So is road bike faster than city bike? Let’s take a look at their differences.

1.Frame design

The frame design of urban bicycles is usually stronger and more stable to adapt to the complex environment of urban roads. They are typically made from thicker materials, such as steel or aluminum alloys, to increase the strength and durability of the frame. The frame design of road bicycles pays more attention to lightweight and rigidity, using lightweight materials such as carbon fiber to improve speed and handling.

2.Tires and wheels

City bikes often come with wide, thick tires for added cushioning and stability on uneven roads. This design can better cope with obstacles on urban roads, such as potholes and road debris. Road bikes are usually equipped with narrow, smooth tires to reduce rolling resistance, improve speed and handling, and adapt to long-distance high-speed riding.

3. Transmission system

City bicycles are usually equipped with simpler transmission systems, such as internal gears or simple external gears, to adapt to the ups and downs and changes of urban roads. Road bikes, on the other hand, are often equipped with more complex shifting systems, such as multi-speed derailleurs, to provide a wider range of speed options and higher speeds.

5. Riding posture

City bike frames typically feature a more upright riding position, providing better visibility and comfort, and are suitable for slow-speed riding in city traffic. The frame design of road bicycles is more inclined to lean over to reduce air resistance and increase speed and efficiency.

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6.Accessories

City bikes often come with a variety of useful accessories and accessories, such as front and rear lights, luggage racks, panniers and pedals. These accessories and accessories make city bikes more suitable for daily shopping and commuting. Road bikes, on the other hand, usually come with minimal accessories to reduce weight and aerodynamic drag.

To sum up, road bikes are much faster than ordinary bicycles, probably more than twice as fast. This data should still be relatively conservative. Generally speaking, when riding on asphalt roads, it is good for ordinary bicycles to reach a speed of 15 kilometers per hour on general sections, while road bikes can easily reach more than 30 kilometers per hour. If you are an experienced rider, the speed can be as high as 35 kilometers per hour, the better the road conditions, the greater the gap between the two. This is because the materials of road bikes are very light and fast, while ordinary bicycle frames are made of iron and are heavier. In addition, the attitude of the road car determines that you will get faster speed with the same output power.

If you are planning to choose a suitable city bike or road bike, the following best-selling models from the Loicycle brand are your best choices

Is road bike faster than city bike?