Road Riding; blend exercise with yoga-ish focus, add incredible scenery and an activity that can totally change depending on who you're riding with. Road riding is a magical combination of the human machine and the bicycle to move at incredible speeds and cover incredible distances.

If flipping channels is exciting for you, chances are you won't appreciate road riding. For the rest of you, here we go.

Does this speak to you? If not, you are dead inside.

8 Things you need to know

1. Forget your modesty. Spandex is frightening in regular life but serves a purpose on a road bike. You'll cut through the wind, reduce abrasion on your private parts and look funny in the mirror. Life is cruel to some of us.
2. Pain? Your ass will hurt at first. No matter how good or expensive your saddle, the first rides of the season will cause discomfort. Suck it up. If you don't find relief after your third ride, buy a better saddle.
3. Straight legs are for tables. Your legs should not straighten completely at the bottom of the pedal stroke - go directly to Bike Bros, get fitted, quit wrecking your knees.
4. Pump up your tires. Riding tires at, or close to maximum pressure will make your bike roll easily and significantly reduce chances of flat tires.
5. Take plenty of water, a small tool kit, small pump, wind vest and a credit card. The water should be sipped regularly. The other stuff will just sit there and do nothing. On the other hand, if you don't have it, that'll be the ride your derailleur will get tweaked, you'll pop a tire and get the urge for a coffee at your destination.
6. Think posture. Try to keep your upper body relaxed. Keep arms and shoulders loose or you'll waste valuable energy looking like a statue.
7. Be a geek. A bike computer is your friend. Get one with cadence so you can be sure you're pedalling in the zone - the zone ranges from 80-100+ rpm - this is where you get max output from min input.
8. Wear a helmet. Riding a wheelchair is way less fun than riding a bike.

We think of road riding as a pure form of rewarding exercise. Many think of road riding as a form of racing. I am a pansy. I don't train to ride. I ride to ride. Kudos to all you uber athletes - you have my respect.

New road bikes are expensive. Old road bikes suck. Hence the need for a new bike.

Here are some tips

1. Road Bikes start at $800 and sky is the limit after that.
2. $800 bikes weigh 23-24lbs. $6000 bikes weigh 15lbs. Part of what you pay for is saving weight.
3. From cheapest to expensive, Shimano components groups are; Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra and finally Dura Ace.
4. If you are lardy, have pasty legs and are using your road bike to decorate your car please avoid Dura Ace. You are wasting a valuable resource - incredibly good components.
5. Shimano isn't the only game in town. Yes, Campagnolo and SRAM make excellent road groupos, but we aren't European and this isn't a mountain bike discussion so we like Shimano. Any road riding purists that disagree probably don't like us anyways.
6. Steel is real. Light weight cromo road bikes are beautiful and have the nicest "feel". Well engineered carbon bikes virtually simulate the feel and save you precious ounces, if not pounds.
7. Road Bikes are not touring bikes. Don't load road bikes with bulky, heavy paniers. You will experience endless flats, be uncomfortable and potentially damage your bike. We can get you into a touring bike if that is your goal!

Gears: Road Bikes need gears - lotsa them. This is the key to keeping your cadence (pedalling speed) in that max output/min input mode. If you are new to road riding, ignore the purists and get a bike with a triple (3chainrings on the cranks). This is the only way you'll enjoy riding the hills.

Modern road bikes have either 20, 24, 27 or 30 gears. The shifting is indexed, meaning your shifter clicks into each gear - when adjusted correctly (we are the only shop in the world that can do this) the shifting will be smooth, quiet and quick. These days, if you hear "10 speed", that refers to the number of sprockets on the rear wheel - resulting in up to 30 speeds (10X3).

Frames & Forks: Carbon is light, strong and absorbs vibration. More carbon is generally good. A mix of carbon and aluminum can be an excellent combination of vibration damping and stiffnes.

Attack A sudden attempt to get away from another rider

Blocking When a rider tries to get in the way of other riders, usually done as part of a team strategy to slow down the main field when other team members are ahead in a breakaway

Bonk Known as "hitting ht wall" in marathon running, this is when a rider completely runs out of energy

Boink If you're lucky, you get this from your partner (and a massage) following each ride. If you're unlucky, you can't do this because you have been riding a bad saddle for too long.

Breakaway When a rider or group of riders is attempting to reach a group farther ahead

Breaking Away A classic cycling movie

Bridge the Gap When a rider or group of riders is attempting to reach a group farther ahead

Chasers Riders who are attempting to "bridge the gap" to catch the lead group. Can also refer to whatever follows cheap tequila.

Compact Cranks with only two, smaller sprockets than traditional. They provide a wider range of gears.

Criterium A multi-lap event on a course usually a mile or less in length and of medium total distance, usually 25-75 miles

Derailleur The mechanism that moves the chain from one gear to another

Director Sportif Pronounced "Director sporteef" this is the manager of the team

Domestique A rider who sacrifices any individual honors to the team leader who is in contention to win

Drafting Riding closely behind another rider, which creates a slipstream, or air pocket. The lead rider expends up to 30 percent more energy than the following rider does

Drop To leave another rider or riders behind by attacking. Losing contact with the group in which they are riding will drop fatigued riders

Echelon A line of riders taking orderly turns at the lead and staggered so that each rider will get maximum protection from the wind. Also called a "pace line"

Feeding At some point during a long road race it is necessary for riders to replace expended energy. Riders are given a "musette," a small cloth bag, containing food and water bottles. Riders grab the bag from the team support personnel, remove the contents and put them in the pockets of their jerseys to eat when most convenient. They generally prefer high-energy foods that break down quickly.

Field The main group of riders, also known as the "pack," "peloton," or "bunch". If you are riding in Banff and you pass Field you have gone too far.

Field Sprint The final sprint between a group of riders, not necessarily for first place

Force the Pace When one rider goes harder than the pack to increase the tempo

Gap The distance between individual or groups as well as the difference between good clothes and ducky clothes.

Hammering Very steady, strenuous pedaling usually done with baggy -80s style pants, as in Hammer Time. Also called "jamming"

Hanging On Barely keeping contact at the back of the pack

Hook When one rider, either on purpose or by accident, uses his/her rear wheel to hit the front wheel of the rider behind him/her.

Jump A sudden acceleration, often at the start of the sprint. Or a Van Halen tune, often at the front of 1984 album, as in hide - your buddies are coming over.

Kick The final burst of speed in a sprint

Lead Out An international and often sacrificial move where one rider begins a sprint to give a head start to another rider (usually a teammate) on his rear wheel, who then comes around at an even faster speed to take the lead.

Neo-Pro Cycling's term for a rookie at the professional level

Pace Line See "echelon"

Pack See "field"

Peloton See "field"

Prime Pronounced "preem." A race-within-a-race where riders sprint for prizes on a designated lap or at a certain point in a race, i.e., the "sponsor" Teamwork Challenge. Also known as a the stupidest thing you will ever do for a free water bottle.

Pull To take a turn at the front and break the wind for the other riders in the pack.

Pull Off To move to one side so that another rider can take a turn at the front.

Pull Through Move to the front of a pace line, from second spot, after the lead riders swings off to the front.

Roadie Someone who rides a road bike. Also someone who is good with duct tape.

Road Rash A term for the scabs and marks caused by a crash. Ouch!

Sitting In When one rider refuses to take a pull and break the wind for the group in which he/she is riding. A derogatory term is "Wheel Sucker"

Slipstream The pocket of air created by a moving rider, just as in automobile or motorcycle racing. See "drafting". Also see what is in your parent's driveway - the silver thing.

Soigneur Pronounced "Swa-neur" Comparable to a trainer in other sports, this person gives massages and watches the physical health of the riders along with the team doctors

Spinning Pedalling at a high cadence.

Sprint A sudden burst of speed for the finish of a race involving more than one rider. Also a 1000-meter event on a bicycle track called a "velodrome."

Stage Race A series of individual races- time trials, road races, circuit races or criteriums - grouped into one event that lasts several days. The rider who has the lowest accumulated time for all stages determines the winner. The most famous stage race in the world is the Tour de France, which spans 2,500 miles in 21 or 22 days.

Take a Flyer When one rider goes off the front of the pack, usually alone.

Time Trial An individual race against the clock, often called the "race of truth."

Tri Bike A bike specifically designed for triathalon racing. Has steeper seat-tube and aero bars. These designs are forbidden in road racing because they do not follow the guidelines established to control bike design. The price tag will ensure you don't confuse with tri-cycle.

Track Bike A bike designed for Velodrome racing. True track bikes have one fixed gear, are very light, have short cranks (so the pedals don't hit the steeply banked velodrome corners.)

Triple A term for cranks with 3 gears or what you order after a bad race.

Velodrome An oval banked track, usually 333.33 meters in length. In general, track riders and road riders compete in separate kinds of events. The difference in training and ability is similar to the difference between sprinters and long-distance runners.

Wheel Sucker A derogatory term, referring to a rider who always sits in and never expends any energy by taking a pull at the front.

Consider this price point if road cycling will be a "once in a while" hobby. These bikes provide you with a light bike with 24 gears that work well. These bikes will typically offer a more upright seating position and longer wheel-base for comfort and predictable stearing.

Giant Defy 3 (mens) $999 Shimano Sora 24 speed weight:

Giant Avail 3 (Ladies) $999 Shimano Sora 24 speed weight:

Giant's Defy and Avail bikes share the same Shimano Sora 24 speed drivetrain, Alluxx frame, and carbon fork. The difference between the mens and ladies models is the frame geometry and handlebar width. Both frames evenly balance the fit for power & comfort.

Marin Venezia $1189 SALE $1099 Alloy & Carbon Fiber frame 27 Speed Shimano Sora/Tiagra mix Ergo road bars!

So this is the first bike to incorporate CARBON FIBER into the frame - making for a phenomenal vibration-free ride at a very attractive price. Your hands, shoulders, back and bum will all appreciate this standout in road comfort.

2010 Giant Defy 1 (mens) $1589 Shimano 105 30 speed

Giant Defy 1 (mens) $1599 Shimano 105 30 speed

Giant Avail 1 (Ladies) $1599 Shimano 105 30 speed weight:

Giant's Defy 1 and Avail 1 bikes share the same Shimano 105 30 speed drivetrain, external bottom bracket, Alluxx frame, and carbon fork. The difference between the mens and ladies models is the frame geometry, saddle and handlebar. Both frames evenly balance the fit for power & comfort.

Once prices break the $2000 pricepoint, start looking at details. Two bikes may look very similar but a change in crank, wheels, handlebars or even tires can make one bike stand out for value. You can expect all the bikes above $2000 will perform incredibly well and that, for the most part, component upgrades have a lot to do with weight savings, stiffness or aerodynamics. At $2500 many bikes will weigh about 19 lbs, at $3500 - 16.5 lbs, while at $5000 weights will drop to about 15 lbs. This is called diminishing returns boys and girls - welcome to buying fancy stuff.

09 Marin Verona '10 price $2310 '09 sale $1999 Shimano 20 speed 105/Ultegra FSA SL-K Light Carbon Compact cranks

I can personally vouch for the Verona. After owning 2 of these I believe I can say, "I walk the talk" or perhaps "I ride the talk". That is why, when Marin Canada had a few remaining at the end of the 2009 season, I happily offered to take them if we could sell them for under the magic $2000 price point. The 2009 and 2010 versions of this bike differ only in colour so it is a great opportunity to get performance at a discounted price.

20 Speed Shimano Ultegra/105 is the base, add an excellent aluminum/carbon frame, real Mavic wheels and you're onto something good. These bikes MUST be ridden to be appreciated. The swoopy hydraformed frame offers much more than distinctive looks. The curves reduce vibration, provide stiffness where needed and "give" where it isn't.

A big standout here is the FSA Carbon Cranks - reducing weight and contributing to reduced vibration entering the feet and legs.

There are some bike brands synonymous with the Tri/TT market. Before buying amazing marketed Tri bikes - the ones almost all the sheeple are riding, consider the Giants. there are 2 reasons to go with a Giant. Because of what you get - these are truely superior bikes at any given pricepoint. Because of what you don't get - read the reviews. Overpriced, well marketed bikes should not break - in which case the big "C" shouldn't have broken frames and forks, shouldn't have crappy brakes - but they do. Selling the big "C" would be very easy for us except we'd rather sell a few bikes we believe in than a pile of bikes that are over priced and brake and make people all look the same.

Giant Trinity Sale $1499 Shimano 105

Giant Trinity A2 Sale $1999 size M The "A" stands for Alliance - a frame that is half carbon/half aluminum.

Alliance frames use Giant's proprietory way of making a great 1/2 carbon 1/2 aluminum bike. The result is amazing stiffness where needed, amazing supple feel, and impressive light weight. This bike is amazing for the money.

Cyclocross bikes have become very popular in recent years. Riders are using these bikes to race, commute and even for touring purposes. Heavy riders find cyclocross bikes are a great choice, even as a road bike, because of their extra ruggedness, forgiving handling and strong brakes. These can be fabulous commuter bikes! Fast meets Efficient meets Tough.

Giant TCX 2 $1119

I find cyclocross bikes are just sexy. My brother bought one of these to use both as a highway ripper and bike path cruiser. The handling is more relaxed: head tube angle is shallower, wheel base is longer, canti brakes allow broad range of tires and work awesome. Did I mention these bikes have the mounts for fenders and panniers - a tire switch from a nice touring ride.