Road cycling is the most widespread form of cycling in which cyclists ride on paved roadways. It includes recreational, racing, commuting, and utility cycling. As users of the road, road cyclists are generally expected to obey the same laws as motorists, however there are certain exceptions.

Broadly speaking, anyone who rides a bicycle on paved surface streets and roads — as opposed to off-road trails, backcountry landscapes, beaches or uncharted wilderness — is a road cyclist, whether the purpose of that cycling is errand running, messengering, commuting, recreating, exercising, adventuring, touring or racing.

Just as its name implies, the discipline of road cycling takes place on paved roadways. Considered to be the most traditional, popular and purest form of bike racing, road cycling takes on many different forms. Events contested on the road include Time Trials, Road Races, Stage Races, Criteriums, Circuit Races, and Team Time Trials.