The triangular cross-section wheels that form a teardrop with the tire greatly affect the performance of a racing bike. The wheels rotate at high speeds; consequently their moment of inertia matters a lot. The rim of the wheel can be shaped for greater aerodynamic efficiency making a triangular cross-section to form a teardrop with the tire. However, for hill climbing, the traditional box-sectioned rim is often used. It is generally better to reduce the number of spokes in the wheel for aerodynamics and rotating weight. The spokes can be shaped to have a bladed cross-section for high-end wheel sets and for reducing wind resistance.

The most common material for a wheel rim of a racing bicycle is aluminum alloy. It is very light weight which can be molded carbon fiber rim compared to a metal rim. These aluminum rims can easily crack and chip when the wheel punctures. In fact these exotic materials, race-grade wheel sets are very expensive. A rider generally is comfortable with the cheaper and heavier wheels for training.

The tires of the racing bicycle is lightweight, narrow, and have a thin, smooth tread which leads to reduce both air resistance and rolling resistance on the road. They are inflated to a high pressure, typically around 8 bars. Recently, the most racing bicycles used a tubular tire which has no beads and they are sewn around the tube and glued to the rim. In fact some manufacturers are creating tubular-clincher tires, where the tires are sewn around the tubes and have a bead, there is some debates of advantages and disadvantages as to the effectiveness of a tubular-clincher tire.

The racing bicycle has a unique carbon frame. The race bicycle components are collectively mentioned as the groupset excluding to the frameset, fork, wheelset, bars, stem, pedals, saddle and seatpost. The maintenance and the performance of the bicycle is depends upon the quality of the groupset.

The most of the racing bike is used as a component of Carbon-fiber which includes a high-end shifters, brake levers and cranks. Besides this, carbon-fiber is also used to make stems, handlebars, shoe soles, forks and seat posts. That is why the carbon fiber is very light and has high capacity to absorb vibrations.

Here are some of the important specifications of racing bicycles are:

* Wheels should be of equal diameter -- between 70 cm and 55 cm -- and have a minimum of 12 spokes ;

* The maximum length should be 185 cm and the maximum width 50 cm;

* The saddle should be between 24 cm and 30 cm in length

* The distance between the bottom bracket spindle and the ground should be between 24 cm and 30 cm

* The maximum internal distance between the front fork ends should be 10.5 cm, and of the rear stays 13.5 cm;

* The minimum weight of the bicycle should be 6.8 kg.