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3 min read<\/p>\n3 min read<\/p>\n
There is this important and often overlooked category that fills the space between dedicated road<\/a> and gravel bikes<\/a>, most often called all-road or endurance. But other names for this group pop up or are proposed by brands\u2019 marketing teams every few years. European brands used the term \u201cGran Fondo bikes\u201d for a bit; when Specialized launched its first Roubaix<\/a> models in 2004 (arguably the first production endurance bike), my colleague Matt Phillips recalls someone at Bicycling termed it \u201cplush road.\u201d The basic premise of the category has always been to essentially take a road bike, add a bit of tire clearance<\/a> for better compliance, give it lower gearing<\/a> to better suit the average rider, and tweak the geometry to make it somewhat more upright and comfortable. It was meant for people who wanted to ride but not specifically race.<\/p>\n What has prevented the all-road bike from being widely adopted is, to some extent, the bike itself. Brands sacrificed low weight and lively handling in their quest for versatility and stability, then burdened these models with unnecessary gizmos (like the Roubaix with the Future Shock or the Cannondale Synapse with the integrated lighting system). The result was often a pleasant and fine bike, but one that was dull and uninspiring.<\/p>\n The way brands position their road bikes has not helped this notion. Read between the lines of industry marketing and you\u2019ll get a sense that while buying a racing bike<\/a> can put you on the same frame as some of the biggest stars in cycling, buying an all-road or endurance bike is some sort of admission of cycling inadequacy. That often leads riders to perceive the endurance or all-road bike as the inferior option.<\/p>\n The fact is that most people who buy road-racing bikes do not actually race on the road. Out of roughly 51 million people who cycle in the U.S., approximately 100,000 hold a USA Cycling license\u2014that\u2019s about 0.2 percent. The typical rider is more likely to do a century ride<\/a>, a Gran Fondo, or a local group ride than enter a criterium.<\/p>\n Related Story<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t to suggest that there is anything wrong with wanting to go as fast as possible and finding aerodynamics<\/a> and outright speed to be the most important aspects of a bike. Many models currently on the market accentuate these features. But the truth is that for the vast majority of riders, a modern all-road bike will be more comfortable and better fitting. <\/p>\n The good news: Brands have begun to catch up to the notion that just because someone needs a bike with a more forgiving fit and relaxed handling, it doesn\u2019t mean they want to compromise on how lightweight, responsive, or engaging it is to ride.<\/p>\n
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