What makes a bike a road bike and not something else?
What are the defining characteristics?
Discuss...
I don't even have to read the thread to know where this is going...it's gonna be a fail because your OP fails to be more specific with terminology. The term 'road' bike is short for 'road racing' bike. The distinction is important...any bike can be ridden on the road, but a 'road racing' bike has specific characteristics that distinguish it from other types of bikes.
Now we can continue without getting side-tracked with the "a road bike is any bike that is ridden (rode?) on the road" defense.
I'll send you a bill for saving your thread from failure.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey