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

Racing bicycle

A racing bicycle, also known as a road bike, is a bicycle designed for competitive road cycling, a sport governed by according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale...

. 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 bicycle

Racing bicycle

A racing bicycle, also known as a road bike, is a bicycle designed for competitive road cycling, a sport governed by according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale...

s.

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

• The tires
  Bicycle tire
  A bicycle tire is a tire that fits on the wheel of a bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, quadracycle, bicycle trailer, or trailer bike. They may also be used on wheelchairs and handcycles, especially for racing...
  
   are narrow, high-pressure, and smooth to decrease rolling resistance
  Rolling resistance
  Rolling resistance, sometimes called rolling friction or rolling drag, is the resistance that occurs when a round object such as a ball or tire rolls on a flat surface, in steady velocity straight line motion. It is caused mainly by the deformation of the object, the deformation of the surface, or...
  
  .
• They usually use multiple derailleur gears; however, single-speed
  Single-speed bicycle
  A single-speed bicycle is a type of bicycle with a single gear ratio. These bicycles are without derailleur gears, hub gearing or other methods for varying the gear ratio of the bicycle....
  
   and fixed-gear
  Fixed-gear bicycle
  A fixed-gear bicycle is a bicycle that has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast, as the pedals are always in motion when the bicycle is moving....
  
   varieties exist.
• The bicycle is of a lightweight construction.

The term road bicycle can also describe any type of bike used primarily on paved road

Road

A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...

s, in contrast to bikes primarily intended for off-road use, such as mountain bike

Mountain bike

A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...

s. Several variations of road bikes include:

• Touring bicycle
  Touring bicycle
  A touring bicycle is a bicycle designed or modified to handle bicycle touring. To make the bikes sufficiently robust, comfortable and capable of carrying heavy loads, special features may include a long wheelbase , frame materials that favor flexibility over rigidity , heavy duty wheels , and...
  
  s are designed for bicycle touring
  Bicycle touring
  Bicycle touring is cycling over long distances – prioritizing pleasure and endurance over utility or speed. Touring can range from single day 'supported' rides — e.g., rides to benefit charities — where provisions are available to riders at stops along the route, to multi-day...
  
  : they are robust, comfortable, and capable of carrying heavy loads.
• Hybrid bicycle
  Hybrid bicycle
  A hybrid bicycle is a bicycle designed for general-purpose utility and commuting on a wide variety of surfaces, including paved and unpaved roads, paths and trails...
  
  s 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.
• Utility bicycle
  Utility bicycle
  A utility bicycle is a bicycle designed for practical transportation, as opposed to bicycles which are primarily designed for recreation and competition, such as touring bicycles, racing bicycles, sport/training bicycles, and mountain bicycles. The vast majority of bicycles can be found in the...
  
  s are designed for utility cycling
  Utility cycling
  Utility cycling encompasses any cycling not done primarily for fitness, recreation such as cycle touring, or sport such as cycle racing, but simply as a means of transport...
  
  : are a traditional bicycle for commuting, shopping and running errands in towns and cities.
  • Roadster
    Roadster (bicycle)
    A roadster, aka English roadster, is a type of utility bicycle once common in Britain and still very common in Asia, Africa, Denmark and the Netherlands, however, during the past several years, traditionally styled roadster bicycles have gained considerable popularity in the United States and...
    
     a specific form of the utility bicycle developed in the UK.
• Recumbent bicycle
  Recumbent bicycle
  A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons; the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks...
  
  s are designed for variety of recreational and utility purposes, but are characterised by the reclined riding position in which the cyclist is seated.

• Vintage road bicycles, also known as classic lightweight bicycles, are generally older bicycles with frames which are manufactured using steel
  Steel
  Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
  
   tubing and lugs
  Lugged steel frame construction
  Lugged steel frame construction is a method of building bicycle frames using steel tubing and sockets, called lugs. For most of bicycle's history steel has been the primary material for bicycle frames, with lugged construction the primary assembling method...
  
  . Certain examples of this bicycle type have become collectors' items, with potential values of several thousand dollars
  United States dollar
  The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
  
  . Other cyclists prefer this type of bicycle to those manufactured using modern techniques because they are "practical, versatile, durable, repairable, and timeless, regardless of current popular trends."
• A flat bar road bike
  Flat bar road bike
  A flat bar road bike is a relatively new style of bicycle. It is simply a road bike often fitted with MTB-style shifters, brake levers and a flat handlebar. This combination provides a light, fast bike with a more upright and neutral riding position. A flat bar road bike is most commonly used for...
  
  , also called a fitness bike is a relatively new style of bicycle. It is simply a road bike fitted with MTB-style shifters, brake levers and a flat handlebar. This combination provides a light, fast bike with a more upright and neutral riding position. A flat bar road bike is most commonly used for commuting, urban and fitness riding.