Spokes are designed to be flat and aerodynamic so they chop through wind. If you look at the top competitors' wheels at the Classic, you'll probably notice fewer spokes than on many conventional road bikes. Pros often use special wheels on bikes they ride just during time-trial events, when shaving hundredths of a second can be the difference between first and second place. These wheels have rims with a deep-dish look, with an extremely narrow front profile. Road-bike tires are thin but extremely strong.
Most pros use tires known as tubulars, in which the tire and inner tube are sewn into one unit.
Tubular tires are glued to the rim. The extremely high tire pressures dramatically reduce resistance and boost speed. Gears Most road bikes use nine-speed gear clusters, also known as cassettes. Italian manufacturer Campagnolo introduced a 10-gear cluster last year that some European pros have been using. Gears and other drivetrain components can be made from exotic metals and alloys.