Strong Areo Dynamic  Alloy Racing with Sram Shifting System W/ light Alloy Racing  Fork

The term road bicycle is used to describe bicycles built for traveling at speed on paved roads. Some sources use the term to mean racing bicycle. Other sources specifically exclude racing bicycles from the definition, using the term to mean a bicycle of a similar style but built more for endurance and less the fast bursts of speed desired in a racing bicycle; as such, they usually have more gear combinations and fewer hi-tech racing features. Certain of these bicycles have been referred to as 'sportive' bicycles to distinguish them from racing bicycles

Compared to other styles of bicycle, road bicycles share common features:

The tires are narrow, high-pressure (100 psi (700 kPa) or higher), and smooth to decrease rolling resistance

The handlebars are bent ("dropped") to allow the rider position to be leaned forward and downward, which reduces the forward vertical cross sectional area and thus highly reduces the air resistance

They usually use derailleur gears; however, single-speed and fixed-gear varieties exist

They either use disc brakes or rim brakes (although there might be technical differences, for example, road bike caliper brakes use shorter and wider pads than mountain bike cantilevers)

The bicycle is of a lightweight construction

The term road bicycle can also describe any type of bike used primarily on paved roads, in contrast to bikes primarily intended for off-road use, such as mountain bikes. Several variations of road bikes include:

Touring bicycles are designed for bicycle touring: they are robust, comfortable, and capable of carrying heavy loads

Hybrid bicycles are designed for a variety of recreational and utility purposes. While primarily intended for use on pavement, they may also be used on relatively smooth unpaved paths or trails.

A flat-bar road bike also called a fitness bike, is a relatively new style of bicycle. It is simply a road bike fitted with a flat handlebar and MTB-style shifters and brake levers.[5][6] This combination provides a light, fast bike with a more upright riding position that is more comfortable and gives a better view of traffic. Flat bar road bikes is commonly used for commuting, urban and fitness