We’d all love to ride pro-level superbikes, but budget tends to dictate otherwise. Don’t despair though, the best road bikes under £2,000 are seriously good. Right now there are bargains to be had on outgoing 2019 models, and shiny 2020 ones are also appearing in bike shops. We’ve rounded up the best sportive bikes, endurance machines and racers for your delectation. Our buyer’s guide to the best road bikes Best road bikes under £600 Best road bikes under £1,000 Best bike: what type of bike should I buy? The best road bikes under £2,000 in 2019, as rated and reviewed by our expert testers Cannondale CAAD12 105: £1,399.99 Giant TCR Advanced 1: £1,899 Giant TCR Advanced 2: £1,599 B’Twin Ultra 920 AF / Van Rysel RR 920 AF: £1,199 Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra: £1,899 Cannondale SuperSix Evo 105: £1,800 Canyon Endurace AL Disc 8.0: £1,649 Canyon Endurace AL 8.0: £1,179 Canyon Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 7.0: £1,849 Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc: £1,999 Giant TCR Advanced 3: £1,399 Kinesis Racelight 4S Disc: £700 (frameset) Merida Reacto 5000: £2,000 Orbea Orca M30/M32: £1,499 Rose Pro SL Disc-2000 (Disc 105): £1,406 Trek Domane SL 5: £2,450 Trek Émonda ALR 6: £1,600 The bikes listed above all scored at least 4.5 stars out of five when our team of experienced riders put them to the test. Read on for comprehensive buying advice and our complete list of high scoring bikes. If up to £2,000 is still too heavy on your wallet then take a look at our best road bikes under £1,000. Or, if you can stretch your budget a little, there are some fantastic options in our round-up of bikes under £2,500. The best £2,000 road bike for you and your riding If you need some help with what to look for in a road bike, read out our comprehensive guide here and watch our video primer below. Plenty of great bikes fall into the £1,000 to £2,000 price range. So many in fact, that picking one can be quite a headache — so you need to have a clear idea of what you want. The main thing to bear in mind is while all the road bikes in this price bracket are suitable for any type of tarmac-related riding, they start to become more tailored to specific purposes — branching off down either the sportive/endurance or racing route. Generally speaking, endurance bikes will offer a more relaxed, upright riding position. Matthew Allen / Immediate Media Generally speaking, at this price, weights will drop and you may start to see features that have trickled down from the bikes ridden by the pros. Aero optimisation, for instance, whether it be the shape of the frame’s tubes, the position of the brakes or the depth of the rims. You can also expect a higher grade of materials and components. Carbon is more common, but there’s still a place for aluminium at these sorts of prices. In fact, the best aluminium frames are considerably better than some of the entry-level carbon options. These days, good aluminium is often better than cheap carbon. Matthew Allen / Immediate Media Whatever you go for, it can be worth prioritising the frame over the components at this price, doing so will give you a great platform that can be upgraded with better parts as the ones supplied wear out. Read on for summaries and reviews of the best road bikes under £2,000. Cannondale CAAD12 105 5.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Cannondale CAAD12 is an example of just how good alloy bikes can be. Cannondale £1,399.99 One of the best aluminium frames on the market, better than cheap carbon Wonderful handling, composed and smooth ride Good, if unremarkable spec The CAAD12 105 was our Bike of the Year in 2016, and while the bike has been replaced by the CAAD13 for 2020, it’s still worth considering, particularly if you can find one of the remaining models at a reduced price. Cannondale is the master of aluminium and the Smartform C1 6069 frame is one of the best out there, outperforming budget carbon and giving mid-range stuff a run for its money too. It’s matched to a super-light full carbon fork, and while the build isn’t exactly generous, there are no big misses. Read our review of the Cannondale CAAD12 105 (2016) Latest deals for the Cannondale CAAD12 105 Giant TCR Advanced 1 5.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The TCR is still one of the best all-round race bikes. Courtesy £1,775 as reviewed, now £1,899 Affordable version of one of the best all-round race bikes The Giant TCR has gone through many iterations and it is deservedly still ranked among the most capable, rounded race bikes. It’s smooth and comfortable but properly racy, and Giant is generous with the spec too. The 2019 and 2020 models get the latest Ultegra R8000 components with a modest price increase. Read our review of the Giant TCR Advanced 1 Latest deals for the Giant TCR Advanced 1 Giant TCR Advanced 2 5.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The 105-equipped TCR is phenomenal value for money. Russell Burton / Immediate Media £1,449 as reviewed, now £1,599 BikeRadar’s Road Bike of the Year 2018 is an amazing performer and great value for money Rim brake model gets full 105 groupset and is set up tubeless out of the box The Giant TCR has been around seemingly forever and each successive generation has impressed us. This particular bike took top honours in our 2018 Bike of the Year mega-test. The Advanced 2 model gets a really nice carbon frame and a more-or-less full Shimano 105 groupset. For 2020, it’s the latest R7000 version. The TCR is a wonderfully lively ride that manages to be quite comfortable too. As a bonus, its wheels are set up tubeless out of the box. Read our review of the Giant TCR Advanced 2 Latest deals for the Giant TCR Advanced 2 B’Twin Ultra 920 AF / Van Rysel RR 920 AF 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The B’Twin Ultra AF is a whole lot of bike for the money. Matthew Allen / Immediate Media £1,199 Great riding alloy with a mind-blowing spec Ultegra R8000 groupset, Mavic Cosmic Elite wheelset Latest model does away with silly hidden rear brake Now replaced by identical Van Rysel RR 920 AF Sports giant Decathlon produces a number of exceptionally well-specced bikes. Previously, most fell under the B’Twin name, but a branding shake-up has seen the higher end road models relaunched as Van Rysels. The current Van Rysel RR 920 AF is identical in spec to the old B’Twin Ultra 920 AF. The RR920 AF is built around a smart aluminium frame and although it’s not particularly light, the ride is exciting and refined. Ultegra shifting is a huge bonus at this price point, and the Mavic Cosmic Elites cost twice as much as the entry-level wheels typically found on bikes at this price point. The hidden rear brake was noted as a downside in our review of the previous version of this bike, but the latest models do away with this. The bike also got an upgrade to the latest Ultegra R8000 groupset and an updated version of the Cosmic wheels. The price increased at the same time, but we reckon it’s more than worth the extra. Read our review of the B’Twin Ultra 920 AF Latest deals for the Van Rysel RR 920 AF Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Cannondale CAAD12 is a benchmark for aluminium bikes. Russell Burton / Immediate Media £1,899 Top-spec rim brake version of Cannondale’s universally loved alloy racer Ultegra R8000 with Mavic Aksium wheels The CAAD12’s alloy frameset is one of the best on the market and whatever the build it doesn’t disappoint. The 12 has actually been discontinued in favour of the new CAAD13 for 2020, but there are still bargains about on the outgoing model. The top-spec version gets the latest Ultegra bits and Mavic Aksium wheels, plus Cannondale’s own rather tasty Hollogram Si cranks. It’s never going to be a cosseting endurance ride, but the CAAD12 remains an outstanding choice thanks to fantastic power transfer and racy handling. Read our review of the Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra Latest deals for the Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra Cannondale SuperSix Evo 105 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The outgoing SuperSix Evo remains a very good buy, if you can find one. Courtesy £1,800 Outgoing version of one of our favourite race bikes 105 shifting and a full carbon frameset The SuperSix Evo is one of our favourite race bikes, a consistent high-scorer with a sublime ride. For 2020, it’s been replaced by an all-new design with dropped seatstays and aero features, but the outgoing bike remains a great buy, particularly if you can find it at a knock-down price. The Evo offers a mixture of 105 components with Cannondale cranks, wheels and finishing kit. Read our Cannondale SuperSix Evo 105 review Latest deals Canyon Endurace AL Disc 8.0 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); Commutes and hillier rides were tackled with measured and smooth-rolling ease. Canyon £1,649 Buy the Endurace AL Disc 8.0 now from Canyon Quality aluminium frame with a great build spec Shimano Ultegra groupset plus Mavic Aksium wheels The Endurace AL Disc has consistently scored well in our tests, offering great ride quality, a good looking frame, and a seriously competitive spec for the money. It’s a better all-rounder than many carbon bikes at this price level, and you do get a full-carbon fork in any case. Generous gearing means it’s ideal for beginners and riders who live in hilly areas, while big tyre clearances add versatility. Canyon’s sizing is a little bit odd and the bike doesn’t have mounts for mudguards or luggage, but otherwise there’s little to fault. Read our Canyon Endurace AL Disc 8.0 review Latest deals Canyon Endurace AL 7.0/8.0 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Canyon Endurace AL 7.0 is fantastic value for money. Immediate Media £1,049 as reviewed, now £1,179 Buy the 2019 Canyon Endurace AL 8.0 now from Canyon Engaging ride Great value for money Accomplished but understated It’s not the most exciting thing to look at, but the Endurace AL is one of our favourite entry-level bikes because it combines a flawless spec with outstanding ride quality. You get a full Shimano Ultegra groupset, apart from the chain, along with Mavic’s trustworthy Aksium wheelset shod in the finest Continental rubber. Relaxed geometry means this isn’t a racer, but it manages to be both lively and remarkably comfortable. Canyon made some changes to its line-up back in 2018 and the current Endurace AL 8.0 is the direct equivalent of the old 7.0. The current model gets Shimano’s latest Ultegra R8000 groupset. If that’s too rich for your blood, the 105-equipped AL 7.0 costs £999. There’s also a disc version, which is one of our favourite affordable disc bikes. Read our review of the Canyon Endurace AL 7.0 (2017) Canyon Endurace AL 6.0 wins Budget Road Bike of the Year 2017 Latest deals Canyon Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 7.0 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Canyon Endurace WMN features women’s specific geometry. Russell Burton / Immediate Media £1,799 when reviewed, now £1,849 Buy the Canyon Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 7.0 now from Canyon Comfy, versatile endurance bike designed for women Two smallest sizes get 650b wheels to keep handling consistent across range Where Canyon previously offered women’s bikes that shared frames with their unisex counterparts, the latest WMN range has its own geometry, along with finishing kit that is entirely tailored to female riders. In its two smallest sizes (XXXS and XXS) the Endurace WMN comes with smaller-than-standard 650b wheels, which are intended to keep handling consistent across the range. The Canyon is a comfortable endurance machine with a handsome carbon frame, 105 shifting, and decent DT Swiss wheels. When we reviewed it, it had the lump RS505 hydraulic levers, but the current model gets the much more aesthetically pleasing 105 R7000 version. Read our review of the Canyon Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 7.0 Latest deals Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc offers racy handling and disc-brake confidence. Ben Healy / Immediate Media £1,999 Aggressive racer with discs Ultegra shifting with non-series cranks 2020 bike gets fully hydraulic braking The TCR has long been something of a benchmark for race bikes, and the Advanced 1 Disc carries on the tradition of being incredibly capable. As well as a top-notch carbon frame, this spec gets you Shimano Ultegra shifting (upgraded to R8000 for 2018). The 2019 bike used Giant’s own Conduct system to marry mechanical levers to hydraulic disc brakes but the 2020 model gets proper hydraulic Ultegra levers. The fit will be too aggressive for some, but if it suits then the TCR won’t disappoint. Read our review of the Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc (2017) Latest deals for the Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc Giant TCR Advanced 3 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Giant TCR Advanced 3 offers huge upgrade potential. Giant £1,199 as reviewed, now £1,399 Thrillingly responsive front end Rigid frame with a racy feel Ideal platform that won’t be eclipsed by upgraded components The TCR Advanced 3 may only get 10-speed Shimano Tiagra, but the trade-off is a great frame that’s responsiveness puts to shame plenty of bikes costing as much. Tiagra’s brakes aren’t quite as good as 105, but the shifting is on par and there’s a good spread of gears on offer. Overall, this is a seriously impressive machine that offers racy geometry without being too extreme. It’s also very upgrade worthy, a great place to start. Read our Giant TCR Advanced 3 review Latest deals for the Giant TCR Advanced 3 Kinesis Racelight 4S Disc 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Racelight 4S Disc is well suited to UK riding. Phil Sowels / Immediate Media £1,700 (as tested) / £700 (frameset) Buy the 2018 Kinesis Racelight 4S Disc frameset now from Merlin Cycles (frameset was £700, NOW £440) Buy the 2019 Kinesis Racelight 4S Disc frameset now from Merlin Cycles Versatile all-season road frame takes disc or rim brakes Sold as a frameset, so build is up to you Kinesis is well known for its cheerfully versatile, UK-friendly bikes and the Racelight 4S Disc continues in that vein. It’s sold as a frameset so the build is up to you, but our reviewer appreciated the simplicity of a 1× SRAM Apex setup. Unusually, the 4S accepts both disc and rim brakes. It takes full mudguards too, making it ideal for winter training. Read our review of the Kinesis Racelight 4S Latest deals Merida Reacto 5000 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Reacto 5000 is surprisingly comfy for an aero machine. Merida £2,000 Aero racer with great ride quality and handling Ultegra shifting plus a mixture of other components The more affordable version of the aero Reacto gets Merida’s slightly less aggressive CF2 geometry There are some compromises on the spec – 105 brakes in place of Ultegra, an FSA crank, somewhat average own-brand wheels – but the Reacto is a solid performer. It’s surprisingly comfy for an aero bike and stiff enough to climb and sprint well too. Read our review of the Merida Reacto 5000 Latest deals for the Merida Reacto 5000 Orbea Orca M32 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Orca M32 carries on a long line of desirable Orbeas. Immediate Media £1,499 Entry level version of an old favourite Refined ride, sharp looks Orbea’s Orca has been around in various forms for years and it’s always been good. The latest model is an achingly trendy dropped-stay superbike, but the more affordable models are well worth considering. The M32 variant we reviewed was kitted out with Campagnolo’s mid-range Centaur groupset and its entry-level Calima wheelset. It’s not in the range anymore, but the same money now gets you the Shimano 105 equipped Orca M30. Read our review of the Orbea Orca M32 Latest deals for the Orbea Orca Rose Pro SL Disc-2000 (Disc 105) 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); Rose’s affordable disc road bike has a great spec and a really nicely finished alloy frame. Matthew Allen / Immediate Media £1,197 when reviewed, now £1,406 Buy the Rose Pro SL Disc 105 now from Rose Bikes Great all-round ride, excellent spec with proper hydraulic brakes Top-notch alloy frame, which is better than cheap carbon Renamed the Pro SL Disc 105 some time ago, Rose’s affordable disc road bike offers a very appealing combination of looks, ride quality and spec. The alloy frame is particularly well finished for the money and it looks (and rides) better than some cheap carbon bikes. The lumpy Shimano RS505 shifters have been replaced by 105 R7000 units on the latest model. Along with other 105 components, Mavic Aksium Disc wheels and a full carbon fork, that’s a generous spec for the money, although it’s not as cheap as it used to be. Read our Rose Pro SL Disc-2000 / Pro SL Disc 105 review Latest deals for the Rose Pro SL Disc 105 Trek Domane SL 5 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); Now even the more affordable carbon Domane gets front and rear IsoSpeed. Russell Burton / Immediate Media £1,900 when reviewed, now £2,450 105-equipped version of Trek’s universally liked endurance bike IsoSpeed bump absorption front and rear smooths out every road The Trek Domane shook up the world of endurance road bikes with its clever IsoSpeed rear shock absorber. The latest versions of the bike add front IsoSpeed too, giving a smooth ride on poor roads, one reviewer described it as “making 25mm tyres feel like 28s”. The bike isn’t super-light and at current prices the 105-based spec isn’t exactly generous, but the Domane is worthy of consideration for its outstanding ride quality. Read our review of the Trek Domane SL 5 Latest deals Trek Émonda ALR 6 4.5 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Trek Émonda ALR6 is very lightweight and comparable to some carbon frames. £1,600 Buy the 2019 Trek Émonda ALR now from Evans Cycles (featuring Shimano 105 R7000) (now £1,350) A standout bike regardless of its frame material Comes with a full Shimano Ultegra groupset Nimble, exciting ride Trek’s aluminium Émonda puts cheap carbon to shame with a nimble, assured ride and a total weight of just 7.75kg for our 58cm test bike. Shimano’s outstanding Ultegra groupset takes care of shifting, while the wheels and finishing kit is all decent stuff from in-house brand Bontrager. From the 2019 model year onwards, Trek has offered a disc version, and the rim brake model has been upgraded to direct mount brakes. Read our review of the Trek Émonda ALR6 (2016) and Matthew Allen’s long-term review of his custom SRAM eTap equipped ALR Latest deals for the Trek Émonda ALR All-City Cycles Mr Pink 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The All-City Cycles Mr Pink is a classy steel machine. Jack Luke / Immediate Media £1,900 as tested, £1,000 frameset Classy steel frame, optional carbon fork If you don’t mind the slight weight penalty, there’s a lot to like about a classy steel frame like that of the Mr Pink. It’s an elegant machine that offers a ride that’s firm, smooth and racy, and it’s practical too thanks to mudguard mounts and generous tyre clearances. The Mr Pink is sold as a frameset, but £2,000 or so will get you a very nicely specced bike. Read our full All-City Cycles Mr Pink review, plus Jack Luke’s long-term review of the steel fork Mr Pink Classic Latest deals BMC Teammachine SLR03 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The BMC Teammachine SLR03 offers a near-pro-bike experience at a more realistic price. Courtesy £1,599 when reviewed, now £1,999 Racer that benefits from pro bike trickle-down Latest version gets more up-to-date cranks BMC doesn’t give you as juicy a spec for your money as some brands, but the trade-off is a ride that isn’t as far off the pro-level version of this bike as you’d expect. The SLR03 has the same geometry as the top-end model and offers a firm, racy ride. Shimano 105 takes care of shifting, and the (slightly more expensive) current version of this bike comes with four-arm cranks that look more up-to-date than the non-series ones on our review bike. Read our review of the BMC Teammachine SLR03 Latest deals for the BMC Teammachine SLR03 Canyon Endurace AL Disc 7.0 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The disc version of Canyon’s Endurace AL has lots to offer. Russell Burton / Immediate Media £1,349 Buy the Endurace AL Disc 7.0 now from Canyon Disc version of one of our favourite affordable bikes 105 shifting plus RS505 hydraulic brakes The Endurace AL has long been a BikeRadar favourite, offering generous specs and great all-rounder performance at an impressively low price. The previous model got those aesthetically unappealing RS505 hydraulic levers, but they’ve since been upgraded to the more svelte 105 R7000 version. Read our review of the Canyon Endurace AL Disc 7.0 Latest deals Condor Fratello Disc 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Fratello is a versatile steel machine that you can tailor to your needs. Dave Caudery / Immediate Media £849.99 frameset when reviewed (now £899.99) / £1,825 as tested Buy the Fratello Disc frameset now from Condor Versatile steel machine ideal for commuting, training and more Sold as a frameset, so build it to suit your riding Condor has added discs to its versatile all-weather Fratello, a bike that’s ideal for long winter miles, commuting or a bit of light touring, thanks to its full mounts for guards and a rack Sold as a frameset rather than a complete bike, the Fratello uses Columbus Spirit steel, and comes with a carbon-legged fork. We tested the bike with Shimano 105 and TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes, but you can build it however you like. It’s a ride that provides plenty of feedback without being harsh or aggressive. Read our review of the Condor Fratello Disc Latest deals Condor Italia 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Condor Italia is an aluminium bike with a old-school aesthetic Condor £749.99 frameset / £1,966 as tested Buy the Italia frameset now from Condor Tradition winter bike or commuter with rim brakes Available as a frameset or complete bike The classic formula of an affordable aluminium bike that accepts full mudguards has endured for good reason. The Italia is available however you want it, whether that’s ready-built or as a frameset alone. It rides well and, while it lacks disc brakes, it’s a solid choice for year-round training, commuting or even light touring. Read our full Condor Italia review Latest deals Focus Izalco Race 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Focus Izalco Race is good value and offers racy handling. Robert Smith / Immediate Media £1,399 when reviewed, £1,699 current Izalco Race 9.7 Buy the 2020 bike now from Wheelbase Racy handling with upgrade-worthy frameset 105 components The Izalco Race is the most affordable version of Focus’s flagship carbon racer. It’s heavier than its Tour-level counterpart, but retains much of the same racy personality. The latest version gets Shimano’s excellent mid-level 105 R7000 components along with DT Swiss alloy wheels. Read our Focus Izalco Race review Latest deals Focus Paralane AL 105 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Focus Paralane AL is a comfy all-weather machine. Focus £1,499.99 when tested, £1,699 current Paralane 6.8 Versatile aluminium distance machine with relaxed geometry 105 shifting with hydraulic discs Likeable all-rounder only undermined by sub-par mudguards The Paralane is built for comfort over long distances, with modern frame design and a super-skinny seatpost for compliance. It’s fairly well specced, with proper hydraulic brakes for all-weather performance and 105 shifting. The version we reviewed had RS505 levers, but the current Paralane 6.8 model gets updated 105 R7000 levers. The bike ships with mudguards as standard, but we found them disappointingly noisy, the only real flaw in an otherwise excellent bike. Read our Focus Paralane AL 105 review Latest deals on the Focus Paralane 6.8 Genesis Equilibrium 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); This harks back to a golden age of steel frames with straight tubes and narrow tyres. Courtesy £1,400 Classic Reynolds 725 steel frame Shimano 105 R7000 components plus mediocre Promax brakes Mounts for mudguards and a rack In a world of fancy carbon and deep section wheels, the Equibrium is a pleasing throwback with its slender steel frame and classic styling. It’s a super-smooth ride that’s ideal for commuting or long leisurely rides. The only letdown is the sub-par Promax brakes which Genesis persists in fitting. Read our Genesis Equilibrium review Latest deals Merlin Roc Disc Ultegra 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); This isn’t a bike built for speed… this is a mile eater, and a very good one. Courtesy £1,559 Versatile all-weather aluminium bike Full Ultegra R8000 hydraulic disc groupset Despite old-school touches, including a 31.6mm seatpost and quick-release skewers rather than thru-axles, we rate the Roc for its excellent all-round ride and overall value for money. With mounts on the frame for mudguards and/or a rack and big tyre clearances, it’s well suited to training, commuting or a spot of touring. A full Ultegra groupset is a bonus at this price, while the rest of the kit is more than adequate. Read our review of the Merlin Roc Disc Ultegra Latest deals for the Merlin Roc Disc Ultegra Scott Addict 30 Disc 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); Scott’s Addict range has switched from racing to endurance. Scott Bikes £1,899 Endurance disc bike with Tiagra hydraulics Not light, but ride quality is excellent The Addict name used to apply only to hardcore race bikes, but it’s now used on endurance models like this one. The Addict 30 Disc is a plush machine with 32mm tyres that smooth out the worst roads. With Tiagra-level hydraulics it’s not particularly light, but the Addict makes up for it with impressive comfort and impeccable descending manners. Read our review of the Scott Addict 30 Disc Latest deals for the Scott Addict 30 Disc Specialized Allez Sprint Comp Disc 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); The Allez Sprint Comp Disc offers peerless handling and enormous speed potential. Courtesy £1,900 Aggressive racer with a super-stylish aluminium frame Shimano 105 hydraulic groupset with Praxis Zayante cranks While the standard Allez has long been Specialized’s entry-level road bike, the more aggressive Sprint model gets a completely different frame with a distinctive aero section seat tube and a unique manufacturing process that moves the welds away from the tube junctions. This Allez is a fast and firm ride — not the best for all-day rides, but well suited to racing and fast training miles. The spec isn’t amazing for money, but the fundamentals are good, with hydraulic discs supplying great braking. Read our Specialized Allez Sprint Comp Disc review Latest deals Trek Émonda SL 5 Women’s 4.0 out of 5 star rating Buy now from {merchant} ({price}), {merchant} ({price}) and {merchant} ({price})."> (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = "//knl.mntzr11.net/widget/intext/app.bundle.js"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: "knl.mntzr11.net", shopId: 608, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); //trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })(); Trek’s Emonda range focuses on light weight as opposed to aero. Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media £1,800 Unisex frame gets women’s-specific finishing kit 105 groupset plus in-house finishing kit Trek has abandoned women’s-specific geometry in favour of unisex frames and gender-specific contact points. The Émonda SL 5 is a lightweight climber’s bike that leans towards the racy end of the spectrum. It’s a firm ride, but one that’s well suited to go-fast riding. The 105-based spec is decent for the money and while there’s plenty of scope for future upgrades, it’s well-enough equipped out of the box. The 2019 and 2020 bikes get the latest R7000 version of the groupset. Read our review of the Trek Émonda SL 5 Women’s Latest deals for the Trek Émonda SL 5 Women's

Buying a bike is a big decision not only because bikes are expensive, but because you’re probably going to be spending a lot of time with your chosen ride. The best cyclocross bikes | Rated and reviewed by BikeRadar’s experts What is cyclocross? And how can I get into it? 10 ways cyclocross is like heavy drinking With a new wheel size, style of riding and axle standard being announced seemingly every week, it can be hard to wade through all the information and varying opinions to decide what to spend your hard-earned cash on. So, in an effort to cut through all of the noise, here are five solid reasons your next N+1 should be a cyclocross bike. What is a cyclocross bike? A cyclocross bike is a specific form of drop-bar bike that is built to tackle the popular racing discipline that is cyclocross. Today’s cyclocross bikes have moved a long way from their origins as lightly modified road bicycles and now feature as a dedicated model in the line-up of most large bicycle manufacturers. Built to race on courses that often traverse muddy fields, grass or sometimes sand, the bikes feature many differences from regular road bikes. Cyclocross bike frames will use geometry that is optimised around navigating the technical courses these bikes are designed to tackle. It’s typical to find a shorter frame reach, taller bottom bracket and an altogether taller position than a regular road bike, for example. Muddy courses call for knobbly tyres and plenty of mud clearance at the frame and fork. Technologies previously reserved for mountain bikes such as disc brakes and tubeless tyres are increasingly becoming the norm for CX bikes. Many but not all cyclocross bikes will include the mounts and fixtures necessary to fit racks and mudguards too. Couple this with a cyclocross bike’s ability to tackle a wide range of terrain and you can see why many people buy these bikes for commuting purposes. Although similar on the surface, cyclocross bikes are not to be confused with gravel bikes. Gravel bikes usually have more relaxed geometry than their ‘cross cousins and will use tyres that are wider but less aggressive than those on ‘cross bikes. 5 reasons why your next bike should be a cyclocross bike 1. Cyclocross bikes are very versatile Rack mounts and knobby tyres allow ‘cross bikes to be extremely versatile. Colin Levitch / Immediate Media Not long ago it was hard to find a ’cross bike that had bolts for a bottle cage, but now bike brands have cottoned on to how awesome CX bikes are for things that don’t necessarily revolve around mud, sandpits and flyovers. With a set of knobby tyres (which come stock on a ‘cross bike) you’re ready to hit the trail, gravel, mud, sand and just about anything else. But, if you throw a set of slicks on you’ll blend in just fine on a roadie group ride, just don’t forget your #sockdoping socks. They make great commuters with a comfortable, relatively upright riding position and wheels and tyres designed to take a beating. With a set of mudguards a ’cross bike is just about the perfect ride to get you from point A to point B and back. The rack, fender and pannier mounts, and their ability to tackle varied terrain, also mean they make for great touring rigs too. The advent of gravel bikes has muddied the waters a bit with geometries very similar to CX bikes, but often with more tyre clearance and the ability to run 700c, 650b wheels and wider range gearing. Even still, most CX bikes can handle substantially bigger tyres than the UCI-mandated 33c rubber, and a quick cassette swap will leave you with a capable gravel racer. In fact, the previous generation Specialized CruX was a favourite gravel racer among BikeRadar staffers, and we’re even seeing some brands such as Cannondale repackage CX race frames as gravel bikes with little more than a few component swaps. 2. Cyclocross bikes can make ideal winter bikes With the ability to tackle on and off piste terrain, a CX bike will allow you to explore more of your surrounding area. Colin Levitch / Immediate Media While it’s not really much of an issue in Australia, in the UK and certain areas of the US having a winter and summer bike is almost a necessity, especially where it snows. Snow-packed roads, gravel dumped by snowploughs, and black ice can be a bit too much for your race-ready roadie. The longer wheelbase offers a bit of added stability in low-traction situations and the slightly shorter top tube and more upright geometry put you in a better position to control the bike when things get squirrely. CX bikes also have a bit of extra tyre clearance, so when the snow, ice and general grime that comes with winter arrives it won’t slow you down. 3. Cyclocross could be the most fun you’ve had on two wheels They might look similar to road bikes, but ‘cross bikes bring their own kind of fun. Russell Burton / Immediate Media ’Cross racing started as a way for road racers in 1900s’ Europe to stay fit during the winter. They would race each other from one town to another but were allowed to cut through farmers’ fields or over fences, or take any other shortcuts, in order to get there first. Having evolved from a winter pastime for pro roadies, the bikes are designed to handle a bit of everything but lack the specificity of other bike genres. Compared to a mountain bike a ’crosser is not particularly capable and your road bike will be much faster, more efficient and probably weighs less too. But that’s part of what makes these burly drop bar bikes so much fun. That bit of fire trail near your house that’s beyond boring on a mountain bike is gangbusters on 33c knobby tyres. Same goes for that washboard and loose gravel road that’s terrifying on your roadie, it’s no sweat on a CX bike. Being just good enough at everything, a ’cross bike will allow you to explore new roads and trails in your area and have more fun on your bike. 4. Cyclocross riding will improve your skills Riding a CX bike will help you to improve your handling skills. Colin Levitch / Immediate Media Riding a cyclocross bike will make you into a better rider, especially when you leave the pavement. Because the skinnier tyres have less grip and don’t roll over roots and rocks like MTB tyres, you have to work harder to maintain control over your bike. All of this sliding through corners, fishtailing in the mud, skidding on gravel will teach you not to panic when things go a bit sideways and help you develop the skills needed to keep things upright when disaster strikes both on and off road. 5. Cyclocross racing is amazing This writer’s favourite part about CX racing is the mud. Colin Levitch / Immediate Media Cyclocross racing is the fastest growing segment of racing and for good reason, it’s also the most fun! The races last about an hour and, like criteriums, are based on a time limit rather than a set distance. However, unlike criteriums, you’re not screaming around a track in a tight bunch where a lapse in concentration leads to a pile of mangled carbon and loads of road rash. When you crash in a cyclocross race, you’ll probably do it with a smile on your face. The races often take place in your everyday suburban park on a closed course and are essentially an obstacle course, but for bikes that involve riding, running, jumping and sometimes even crawling under obstacles. The Flash does occasionally make an appearance at your local cyclocross race. Colin Levitch / Immediate Media What’s more fun is the atmosphere, it feels a bit more like a party than a race. No CX event is complete without costumes, beer and a rubber chicken or two. Oh and there’s mud, and who doesn’t love getting a little muddy?

We’re well versed in electric bikes and we’ve all seen adventurous looking bikes laden with bikepacking kit, but e-assisted adventuring could well be the next big thing (possibly). Marin recently launched its Pine Mountain E, a trail bike with a definite hint of adventure about it. Now, the brand has teamed up with Apidura to create a, thus-far, one-off frame bag specifically for the bike. The Pine Mountain E, based on the do-it-all Pine Mountain, is a steel adventure-cum-trail bike with geometry that suggests it should be ideal for spins round your local woods. A Shimano STEPS motor gives you that big-mile range. All our Eurobike 2019 coverage Top 5 bike packing bikes All you need for a bikepacking adventure Shape wise, the Pine Mountain E’s frame is long, with a 475mm reach (on a size large), 66-degree head and 75-degree seat angles, and fairly lengthy 450mm chainstays. If anything, this bike should be nice and stable, laden or not. Shimano’s motor drives the bike. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Up front, there’s a 120mm fork (the new RockShox 35 on the pricier Pine Mountain E2 model), while the bike also rolls on plus-sized Vee Rubber tyres — 27.5 × 2.8in. The Pine Mountain E is driven by a Shimano SLX/XT 12-speed groupset, with a Sunrace cassette, and Shimano’s four-pot M520 brakes bring it all to a halt. The frame is packed with adventure-ready details, not least the 11 bolt bosses inside and outside of the main triangle. The standard Pine Mountain has even more, with Marin envisioning that its bolt placement could help form a bolted standard for bikepacking accessories. Marin has added a number of bolt bosses to the frame to make fitting bags and accessories easy. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Further to the number of bosses are the handlebars, which have an extra cross-bar across the riser section, onto which a bar roll could easily be slung. Apidura’s prototype custom frame bag Apidura has included a compartment for a spare battery. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Thumb screws should make fitting or removing the bag nice and easy. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Marin has added a number of bolt bosses to the frame to make fitting bags and accessories easy. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Apidura’s hydration system is easily removable for refilling. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media The tube exits the front of the bag, and loops round to clip on to the bike’s cables for easy on-bike access. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media The bottle sits neatly in the front of the frame bag. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Marin is using a down tube mounted 500Wh battery. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media RockShox’s 35 fork offers big hit chassis capability. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Shimano’s 4-pot brakes should offer ample stopping power. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Vee Tire Crown Gem tyres in their 2.8in width. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media The added strut across the top of the bar should be handy for strapping bits and pieces to. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media The Pine Mountain E could well be a great addition to a fleet of bikes, but it’s the Apidura prototype bag that finishes this particular package off. Apidura has a widening range of high-quality bike-packing bags, from frame bags to saddlebags. This one has been designed specifically for this bike, with the most obvious feature being its cut-out around the battery. Hidden within the ripstop nylon bag though are a couple of smart touches. By the seat tube there’s a compartment designed specifically to carry a spare battery — after all, if your ride is long enough to need luggage, there’s a fair chance the standard 500Wh battery won’t be enough. Apidura has included a compartment for a spare battery. Tom Marvin / Immediate Media Held neatly at the front of the pack is an integrated drinks reservoir, with the hydration tube popping out of the front of the pack and looping round to a clip on the bike’s exposed gear cable outer. Attaching the bag looks like it could be a hassle, however inside is a plate with thumb bolts to attach it to the frame’s bolt bosses. Both zips and magnetic tabs are used to close and secure the bag. At present, this is just a concept or prototype bag. Demand is likely to be relatively limited, so it’s unlikely to come to market. However, this demonstrates the possibilities that are there for integrating frame bags into a wide range of bikes, and may hint at a potential future for longer distance adventuring (though, we’d recommend you also pack your bike’s charger…). More details on the Marin Pine Mountain E are available on Marin’s website, while Apidura has plenty of packs already available on its site.

Brompton has today unveiled the Brompton Explore, its own take on an adventure bike that’s designed to take you on longer expeditions out of the city. If adventuring on a Brompton strikes you as odd, let’s not forget that the small-wheeled folding bike has already been pedalled around the globe by Heinz Stucke, ridden at the South Pole by a research scientist and completed countless journeys between Land’s End and John O’Groats over the years. Here’s what you need for a bikepacking adventure 5 reasons why you should get your friends into cycling With the bike’s compact nature lending itself well to upping sticks and heading out of the city with only the essentials in hand, Brompton has drawn upon its surprisingly rich heritage of exploration. Developed with micro-adventurer Alastair Humphreys, the Brompton Explore is claimed to be purpose-built for expeditions, with increased comfort and carrying capabilities, and adventure-friendly spec choices. “The Brompton Explore provides unparalleled freedom to those with a sense of adventure,” says Joel Natale, Brompton’s head of product. “It’s as simple as packing the bag and jumping on the nearest bus, train or plane to escape the city for a long weekend.” The Brompton Explore will retail from £1,525, with several options available direct from Brompton’s website. Brompton Explore specifications, price and options With its compact design, it’s a great option for packing light. Brompton While the bike itself is still recognisable as a Brompton, it’s had some subtle spec changes to make it more suited to loaded and long-distance riding. It comes with several buying options, and a choice of M-type or H-type handlebars. These are the best suited options for long-distance comfort according to Brompton. What seems to be missing, however, is a set of mudguards. According to the brand, this is to reduce weight, as well as the risk of dragging on uneven surfaces, but it does mean that all-weather adventurers need to brace themselves for soggy bottoms. Lower gearing The Brompton Explore has a 6-speed internal gear hub with what is claimed to be reduced gearing, though the actual gear ratio is yet to be confirmed. We do know that it’s paired with a 44t chainring, though. A 6-speed internal hub gear promises lower gearing for longer and more complex journeys. Oli Woodman / Immediate Media Schwalbe Marathon Racer Tanwall folding tyres The Explore sports 16 x 1.35in Schwalbe Marathon Racer folding tyres to give the best all-round comfort and durability. Plus, it’s bang on trend with the tanwall. Matching the tyres are gum rubber grips in the same tan colour. Their softer compound is claimed to provide a more comfortable ride over long distances. The folding Schwalbe Marathon Racer Tanwall tyres are exclusive to Brompton. Oli Woodman / Immediate Media Saddle upgrade Keeping things comfy at the rear is the Brooks Cambium C17 All Weather saddle. This is a good choice for longer riding, and when we reviewed it we found it to emulate the comfort of a broken-in leather saddle, but straight out of the box. The Brooks Cambium C17 saddle doesn’t need breaking in. Oli Woodman / Immediate Media Adventure essentials Brompton has tried to make sure the Explore is equipped with everything you might need to get out on your first adventure. It comes with a decent-sized bag, a pouch with essentials included, and a brochure to inspire you to plan your journey. 28-litre roll-top bag Up front there’s a custom Camo fabric roll-top bag with a 28-litre capacity. It features Fidlock closures on its rear pockets, a dedicated water bottle sleeve and an extra load strap system for securing additional accessories. In keeping with the brand’s long-standing bag mount system, the roll-top bag fits securely to the front of the bike. The 28L capacity bag comes included. Oli Woodman / Immediate Media Explore pouch The Brooks Cambium C17 saddle and essentials pouch. Brompton If you’re heading away from civilisation, you need to take your essentials with you. Brompton has made this super easy by supplying each model of the Explore with a purpose-built pouch, complete with the necessary contents, which include: Two Impac inner tubes Four spokes (two front, two rear) One chain quick-link Replacement brake pads (front and rear) Rim tape One 3-speed gear cable One rear brake cable One folding Marathon Racer folding Tanwall tyre Brompton toolkit with extra repair patches Brompton pump The essentials pouch comes fully equipped with everything you might need. Brompton

In the world of professional road racing, tubeless tyres remain a novelty. The vast majority of pros ride traditional tubular tyres glued to tubular-specific rims, and while there have been notable instances of pros racing on tubeless, there’s been little evidence of a sea change in attitudes towards tyre technology. Best road bike tyres in 2019: everything you need to know Continental has FINALLY developed a tubeless road tyre — GP 5000 TL first look It feels like we’ve been on the verge of road tubeless going mainstream on the consumer side for years. Every mainstream wheel maker now offers tubeless versions of its wheels and almost every big player in tyres has in some way jumped on board, albeit with varying levels of commitment. This year, however, we’ve seen racers at the highest level of the sport competing on tubeless tyres: Fabio Jakobsen took stage four of the Tour of California and his Deceuninck–Quick-Step team has lined up at a number of races with bikes wearing Specialized’s new tubeless Turbo RapidAir, a tyre first spotted at the Tour Down Under on none other than Peter Sagan’s bike. Alexander Kristoff triumphed at Gent–Wevelgem on tubeless Vittoria Corsa tyres, and a number of his UAE Team Emirates colleagues were riding the same setup at this year’s Tour de France. Several teams seem to be dabbling with the technology, and some have dived in headlong. Elite women’s squad Canyon//SRAM and men’s Continental outfit Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes are both racing tubeless, the former on Schwalbe’s newly-revised Pro One, the latter on Maxxis Padrone tubeless tyres. I asked a number of key players in the world of wheels and tyres whether tubeless will replace tubulars in the pro peloton, and the responses I’ve received suggest that while the industry is strongly behind tubeless and believes in the technology, we’re some way from a tipping point in the upper echelons of racing. Standardisation across the industry may change that very quickly, but that remains to be seen. The bodies responsible for overseeing the wheel and tyre industry — ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) — are in the process of issuing updates to the regulations governing the sale of tubeless tyres. With potentially greater clarity for consumers and far fewer compatibility issues between different brands of tyre and wheel, this could be a very significant moment for tubeless, paving the way for more widespread adoption of the technology. Thanks go to Continental, Hunt, Mavic, Schwalbe, Specialized, SRAM and Stan’s NoTubes for their assistance in researching this piece. What’s the point of road tubeless anyway? The purported advantages of tubeless are well-trodden ground, with manufacturers claiming lower rolling resistance and citing the convenience of having punctures self-heal when using sealant. Without a tube, pinch flats cease to be an issue, so it’s possible to run lower pressures than you would otherwise, increasing comfort and grip. Tubeless is a bit of a no-brainer for mountain bikes, where pressures are much lower and the risk of pinch flats with tubes is high. Alex Evans Tubeless technology has taken over almost completely in mountain biking, at least in enthusiast circles. Inner tubes aren’t likely to be going anywhere at the lower end of the market where marginal performance gains take second place to everyday simplicity. Tubeless has also made considerable inroads in the worlds of gravel and cyclocross, where tyre widths in the 32 to 50mm range dominate and the advantages remain clear-cut. The case for road tubeless is more nuanced. While the same theoretical advantages apply on the road, it is debatable whether the average rider will realise those advantages. Those who are plagued with punctures or who desperately seek lower pressures have a clear motivation to go tubeless, but if a conventional clincher setup satisfies your everyday riding needs, the case for sloshing sealant around is weaker. Tubeless setup and maintenance can be messy at times, even if you do everything right. Jonny Ashelford / Immediate Media The pitfalls of tubeless gone awry are enough to put many riders off, but the balance could tip in tubeless’ favour if new standards can alleviate concerns over mounting and seating tyres, as well as actual safety. Tubeless really is faster Lower rolling resistance is clearly an advantage that matters to racers, and there seems to be consensus across the industry that the best tubeless tyres really do roll faster than the best tubulars (and the best conventional clinchers). Specialized, for example, claims its newly launched Turbo RapidAir tubeless race tyre saves 2.8w at 40km/h against its tubular counterpart (in lab conditions with a 45kg load, at 7 bar / 101.5psi) while Schwalbe’s new Pro One is claimed to best the Pro One HT tubular by an astonishing 17 watts at the same pressure and the slightly higher speed of 45km/h. (The load wasn’t specified.) Specialized claims its new tubeless tyre is both faster and grippier than a comparable tubular. Specialized And if you head to Bicycle Rolling Resistance and do some side-by-side comparisons, the tubeless options invariably win out. What constitutes an apples-to-apples comparison is a little murky, however; particularly when pitting technologies as fundamentally different to one another as tubulars and tubeless. The construction of the tyres is completely different and indeed tubulars and tubeless tyres of the same nominal width, from the same manufacturer, may measure up quite differently when mounted. There are other variables too. Jan Heine of René Herse Cycles/Bicycle Quarterly — himself a long time proponent of super-supple wide tyres — isn’t anti-tubeless, but he is convinced that the use of sealant in tubeless tyres largely negates the supposed reduction in rolling resistance they offer. Bicycle Rolling Resistance’s Jarno Bierman doesn’t agree. In a report published in 2014, he found that 30ml of sealant in a 25mm road tyre increased rolling resistance by just one watt at 36km/h — a penalty far smaller than the typical advantage tubeless tyres hold over their clincher and tubular counterparts. For what it’s worth, when BikeRadar ran its own performance tyre lab tests with help from Wheel Energy back in 2017, the original tubeless Schwalbe Pro One trounced all of its standard clincher competitors with 25ml of sealant on board. There is one huge caveat to all of this: we’re still talking about a tiny difference in performance here. Rolling resistance matters, but at bike race speeds it’s a small part of the overall picture, with the vast majority of a rider’s energy expended fighting wind resistance. On that front, SRAM’s Geoff Przekop raises an interesting and perhaps rather overlooked point: “We have consistently measured that clinchers [including tubeless] are more aerodynamic than tubulars, starting way back with our Firecrest development more than 10 years ago. “Of course, the specific results will vary depending on the individual rim and tyre designs, but we see very few exceptions to this trend when testing. Specifically, clincher tyres tend to outshine tubular tyres as yaw angle increases above 10 degrees — potentially due to the cleaner transition they exhibit between tyre and rim outer diameter.” Ultimately, a pro’s job is to win races though, so if there’s a real performance gain — however marginal — they’d be a fool not to embrace tubeless, wouldn’t they? Will tubeless replace tubulars in pro racing? Fabio Jakobsen of Deceuninck–Quick-Step won stage four of the 2019 Tour of California on tubeless tyres. Chris Graythen / Getty Images Tubeless tyres have been popping up at races since the mid-2000s. Michelin went so far as to introduce three tubeless road tyres for pro use back in 2004, but it appears the project was shelved because they were never sold to consumers. Along the way, various lower-tier pro teams have ridden tubeless tyres and, much more recently, there have been some notable high-profile victories at the very top of the sport, such as Jakobsen’s win at the 2019 Tour of California on tubeless and Kristoff’s victory at Gent–Wevelgem on 25mm Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 tyres. Kristoff might have gone a little too hard on the Kool-Aid, however. Flying in the face of conventional wisdom, which sees most riders on tyres at least 28mm wide if not bigger, he rather optimistically stuck with the same rubber for Paris–Roubaix and saw his ambitions crushed by a series of unfortunate punctures, a demonstration of the fact that sealant can only do so much. Compared to amateur riders, professional cyclists face a completely different set of pressures when it comes to tyre choice. Mechanical support is available whenever it’s needed in a bike race, but every puncture is a potential race-loser, so reducing the frequency of flats overall is paramount. Alexander Kristoff’s choice of 25mm tubeless tyres proved disastrous at this year’s Paris–Roubaix. The Norwegian suffered three punctures before switching back to tubulars by which point his race was effectively over. Tim de Waele / Getty Images In theory, you can inject sealant into tubular tyres and gain one of the advantages of a tubeless setup. Indeed some teams have certainly done so for puncture-heavy races such as Paris–Roubaix, but tubulars have never been made with sealant in mind. There’s no way to remove dried-out sealant from a tubular and, depending on the precise construction of the tyre, (some have an inner tube, some do not) sealing may be ineffectual anyway. Safety is of course a major concern for pro teams, too — while tubulars are susceptible to rolling off rims if improperly glued, tubeless tyres are liable to blow off the rim if either the tyre or rim is out of spec or damaged. Pro cyclists for the most part tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to equipment choices, at times resisting change. Remember how long it took for pros to use disc brakes? (Many still don’t.) And how, until very recently, the more old-school Euro teams routinely raced on 23mm tyres inflated to approximately one million psi, despite a growing consensus that slightly wider tyres (and slightly lower pressures) might actually be faster in the real world. There’s no question that pros are paying more attention to tubeless, however. According to wheel maker Hunt’s Ollie Gray, the Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes Continental team voluntarily moved from an 80:20 tubular:tubeless split in 2017 to being 100 percent tubeless for the 2018 season. He’s realistic about the technology though, acknowledging the fact that riders who puncture seriously on tubeless aren’t able to ride the flat tyre as they would with a tubular because there’s a danger that it might come off the rim. Schwalbe’s Felix Schäfermaier thinks this will soon be less of a concern because tyres conforming to the incoming standards “will stay on [in the event of a puncture]”. Gray also notes that tubulars are still the best option for pro cyclocross racers, but that “for us mere mortals… there are essentially no drawbacks to road tubeless” it’s “the right choice for 99 percent of purposes”. There is a sense that tubulars have peaked, but that’s not to say they’re going anywhere anytime soon. Other than Stan’s NoTubes, the brands I approached all continue to produce tubular wheels or tyres, and some of them are still making incremental improvements to their tubular ranges. On the other hand, Specialized’s Oliver Kiesel and Mavic’s Maxime Brunand are notably frank about where their respective brands’ energies are now focussed. In essence, they say there’s no new investment being made in tubular tech; tubeless is where it’s at. Kiesel is keen to emphasise that the ultimate goal is performance. His goal is not to promote tubeless, it’s to ask “what makes our riders faster?” Continental launched its first tubeless road tyre in 2018, the Grand Prix 5000 TL. Continental All of the brands I asked think that tubeless will become more common in the pro peloton, but even those who are heavily invested in the tech aren’t predicting an immediate takeover. Continental’s Jan-Niklas Jünger believes that rather it will “give [riders] another option” while Schwalbe’s Schäfermaier is more categorical, saying of the pros: “they will change”. Standards are coming One of the biggest hurdles to wider adoption of tubeless road tyres has been a lack of standardisation across the industry, something our then tech ed James Huang lamented as long ago as 2008. While you can generally count on consistent results if you stick within a given brand’s ecosystem (e.g. running Zipp tyres on Zipp rims), there’s no guarantee that a random tubeless road tyre bought in a bike shop will work well with the ‘tubeless-ready’ wheels on your bike. In this context, working well means mounting easily on a rim, seating without undue trauma and remaining on the rim without burping or blowing off in the course of normal riding. When tubeless goes wrong, things can get very messy indeed. Jack Luke All that could be set to change as a major update to ISO 5775 — the international standard which governs bicycle tyre sizing — is due. According to Schwalbe’s Felix Schäfermaier, a new ETRTO standard has already been agreed and issued to manufacturers, with the ISO update expected to follow soon. Major players in the industry have been working together to hammer out a set of definitions and norms that work for everyone and improve the situation for the people actually spending money on wheels and tyres. An established standard is a very significant milestone in the history of road tubeless. (For some insight into the wrangling behind the scenes this has involved, tyre nerds may enjoy this frank open letter penned by Morgan Nicol of Challenge Handmade Tyres earlier this year.) Talk of new standards sometimes provokes rending of garments in the public galleries, but this isn’t some vapourware bottom bracket design or a new axle that’s pointlessly very slightly wider, it’s potentially a fundamental re-writing of the rules that underpin tyre sizing and labelling, and the way that rims are designed to interact with them. Related: You need to embrace your bike industry overlords According to Stan’s President Mike Bush: “the goal of the standards is not to limit innovation but to create common ground with respect to what ‘tubeless’ or ‘tubeless ready’ really mean, how to measure and mark product to ensure compatibility, and generally ensure the end users have safe product to ride. “The current product on the market is often safe and effective but given the myriad ways to approach the problem, not everything works together as it could or should.” It’s clear that road tubeless is here to stay, but seemingly as ever, the takeover remains just over the horizon.

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