How Different Are Professional Racing Bikes?

Interest in cycle racing has been on the up in recent years, spurred on by big-name athletes like Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, and Tadej Pogacar. This interest has manifested itself in three main ways.

Firstly, more and more people are watching cycle races, both on TV and in person, with the Tour de France increasing its viewing figures from 3.5 billion in 2013 to around 4 billion in more recent years. In line with an increase in spectators, demand for cycle betting markets has also boomed. The many free bet promotions run by bookies like Smarkets have also helped to compound this increase by letting fans get more from their deposits.

In addition to watching and betting more, cycling enthusiasts are also riding more. The number of bikes on our roads has increased exponentially and, in some countries, like Denmark, more bicycles circulate on city streets than cars and in the US, spending on two-wheeled transport has increased by 35% in the last couple of years.

But how different are those bikes compared to the ones we see being raced on TV?

Lightweight

Your bike is relatively light, you can usually pick it up with just one hand. But it will feel like a bag of bricks compared to a professional racing bike. This is because weight increases the amount of pedaling required to get up to speed and it slows riders down when going uphill.

That is unless you’ve bought yourself an ultra-lightweight road bike for personal use. Racing bikes used for competitions must be at least 6.8kg due to concerns that a race to built flimsy frames would cause safety problems.

Electric

Hybrid E-bikes are all the rage at the moment as more people look to commute on two wheels to avoid traffic, save money, and improve their health.

However, you’re not going to find an electric motor on a racing bike. However, that doesn’t mean there are no electrons flowing through one of these mean machines. Modern pro bikes often use electronically controlled gears, reducing maintenance and improving reliability.

Different Positions

You’ll probably have noticed that you ride in a different position to a professional racer. Your regular road bike will encourage you to take a more relaxed upright stance, while the sweeping handlebars of a racing bike force them to leave much further forward, reducing wind resistance, and improving speed.

If you’ve ever tried to ride like this for any length of time, you’ll know that it won’t be overly comfortable as it requires a strong core. This is why your wheels are designed for a more casual posture.