Aero Vs Light Vs Endurance – What Type Of Road Bike Should You Buy?

Should you choose an aero bike, an endurance bike or a lightweight, climbing bike? Find out in our road bike buyer's guide...

With a range of options on the market these days, choosing the right road bike for you can be difficult. Don't worry, though, we're here to help. So, should you choose an aero bike, an endurance bike or a lightweight bike? Check out the video, find out, and, finally let us know what bike you ride down in the comments!

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The Global Cycling Network puts you in the centre of the action: from the iconic climbs of Alpe D’Huez and Mont Ventoux to the cobbles of Flanders, everywhere there is road or pavé, world-class racing and pro riders, we will be there bringing you action, analysis and unparalleled access every week, every month, and every year. We show you how to be a better cyclist with our bike maintenance videos, tips for improving your cycling, cycling top tens, and not forgetting the weekly GCN Show. Join us on YouTube’s biggest and best cycling channel to get closer to the action and improve your riding!

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Leave us a comment below!

[OllieTribe]

So for 90% of the people watching - the only bad choice is not getting any bike!

[alemaodownhill]

It is hard to beat the beauty of that stealth looking Canyon

[LeonIneke]

Could you make a new version of this video for 2021? Curious how things have changes with all the new models

[paddydavison]

I like how when Simon said " inexperienced riders" Dan popped up riding

[eyesofNOTHING]

"You gotta listen to your heart, or in fact"... ' your wallet' I literally thought he was gonna say wallet.

[david_seay]

For the past few years I've wanted to get into road cycling, but never took the leap. Then I found GCN on Youtube a few months ago, and have been watching all the videos, even though I didn't even own a road bike, and didn't foresee getting one in the near future. I absolutely love these videos! Great hosts, great content, great entertainment! I liked watching these videos enough that I just went out and purchased my first road bike today! I've been looking for months, trying to decide on what kind of bike I want, and GCN has been extremely helpful in my research for what bike works best for me. Just wanted to say thanks for producing all of these great videos, and can't wait for more! Keep up the great work!

[Montiman]

I spent the entire video watching the three guys in the background faffing around with their sailboat, sorry Si but you'll have to go over all that one more time

[llandor]

I can't decide, so I went with the n+1 solution. Well, almost, haven't found the money for an aero bike yet. Why yes, the missus does not have a key to the shed...

[dardman]

I started with an endurance bike, then got a lightweight bike, and then finally bought an aero bike. I use the endurance bike for long rides on poor roads, the lightweight bike for climbing, and the aero bike for shorter and mostly flat riding. The latter is my preferred bike, but I still love the lightweight bike. The endurance bike mostly sits on my trainer nowadays.

[Lireoec]

"Listen to you bike, when it's calling for you. Listen to your bike, there's nothing else you can do. I don't know where you're going and I don't know why, but listen to your bike before you tell it goodbye."

[ricardofb]

If you think that most riders will be drafting during the level part of the stages and the biggest differences are made on the climbs (where aero drag is less important), maybe the pro's preference for a climbing bike is well justified. Unless you are the team's workhorse, or you don't mind signaling (from the very start of the stage) that your are trying a breakaway on that stage. Cheers

[coolio]

two days too late i just got a giant tcr composite with ultegra i love it!!

[AltitudeProductions]

For someone who is a racer but still wants an endurance bike - Fabian Cancellara has been riding the Trek Domane (the endurance bike) for a long time very successfully. If the roads are particularly rough, involve cobbles, or you enjoy gravel roads, then an endurance bike may still suit you.

[jeffk]

I ride for club rides and exercise, hopefully a century. I'm guessing thats 90% of us so I would say a reasonably priced endurance bike.

[thijsvandenbroek]

i have an aero bike with new full carbon wheels 50mm high and ultegra. iam very happy with it and i think i ride it at least 4 years

[grbbelaar]

Should be mentioned that the whole "comfortable" thing also comes down to the frame and and the materials used for, say, the handlebar. I made the switch from a Lapierre Sensium 200 to a BMC TimeMachine TMR02, and safe to say, the BMC is more comfortable.

With the Lapierre I was troubled by the microvibrations from the handlebar, infact so much that it sometimes was difficult to even get a proper read off my Garmin. No such problems with the BMC as I get absolutely zero road buss transferring through to my shoulders. Also, the aero seatpost (aero seatposts has a bad rep for being uncomfortable) are way more comfortable than the Alu seatpost that came with the Lapierre. Zero tiring road buzz from the seat post as well. So, if you're agile enough, aero doesn't have to mean uncomfortable by any means (allthough I've been told that the Canyon above isn't actually that comfortable).

With the TMR02 - and a few other aero bikes, they've made the front brake accessible, thus easier to service. Read up on your bikes before you buy them, and you'll be fine.

[glazedgamer]

Light-weight all day, but only because Where I live in Canberra is quite undulating and we have some decent little mountains to climb about on.
I wouldn't mind trying out an Aero bike though

[gamma_dablam]

Endurance or lightweight is best for the vast majority as it is either more comfortable or easier to climb with.

My Trek Emonda classes as light but by inverting the stem I got an endurance-esque geometry out of it anyway.

[Definishline]

I've been following GCN for nearly 2 years now and I love your Top 10, reviews and tips. I would like to make a request.
Could you possibly do a comparison review on the 3 major brands of mechanical groupsets (i.e. SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo). I personally use the Shimano Ultegra on my Cinelli Unica but that is also because it is the most common brand here in Malaysia. SRAM is only just starting to gain a name in road biking and Compagnolo is still very uncommon among lower to mid-range bikes. I'm very curious to know how each groupset works in comparison to each other.
Thank you and keep up the good work you are all doing.

[patrickbisogno]

this is a special video because of the leap year