CyclistAero vs all-round race bike: Which one is best for you?These days shopping for a new bike can be tricky. With so many different options across more genres than ever, finding whats right for your kind of riding isnt easy.If youre craving speed on the road, whether that be in levelling up your current setup, taking part in sportives, doing actual races or simply riding faster day to day, the choice boils down to two types of road bike: an aero road bike or more of an all-rounder lighter in weight but slightly less aerodynamic.That goes some way to make the choice easier on paper, but do you actually know which of the two would make your ride faster? To answer that, lets take a look at the pros and cons of aero and all-rounder bikes separately, and how they compare to bikes that attempt to balance the two.Which is faster and where?By breaking down the different kind of riding you might do or want to do, if youre preparing for a big challenge you can then make an informed decision on what your next bike should be (and read on for specific suggestions on a pair of highly capable models).One big change in the bike industry over the past few years is the sidelining of the outright lightweight road category at the pro level. Thats largely down to brands now being able to find enough general weight savings to get all-round race bikes down to the UCI minimum weight limit of 6.8kg without the need for major aero sacrifices. Yes, you can still get lighter, but not while staying within the UCI rules, and the latest all-rounder bikes are as light as previous generations of outright lightweight bikes anyway.Conversely, while you might also see the top pros riding aero bikes on mountain stages, thats because the speeds theyre hitting on the WorldTours toughest climbing tests are high enough for aerodynamics to still make a difference.The consensus from extensive real-world testing is that aerodynamics generally starts to come into play at around 15kmh, meaning that from those speeds, the scales start to tip in the favour of aero bikes and kit over lighter weight equipment; and the faster the rider the more difference it makes. In terms of gradient, its generally on gradients of around 6% that weight starts to gain in importance though that is still dependent on speed.With all that in mind, for most regular riders a fully flat ride will be quicker on an aero bike than on a slightly lighter but slightly less aero all-round race bike.From there, the hillier the ride the quicker the speed balance tilts in favour of the all-rounder. But where is the sweet spot?If youre doing big days in the mountains, the weight savings of an all-round race bike is what you need. Testing has shown that a 100km ride with a big climb such as a Cyclist magazine Big Ride is considerably faster with that kind of bike.The same could be said for tough British sportives such as the Fred Whitton. but unless youre seeking out all the hardest climbs in your area, most riders averaging 30kmh or more will gain more from an aero bike.Its important to note that spec plays a massive part in this too, and a bit of extra investment often goes a long way in saving weight or adding aero when it comes to wheels, groupset or handlebars.Something else to consider is that part of the gains that many aero bikes provide come from putting the rider in a more aggressive riding position, reducing the area that has to cut through the wind. For many people this can become uncomfortable over long rides, so unless speed is your only concern, all-round race bikes generally though not always put the rider in a more sustainable position.You should also factor rolling resistance into your equations, with tyre width playing a big role in how smoothly you roll over the tarmac. That again depends on where you actually ride, with poor road quality something British riders will be all too familiar with making a wider tyre a highly recommended spec choice. For smooth tarmac, 28-30mm is ideal, otherwise 32mm tyres set up tubeless allow you to run lower pressures without the risk of pinch flats, helping you roll over most lumps and bumps.Which race bike is right for me?Taking all of those considerations forward, each bike type still offers many options, but British brand Ribble seeks to make the choice easy.If speed is what you need, its ULTRA-AERO and ULTRA-RACE models tick all the boxes that road riders could need.The ULTRA-AERO SL R is Ribbles all-out fastest bike, with the frame design and component choice heavily influenced by extensive wind-tunnel testing to make it the only choice for flat and fast riding. The super-aero component list is headlined by Ribbles ULTRA-AERO handlebars and full bike weight ranges from 8.2kg to 9.3kg, depending on spec.For hill-seekers, the Ribble ULTRA-RACE comes close to the lowest limits of the UCIs rulebook for racing, with the lightest spec choices coming in at just 7kg in a medium size, and the frame itself comes in at just 775g.The breadth of those two bikes ranges includes both pro-race level builds and more affordable options for those looking to level up their riding within a more restrictive budget.Save up to 1,550 on Ribbles aero and racing bikes this Black FridayRest assured, though: affordable doesnt mean slow, and with Ribbles Black Friday discounts, the ULTRA-RACE and ULTRA-AERO SL R are at more accessible prices than ever.Until 11.59pm on Tuesday 1st December, you can get a black colourway ULTRA-RACE specced with Shimano 105 Di2 for just 2,799 a saving of 650 or with Ultegra Di2 for just 3,599 a huge saving of 1,050. Youll struggle to find that kind of value for a racing calibre bike equipped with electronic shifting anywhere else.The Ribble ULTRA-AERO SL R has similarly mouth-watering prices, with the ULTRA-AERO SL R 105 Di2 reduced to 2,549 a saving of 1,200 and the Ultegra Di2 build a massive 1,550 cheaper at 3,199. Or you can opt for the range-topping ULTRA-AERO SL R Dura-Ace Di2 for 5,549, saving a phenomenal 1,900.These prices are exclusive to Black Friday, so whether youre a speed demon in the market for an upgrade or youre eyeing up a dream Christmas present for a fast loved one, youll need to be quick with this one. Shop the Ribble Black Friday saleThe post Aero vs all-round race bike: Which one is best for you? appeared first on Cyclist.