Biking is such a popular sport and there are many wide varieties of bikes on the market, in a varied pricing range. But for those serious athletes, the custom-built bike might be the way to go.
Ever heard of Randonneuring? Sounds French, doesn't it? Well, the sport originated in France, but is becoming more and more popular in the United States.
Randonneuring is "long-distance unsupported endurance cycling." You may have heard of it as "Ultra Long Distance Cycling."
The joy of this sport is that it is non-competitive. Riders indulge in friendly camraderie, not trying to drive each other into the ground. And because the rides are "unsupported" - the idea is to be self sufficient.
There are many events held for Randonneur riding, but the names of winners are not posted. Rather, the names of the riders who have finished the course are posted in alphabetical order. It's not about beating anyone, it's about challenging yourself.
These events consist of rides of 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1000 KM for individual riders. Each of these distances
is called a "brevet." There are probably events being held in your area, even if you've never heard of them before. Search the web under "randoneuring" or "ultra long distance cycling" and you'll find any local clubs.
Now, it's when road riders want to participate in racers and ultra long distance cycling that they'll want a custom-built road bike rather than one purchased just off the rack.
It's not that bikes purchased just off the rack aren't perfectly serviceable for most riders, but serious athletes - professionals, and those just below the professoinal level - will certainly want a custom-built bike - one that is precisely fitted to their body. (Customized bikes, and custom-built bikes, are two different things. Customized bikes swap out various pieces for better fitting pieces, whereas custom-built bikes are built to certain specifications from the ground up.)
Triathletes are another group of people who need custom-built bikes. In a triathlon, the participants have to swim, cycle and then run for certain distances. It's an incredibly grueling sport and so the cycle has to be the lightest, the most sturdiest, and the best fitted piece of equipment they have.
Many bike companies offer customized road bikes, and while they are expensive, they're not as expensive as they used to be because with new technology always comes lower prices. It's possible to purchase your customized bike from a local dealer, but for a custom-built bike, most likely you'll have to go online.
Companies that offer custom-builds include Guru, Waterford, and Titus. Do a search on the web to find them, and they'll tell you all the information you need to know to get a custom-built bike.
Alastair Hamilton loves writing for http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . A website with tips on road bike reviews, and many related topics: http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/road_bikes.html
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