Road bikes

Although the essence and overall shape of road bikes today is still recognisable, the evolution of their design has been vertiginous, both as far as the materials used and their specialization of use, which has given rise to several road bike categories: Entry level, Race or climber, Gran Fondo or Endurance, Aero, Time Trial and Triathlon.

There are also women-specific road bikes in some of these categories.

Steel is no longer used for making frames, and is replaced by aluminium, except on the cheapest road bikes, and carbon road bikes are almost entirely in the medium and top ranges.

Wheels are still 700C, but the width of the tyres has increased considerably, and the standard is now between 25 mm and 28 mm, depending on the bike, and up to 32 mm on Gran Fondo bikes.

Road bikes with disc brakes are also becoming more popular, except for the most economical entry-level bikes.

Drivetrains with two chainrings are the most widespread option, with a triple crankset on some entry-level bikes, and a single chainring in the higher ranges which is gradually gaining popularity. The number of gears or rear sprockets varies between 8 and 13, depending on the range of the bike.

For newcomers to road cycling and for those who plan to ride on undemanding routes or use the bike as a means of transport over short distances, aluminium bikes with 8 to 9-speed groupsets will offer sufficient performance and will be a good introduction to road cycling.

These are the most common and versatile bikes, and the most balanced in terms of performance, rigidity and low weight. They have a racing geometry, in order to achieve optimum rider performance and to make the bike stiffer, more agile and reactive. Achieving the lowest weight in this type of bicycle is crucial for brands and these are the most popular for professional races.

Designed to cover long distances and uneven surfaces with the greatest possible comfort for the rider, these bikes were originally designed to cope with the pavé sectors of the classic Northern European races, but have evolved into a new category, which is increasingly under demand by cycling enthusiasts. The geometry is more relaxed, making the bike more stable and comfortable for the rider. And the most advanced models have simple suspension systems that dissipate the vibration generated by uneven terrain. A pioneering example of this suspension is the Future Shock system used by Specialized for the first time in the Roubaix model, which consists of a small shock absorber located under the stem.

Aero bikes evolved by increasing the speed of climbers. To do this, the profile of the tubes and rims was increased and components were integrated into the frame. They have a slightly more demanding geometry, but still maintain a reasonable level of versatility, which allows them to match the climbers in some races. However, their favourite terrain is flat or short climbs and descents that do not have too many bends. And their handicap is the side wind that affects their wide profile.

These bikes are exclusively designed for use in these disciplines, with extreme profiles and with the sole objective of achieving maximum speed. Their preferred terrain is flat or moderate and climbs with few bends. The differences between these models is motivated by the different duration of each type of race. Time Trial races are shorter.

At Mammoth, you will find the largest assortment of road bikes, by a variety of top brands, at the best value for money in each category, and a selection of different offers, including outlet road bikes.