Tour of Ireland Rider Speed and performance are the yardsticks against which a road bike is measured and, with the range of materials used in the production of frames and components, there are many options to choose from to help you towards achieving your goals.

Factors such as your style of riding, the type of events that you may wish to enter or budgetary limits that you (or your significant other) may have set yourself will all influence your decision. Most new comers to the sport start out with an aluminium or one of the less expensive steel frames, with the more enthusiastic or competitive cyclists opting for carbon or titanium alloy and the grand touring types a trendy steel frame set. Each of these materials excel in different areas, with some offering better road contact and power transference and others offering more comfort and durability.

Featured Road Bikes

Though we no longer maintain our product catalogue online, we have chosen a small selection of our recommendations to feature on the website, which you will find below, along with a link to the manufacturers product specification.

Giant Defy 3

Giant Defy 3

The Defy 3 is one of the best value entry level road bikes available on the market today. With a light and comfortable alloy frame, carbon forks to absorb the bulk of road shocks and a capable shimano groupset with a good range of gears to get any novice up the hills. It is also a great frame to upgrade on if you should feel the urge.

The design is so sorted that it would allow a rider to commute to work all week, then compete in the local triathalon events at the weekend, so this bike earns its place on our recommended list.

TCR Composite 1

Giant TCR Composite 1

Carbon is the most sought after material for road bike enthusiasts and it could be said that a carbon composite ride is a sign that you are more than a leisure cyclist. The TCR Composite 1 is one of the latest models in the long running TCR range from Giant and if you are ready to step up a gear, this could well be the bike for you.

With the flowing aero tubes of the T600 carbon frame, the high grade components from Shimano and custom built DT Swiss wheels we think this model will fly out of the shops this year, as well as fly along the road!.

Colnago Master

Colnago Master

Faster and lighter is the way of the cyclist, in both components and frame, but the Colnago Master is a nod towards the class and ride quality of steel. The beautifully crafted frame is made in Italy in the Colnago factory using the highest quality steel tubing with a superb finish of paint and chrome.

These are in limited supply, are highly sought after (that's most certainly true among the staff) and will become a real collectors item in the future.