Wilier is kind enough to offer some very nice paint jobs as well – matte black with white detailing, matte velvet red and a glossy admiral blue. The matte black frameset is slightly lighter, but go for the red or blue for that essential touch of Italian flair. Geometry and handling is lifted straight from the brand’s dedicated race bike, the Tarmac SL7, and is supremely precise in its cornering and weight distribution.
Say what you will about Pinarello’s Dogma but it has won seven of the last 10 Tours de France. The latest iteration of the Italian brand’s aero racer is the Dogma F12, and it’s the first race bike from Pinarello to come with discs from the outset. It’s quite a big deal given in 2017 Fausto Pinarello famously declared he wasn’t convinced high-performance bikes needed disc brakes. The rim brake version also swaps from a single bolt to direct mount brakes. For 2021, the Giant TCR commits entirely to disc brakes, and is given a huge dose of aero-consideration, including updated tube shapes and new wheels from Cadex.
BMC has also employed what it calls Angle Compliance technology, which is marketing-speak for flex built into the fork, seat stays and seat post. Canyon claims its Ultimate CF Evo is the lightest carbon disc brake frame on the market which is paired with a feathery 285g fork. Canyon state that this frameset, including handlebar, stem and seatpost, weighs 1.51kg. Not only is the frameset light, but Canyon confidently back up the stiffness of the frame which they say has been achieved using their most advanced carbon layup.
We’ve tested hundreds of huffy mountain bike here at Cycling Weekly, so here is our top advice for choosing our pick of the best road bikes at different prices. If you click on this then we may receive a small amount of money from the retailer when you purchase the item. Keep in mind that while these are solid entry-level bikes, the lower prices mean you’re going to compromise on at least some level of component durability and riding comfort. Road bikes can be as easy or complex as you want them to be, so once you’ve got the basics down, whatever comes next will be based on your preferences and how the bike meets your evolving needs and capabilities. It’s best to pick out the features and components that best meet your needs, then see what the bike costs. It’s less expensive to get the frame, wheels and components you want initially than to upgrade later.
The Apex gives you a durable all-road bike, and we find the drivetrain to be excellent. We don’t expect to see you drop many chains — the shifting is smooth. The Co-Op brand is backed by the large retailer REI, and we are certain that REI has the resources, reach, and attention-to-reputation that will motivate them to make the Co-op lineup enduring. Plus, we really like the value that the bike provides for a newer rider. At the same time, some of the other bikes that used to be on our list just got too darn expensive. They are still great bikes, but we can’t in good conscience tell you that a $4,000 bike is really an entry-level option.