Whether tackling long climbs, battling windy flats or carrying as much speed as possible through corners, these race bikes are designed to be as fast as possible. Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, we have a separate guide for the best budget road bikes. Choosing the best road bike for your requirements is not as straight forward as it once was, thanks to huge advancements in material, design and manufacturing processes. Road bikes have now branched out into many different categories and specialities, from featherweight climbers and supersonic racers, to mile-munching endurance machines and everything in between.
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 huffy mountain bike 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.
Sharing features of Giant’s more expensive bikes, the Contend has a compact frame with a sloping top tube, D-Fuse seatpost and carbon fork. That gives great comfort and handling, letting you ride for longer and inspiring confidence. Though still technically an “entry-level” road bike, this offering from Schwinn is well suited for group rides, races, and will last year after year.
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.
Specialized’s new integrated bar and hidden cable routing aren’t too difficult to work with and there’s more tyre clearance – up to 32mm. The CAAD13 has long and low geometry paired with handling which is second to none. Priced low enough to be a first bike it’s a frame that you won’t outgrow. You also need to look at how much you want to spend on a bike. That’s not just the initial outlay, but the cost of replacing worn or damaged parts, the cost of servicing your bike and the cost of any upgrades. There’s a big difference in price between lower spec mechanical parts and top of the range electronic gearing.
The Emonda lineup is very extensive, though, and at last count Trek was offering 13 different versions of the Emonda! But the entry-level Emonda choice is the one that we would recommend from Trek, at this price point. The Topstone is actually a pretty massive lineup of bikes — positioned just under the Synapse lineup which has become a little too pricey to be “entry level” in our book. Some Topstone models can be found at the entry-level price point, and depending on componentry will typically be found for $1,000 to $2,000. We are obviously focused on the entry-level price point for this article, so are talking about the alloy frame. The one that we recommend is the Topstone 1, a great alloy bike that gives you an excellent ride on both fast pavement and hardpack gravel , and is even a good commuter bike — an excellent all-around model.
They’re the parts that grip the rim to hold the tire on the wheel. Box-section rims are light, accelerate quickly, and provide the most comfort. Aero-shaped rims are stronger, have less wind drag, and are stiffer . It’s important to consider wheel feel when you’re test riding bikes. You may hear that aluminum has a more jarring ride than the other frame materials. These allow the frames to absorb shock better than ever while still offering the lively ride that makes aluminum so popular.
It is simply a road bike fitted with a flat handlebar and MTB-style shifters and brake levers. This combination provides a light, fast bike with a more upright riding position that is more comfortable and gives a better view in traffic. Flat bar road bike are commonly used for commuting, urban and fitness riding. When you throw a leg over a road bicycle from Spokes Etc., you know you’re getting a fast, fun ride from the best brands out there. We’ve got from Trek, Specialized and more, to get you on the race course, in the group ride, or on your next solo adventure. The frame is made using the TCC Endurance lay-up, which BMC says is designed to take the edge off rough roads.
The SV in the name stands for Super Veloce , and tells you all you need to know about the bike’s intentions. The design features a fork/tyre/wheel interface that offers wider spacing to maximise airflow and reduce drag, while the fully integrated cockpit houses all cables internally. Even its paintwork is aero, with Basso claiming it contains compacted ceramic nanoparticles less prone to drag and dirt contamination. In the highly competitive aero road bike category, the Basso Diamante SV stands out as a super-fast machine that offers impeccable value for money when compared with its closest rivals. A stalwart of Vitus’ lineup, the ZX1 EVO got a makeover for 2021, redesigned for wind tunnel excellence.