Best road bikes: top reviewed bikes for every price point
Our expert testers have selected 9 of the absolute best road bikes, from budget models to grand tour-proven race machines
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While winter can seem like it lasts for an eternity, Spring and the ‘opening’ weekend are already on the horizon, and I know many Cycling Weekly team are already thinking about the clocks changing. With all that outside riding potential in the not-too-distant future, now is the best time to be considering which of the best road bikes is going to take you into the new season and through 2026. Having ridden and reviewed nearly 30 road bikes in 2025, our team of experts is here to help you narrow down this extensive category.
The extensive testing conducted by our experts enables us to offer insight into anything designed for road cycling. Our team looks far beyond the specification table. While value is always important, ride quality, handling, and how a bike performs in the elements and against the clock are top priorities in our rating of the best road bikes. From that testing, I’ve selected 9 of our top picks to help you find the best road bike for you.
The S-Works Tarmac SL8 is the complete race bike, blending aerodynamics, stiffness and comfort in a super lightweight package that excels across differing terrain.
At a price point dominated by carbon and Direct-to-consumer brands, the Giant Contend SL 1 highlights the value of a well-made and designed alloy road bike.
“A genuine joy to ride” is the overriding sentiment from Tim Russon as he put the Cervelo Caledonia-5 through its paces. Offering the perfect balance between speed and comfort.
Despite its racy looks, the SLR 9.0's ride quality is spot on, and you will be pleased to find a wealth of practical features. The Boardman attempts to do a lot of things, and it does all of them very well.
Given its race pedigree, the Langma offers little in the way of compromises. It is a bike that shines regardless of what you throw at it. Thanks to its updated aero profiling, it is now super fast.
3T’s approach may be unconventional, but the Strada Italia is an aero bike that should appeal to a much broader range of riders, and one that finally lives up to the ‘Made In Italy’ hype.
There are lighter, faster and snappier bikes than the V5Rs from Colnago. However, the more I rode it, the more enjoyable it became. Its understated nature and competence will draw you in.
The Scott Addict RC proves unequivocally that there is still a place for lightweight all-round bikes in a world that has become obsessed with performance gains and aerodynamics.
Canyon haven’t compromised the Endurance by adding a motor at all. It is an excellent road bike and an even better electric road bike.
Our expert review:
We awarded the Tarmac SL8 with our Race Bike of the Year award, essentially because of its ability to do most things exceptionally well. It makes it such a well-rounded offering, and it’s little surprise that it’s excelled at the WorldTour level over such different parcours.
Frame-wise, the SL8 makes a few changes from the SL7. There are more rounded tube designs and the ‘speed sniffer’ head tube. The former are inspired by Spesh’s featherlight wonder bike, the Aethos, and it helps make the SL8 lighter - a claimed frame weight of just 685g - and yet proportionally stiffer than the older model. However, fans of the SL7 will be pleased that, in terms of geometry, the SL8 is happy to follow suit.
So, how does it all impact the ride quality? We’ve ridden the bike for over a year, and it remains as good as it did on our first test ride. The slim seat post adds compliance and, in turn, comfort, as does the rear end of the bike. Given that you can fit 35mm wide tyres here, the SL8 can make genuine claims to being a racing thoroughbred that you could also ride year-round if you so wished.
Indeed, much of the bike’s appeal is that it can handle such a variety of terrain, while still having that top-end speed and acceleration that’s a must for a true racing machine. We’ve ridden at a high level in Europe, and we can safely say that few, if any, bikes perform as well across all the categories.
Our expert review:
The Giant Contend SL 1 truly shines as a beautifully crafted alloy road bike. Priced comfortably under £2k/$2.4k and weighing just 9.5 kg, it offers excellent value, solid performance, and incredible versatility.
Built on a sturdy Giant ALUXX SL-grade alloy frame with a full carbon fork, this bike features a balanced geometry that’s perfect for both sporty rides and endurance adventures. It’s quick and stable, thanks to the well-designed 412 mm chainstay, and the Overdrive steerer provides precise steering, although you might notice the feedback more on rougher roads. Shimano’s 105 12-speed groupset shifts smoothly, and the non-series chainset does the job well. The hydraulic brakes, paired with Giant rotors, deliver sharp and confident stopping power.
The tubeless-ready P-R2 wheels, combined with Gavia Fondo 2 28mm tyres, are tough yet not too plush, giving you nice room for upgrades if you desire. The composite D-Fuse seatpost helps smooth out road buzz, although the saddle—Giant’s Approach—might not suit everyone perfectly because of its traditional long shape.
What truly makes the Giant stand out is its lively, playful handling, especially when you lower the front. I found it remains stable during descents and tight turns, without kicking back if you make a mistake. All in all, the Contend SL 1 shows that you don’t need carbon to enjoy a fantastic ride.
Don't be green with enve, but the Caledonia-5 is very good!
Our expert review:
Cervelo Caledonia-5 is the embodiment of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, with the latest model upholding its geometry from the previous and offering ‘refinement’ and not revolution. The big changes come in the form of slight aerodynamic tweaks to tube shapes and carbon fibre layup, the introduction of downtube storage, and what we all want: more tyre clearance, up from 32mm to 36mm.
I am actually an owner of the previous Caledonia, and I expected the lack of change in geometry for the new -5 to feel pretty familiar and like an long lost friend, rather than anything radically different. However, Cervelo has surprised me. The revised carbon lay-up has made an enormous difference; sure, the position feels the same, but the characters are very different. The Caledonia now feels like a breeze to ride, and everything feels so free and easy. I believe this isn’t solely down to the frame, while a chunk of it, the Reserve wheels, which I didn’t have on my old bike, are certainly a significant upgrade and performance enhancer. The nice thing is Cervelo has managed to do all of this without adding any turgidity to the ride feel and comfort. While the frame is stiff, the wider wheels and tyre clearance help balance those out those changes.
After 500km and counting, the Cervelo Caledonia-5 is always fun and easy to ride. If I really had to find an issue, I’d argue the new downtube storage is a bit awkward to use, but given how many bikes still don’t feature such things, it's a very minor issue.
Our expert review:
It is hard to ignore the Boardman SLR 9.0's looks, even when its value in the specification is somewhat mind-blowing. The full carbon frame, fork, and steerer, along with that stunning off-white to metallic black fade, really caught my eye; however, digging down and swinging a leg over, you find it is much more than that.
The Prologo Scratch M5 saddle felt spot on, and those GoodYear Sport 30mm tan-wall tyres are standouts in any conditions. The Alex wheelset remained true and spun smoothly throughout testing. Additionally, they're tubeless-ready, which is good to see for possible affordable upgrades.
I found the D-shaped seat post to be very compliant, and the two lay-back options were a thoughtful feature, which is uncommon in more budget-oriented models. The cable routing uses a two-piece cockpit with a fairing, offering a good balance between flexibility and unobstructed shifting of the Shimano 105 mechanical groupset. This highlighted how excellent modern mechanical shifting has become.
Despite its aggressive appearance, I appreciated its practicality, with cleverly hidden mudguard mounts and additional bottle bosses. The ride quality was excellent, with no harshness, and out-of-the-saddle efforts felt stable. While the handling offered neutral feedback, it was never dull – ideal for riding with friends or setting a new sportive PB. The SLR 9.0 aims to perform many roles and does so effortlessly.
Our expert review:
The latest Liv Langma is a pure race bike. It's monocoque carbon frame is both light and stiff, with new airfoil sections and fully integrated cables to reduce drag and ultimately the bike faster.
And it works. During testing we couldn't fault the Langma on the flat, delivering plenty of stiffness that translated to quick accelerations and plenty of urgency. But what makes this bike great is its ability to shine across the board. We took it up and down steep climbs as well on long, all-day rides and it excelled at both. It's surprisingly stable for a bike that's so light and agile, and there's little compromise when it comes to comfort too, given it's racing pedigree.
As for the components, the Pro 0 comes equipped with both the redesigned Liv Contact SLR bars and a Cadex Max 40 wheelset alongside the reliable Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset, which delivered an impeccable shifting and braking experience throughout the review period.
Our expert review:
The talent behind the 3T Strada Italia’s distinctive frame is Dutch engineer Gérard Vroomen, who was previously a co-founder of Cervélo. So, it is no coincidence that the Strada Italia and the Cervélo S5 share a similar silhouette and DNA. Now it is the second iteration, thanks to UCI rule changes back in 2024, the latest version of the Strada now features a more elongated head tube and deeper, wider seat and down tubes; however, the now ‘signature Vroomen’ wheel-hugging seat tube stays.
Don’t be fooled by the ‘Endurance’ label of the Strada either. Sure, it is 10mm taller and 10mm shorter than the previous generation, but compared to its sibling, the racer WPNT is only 20mm taller for the same reach. However, Vroomen claims that for most people, a less aggressive position makes it easier to hold an aero position, which overall makes the bike faster, despite the numbers being ‘less aero’.
Right, so what does that all feel like once the pedals are turning? The Strada Italia, in short, flatters even the most competent of bike handlers. Think of the Italia like The Clash of the bike world: it has an underlying precision and complexity, yet a serious punk edge. This in no way results in any death grip or nervous moments, just pure giggles on tap.
I can’t sign this off without mentioning the Strada’s cost, at nearly £12000/$15000, it is completely out of range for almost everyone. However, compared to the latest Cervélo S5 its far more versatile, especially for those not interested in racing and just like to ride fast. When compared to other ‘High-End’ frame first brands like the Enve Fray, it will certainly perform better in the wind and on the road. While neither of those points justify its cost, it is one of the few ‘Made In Italy’ bikes I have ridden that deserves the hype that comes with that little sticker.
Our expert review:
After yet another nominatant season for Tadej Pogačar see him with the most wins of anyone in the world tour, with almost all of which were had either on the V5Rs or the Colnago Y1Rs. Given how understated the former is compared to the latter of the two Colnago models, I was intrigued to find out what Tadej loves so much about this bike and why he still regularly chooses it over the more radical Y1Rs.
Starting with the basics, it's 12% lighter, 9 watts faster, and has a slightly tweaked geometry compared to its predecessor, the Colnago V4Rs, which we rated five out of 5 back in 2022. Much of this performance gain is due to its shared development with the polarising Y1Rs.
What really struck me about the V5Rs wasn't its ride at all. It was how many of my riding friends had noticed just how often I was riding it. As you might expect from someone who tests bikes professionally, it's rare for my riding buddies to see me on a bike more than once or twice, but the V5Rs quickly became the bike I kept reaching for.
While it didn't 'Wow' me immediately, take that with a pinch of salt, as there is a lot to like about this bike. In particular, the V5Rs' handling. The front end is stiff but not punishing, it's light but not twitchy and remarkably balanced. It's this understated composure that makes riding so enjoyable. Trust is everything when you are riding fast, and the Colnago builds that quickly and never breaks it.
I can only see one slight downside, and for a 'climbers' bike, it's a touch heavier than others; however, they are likely not as aero, so it's much for muchness. I won't even go into the price. If you are considering a Colnago, you likely will know thats an investment or money is no object. I will leave you with this; the V5Rs is very capable. From the moment I clipped in, I felt at home. As I no longer race, I think I would be more at home on Colnago's C-Series bikes; however, for those who do want to pin on numbers, this is a mega bike.
Our expert review:
It is easy to be drawn into the latest and greatest trends in the bicycle industry, especially when it comes to ‘free speed’ like many of the best aero bikes claim to offer. However, with speeds increasing in the WorldTour, so are the speeds at which many of these bikes need to be ridden to unlock these gains, putting them out of reach for many mortals, even for the likes of myself. Scott bucks that trend with the latest Addict RC, having pursued a much more rounded, lightweight platform. After amassing 1100km out on the road, the RC is light, agile, and super fun to ride, but it's not the one I'd buy in the Addict range.
The frame is really where the difference lies with the Addict RC; its featherweight design, which includes a few aerodynamic upgrades from its predecessor, is now just 780g/1.71lbs. My medium test bike, RC Pro, comes in well under the UCI minimum weight at 6.49kg/14.3lbs.
There is no doubt that the RC is happiest when the road starts to ascend. It is honestly a pleasure as well. Scott has done a wonderful job balancing stiffness and weight, and for such a light bike, the ride quality is nothing short of exceptional. Even out on the open road, it pedals well. It's only when you hit rolling terrain that I think there is a clear gain to be had by having a more aerodynamically efficient bike. While I wax lyrical about the RC’s ability to climb, it's on the technical descents, where the Addict RC Pro really blow me away - and it’s in this type of terrain (technical ups and downs) that it will leave an aero bike for dead.
While the Pro ticks a lot of boxes, as I mentioned its not the one I'd buy. The cheap ‘Team’ model, which has the same frame, wheels and cockpit, and still gets an electronic drivetrain in the form of SRAM Force, saves you £1500/$2000, and it's the same weight at 6.5kg/14.3lbs.
Our expert review:
Electric road and gravel bikes have lingered well behind E-MTBs, it is largely for one reason: weight! We are so obsessed with weight in the drop-bar world; anything heavier than it needs to be is polarising, even if it gives you a nice boost. Given that aesthetically the Canyon Endurace: ONfly CF 8 looks like any other slightly aerodynamic road bike, which is a good start. Underneath its carbon skin is the TQ-HPR40 mid-motor e-bike system, with a total weight gain of only 2.5kg/5.5lbs for motor and battery. Again, not bad, given the 40nm of torque and the fact that overall it effectively doubles any input you give. TQ claims the HPR40’s Harmonic Pin Ring technology is the most efficient mid-motor system on the market, and results in ‘Zero’ power loss.
Which is stuff you want to hear when considering an electric road bike, right? Has the electric road bike finally come of age?
Out on the road, the Endurace certainly feels like a road bike, obviously, as Canyon’s endurance bike, its is not a super racey one, but its unflappable nature is calming and effortless almost. It's hard to comment on its responsiveness in climbs with the motor on and off; the extra nearly 3kg doesn’t allow for a clear answer, but it is certainly no slouch. Also, despite all the extra material for battery doors and motor mounts, Canyon has managed to offer a very comfortable ride, I assume largely due its now very popular VCLS 2.0 CF split seatpost design.
On to the real story, the TQ HPR40 motor. What hits you first is how quiet it is; it is completely silent. The real sell is the smoothness of the transitions in and out of the power. More than once, I had to check it was on. Normally, I'd turn it off to check, as with most, and you immediately notice the lack of assistance, even with the more efficient systems like Fazua or Mahle. The only way to tell with the TQ system is check your speed on the hills, you will soon realise your motoring.
If you’ve tried e-road and hated it, I’d encourage you to try again, but this time go for the Canyon Endurace: ONfly CF.
We have a dedicated team of testers here at Cycling Weekly, whose job is to review a wide range of cycling products and write objective reviews based on their daily experiences with them in various conditions.
With extensive experience, they're well-placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and provide you with an honest and unbiased assessment of how they perform.
When it comes to testing road bikes, we log hundreds of miles, examining several factors as we assess their overall performance. Of course, we consider what the bike is primarily designed for, whether it's an aero race bike, a lightweight climber or an endurance model, but also look at more general considerations such as build and spec quality, durability and value for money.
During this testing, our reviewers utilise their regular testing routes to isolate skills such as descending, climbing, and sprinting, allowing for direct comparison against other models they have tested, which should be reflected in any review write-up. By completing these base miles and having a repeatable route, it can also provide comparable data, such as average speed, and, of course, a sense of familiarity over a variety of surfaces.
These routes should feature as wide a variety of terrain as possible, including one long climb, one short and sharp, a long drag, a flat and exposed section, as well as a decent and, if possible, some urban traffic-heavy areas.
Each reviewer is expected to complete at least one long ride on every bike; we consider this to be anything from 60km to 100km or more. If possible, we would usually participate in at least one group ride or race.
Learn more about our testing of the best road bikes and all the products we review over on our How We Test page.
Hannah is our lead female reviewer and longest-serving tech writer, having been testing kit and bikes for 14 years. In a previous life, Hannah was an elite racer, competing on the global stage. Hannah loves nothing more than covering big miles with a fair few hills in them, which are somewhat unavoidable where she now finds herself in the heart of the Peak District National Park.
Andy knows his way around a road bike. After spending much of his adult life riding them but also fabricating and designing them to for his brand Spoon where he build some of the worlds most desirable custom bikes. Andy is a champion of the highest standards in fit, fabrication and finishing. Find hills isn't the easiest of task where Andy has recently chosen to settle in Norfolk, he regularly travels to the Alps where he once lived as a ride guide.
If its got wheels and you can ride Joe is on it. Joe's love of bicycles is infectious and loves nothing more than taking on a challenge. After taking a step back from elite level racing in 2022, where he had achieved feets such as National Hill Climb Champion in 2018 as well as regularly racing on the continent at U23 UCI 1.2 level.
Rook, as she likes to be called, is a prolific cyclist. A day doesn't go by that she isn't turning some pedals, and while that is less frequently in anger, her experience and miles make her one of the most valuable opinions here at Cycling Weekly. While covering miles doesn't qualify as a definitive measure, the sheer variety of Rooks riding means she can really nail down where a bike works and doesn't.
The bicycle industry likes to keep people on its toes, that is for sure. While something as relatively straightforward as a road bike might seem, it rarely is. Visually, road bikes mostly all sing from the same hymn sheet; however, they more often than not all have slightly different attributes. This is most commonly associated with a bike's handling and geometry, more often of late, a bike's level of performance, specifically aerodynamically. So, what are the different types of road bikes?
Good for: all-around performance, one bike garage for climbing, aerodynamic performance, and mixing it up in the bunch. Great for riders who can get into an aggressive position.
The term road race bikes is pretty self-explanatory. These bikes are designed to be fast and offer riders the best all-around performance. Thats not to say they are only for race use, though. For those who like to ride fast, test themselves and prefer a bike with more direct and agile handling.
A great example of this style of bike is our Road Race Bike of the year, the Specialised Tarmac SL8.
Why not check out our complete guide to the best road race bikes
Good for: covering big miles in comfort by offering more relaxed positions. They can also tackle more challenging terrain, such as the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix.
Don't be fooled by the words comfort or relaxed; the best endurance road bikes can still pack a turn of speed, especially when the roads or terrain are less than favourable. What distinguishes most endurance road bikes is their more upright position, which is better suited to the flexibility levels of most cyclists. In recent years, the tyre clearances of these bikes have dramatically increased, offering a reasonable amount of crossover with the best gravel bikes, leading people to brand them as All-road bikes more regularly.
As I mentioned, the shifting nature of these bikes means there are still two quite different styles of bikes under the same definition. Check out the Specialised Roubaix SL8, which features big tyre clearance and suspension for an example of an All-Road bike. For a more out-and-out endurance road bike, see our review of the Giant Defy.
Why not check out our complete guide to the best endurance road bike
Good for: when the speed starts to ramp up or the wind comes into play. For those riding fast and looking to save watts over their competition or buddies.
Aerodynamics plays a significant role in modern cycling, but one must have a foundation to see the benefits. For most, saving a few watts here and there will suffice, while for many, their sleek profiles will be enough of an attraction. It's when speeds increase and the wind begins to factor in that aerodynamic bikes can make a substantial difference.
Aero bikes can be seen throughout the modern pro-peloton, but examples like the Cervelo S5 and Canyon Aeroad are uncompromising in their pursuit of speed.
Why not check out our full guide to the best aero road bikes
Good for: when the roads head up. Tackling long and steep climbs where every gram can make a difference. For those who care not about aerodynamics or riding on the flat.
What categorises lightweight bikes is their sole pursuit of offering the lightest weights, with suitable geometry and stiffness for climbing hills effectively. With road race and aero bikes adopting a more all-around approach to performance and their weights falling drastically, we have seen a decline in the focus on lightweight bikes. However, there are still some cracking bikes out there, and many will be attracted to their rounder, less aero profiles.
A shining example of the simplicity and minimalism that makes this style of bike so brilliant is the Specialised Aethos.
Why not check out our full guide to the best lightweight road bikes
Good for: female riders and those of smaller builds.
While you certainly don't have to ride a women's specific bike, there can be a number of benefits, especially if you are a smaller or shorter rider. Women's bikes tend to offer sizing down to XXS and certainly offer more feminine colour options. When it comes to fit, form and specification, there is little to no difference between 'men' or standard road bikes. In reality, a lot of women's specific models are there to help brands differentiate their marketing. Don't let that deter you from considering one, as brands like Liv and their excellent range of Langma and Avail bikes feature prominently in our guide to the best women's road bikes, providing some truly outstanding options, sometimes even better than the standard versions.
Why not check out our full guide to the best women's road bikes
Before you do anything, it is important to get the right size bike. Most bikes come in a range of sizes to fit your stature, and bike makers will usually publish a rider’s height range for which a bike of a specific size will fit.
You should feel comfortable seated on your bike and be able to put both feet flat on the ground when standing over the crossbar, without it touching you.
You’ll usually find more detailed frame dimensions listed too, which give you more details of how your bike will fit you. The most important are reach and stack, although they’re a bit complex to interpret.
In general, the higher the stack number (usually shown in cm or mm), the more upright your riding position will be. If you enjoy a 'taller' riding position, then look for a more generous stack height. Equally, a shorter reach will put you closer to the bars, thus in a more upright position. For the most part, race bikes will feature a lower stack height than endurance models.
To ensure your bike is set up correctly and avoid the risk of injury from an incorrect fit, consider getting a professional bike fit. A bike fit can be costly, but some bike shops offer discounts or complimentary fittings when you purchase a bike. A bike fit will ensure that your saddle and bars are optimally placed for efficient riding. Consider a good fit an investment.
A bike fit should help you get more comfortable
A key decision when choosing the best road bike for you is what you plan to do with it. Are you looking to go fast or race, or are you after a more comfortable bike for leisurely rides or long days in the saddle?
Geometry is the key factor here. A full-on race bike will put you in a more bent-over riding position, with your head and shoulders lower down over the handlebar. That’s great when you have a need for speed, reducing your frontal profile to lower your wind resistance but can be uncomfortable, particularly for a beginner.
On the other hand, bikes labelled 'endurance' or 'sportive' will be designed for a more upright riding position, with the bars higher and closer to the saddle. That delivers greater comfort on longer rides, but may make you a bit slower.
If you’re riding on hilly roads, or planning a trip abroad to the Alps for example, you’ll certainly appreciate a lightweight bike. However, if you're going to spend your time riding fast on flatter terrain then aerodynamics are probably more important to you. And If you’re looking to race, the stiffer, more edgy handling of a race bike will work better than the more stable handling of an endurance machine.
An increasing number of bikes are designed to take you off the tarmac as well as letting you ride efficiently on road. A gravel bike will give you wide tires and lower gears. But many endurance or 'all-road' bikes now offer plenty of tire clearance as well as an expansive gear range, letting you take in a wider variety of routes.
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.
A bike's specs will vary a lot between manufacturers. In particular, prices will often be lower at direct only brands (such as Canyon and Ribble) and in-house brands (Vitus at Wiggle or Boardman at Halfords). But to give you an idea, here's a look at common specifications at various investment levels. In the interest of brevity, some bandings are wide and therefore you would expect variation within them.
£750 - £999 / $1000 - $1500
An aluminium frame and carbon fork, aluminium seatpost and handlebar/stem, shifting at Shimano Sora or Claris level, aluminium wheels. Rim brakes.
£1000 - £2000 / $1500 - $2500
Either an aluminium frame and carbon fork at around Shimano 105 level, or a carbon frame and fork with shifting at Shimano Tiagra level. Aluminium wheels, seatpost and handlebar/stem. Disc or rim brakes.
£2000 - £3500 / $2500 - $4000
Carbon frame and fork with Shimano 105 (lower end of budget) or Ultegra (higher end), aluminium or carbon rims, carbon seatpost, aluminium handlebars and stem. Disc brakes should be hydraulic from this price point. Titanium frames are an option.
£3500 - £5000/ $4000 - $6000
Carbon or titanium frame and fork, Shimano Ultegra or SRAM AXS eTap groupset, carbon seatpost, aluminium bar/stem, carbon rims
£5000 - £10,000 / $6,000 - $12,000
Carbon frame and fork, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red AXS eTap, carbon wheels of 50mm+, carbon bars and stem.
£10,000+ / $12,000+
Accept nothing but the best of everything. Top of the range carbon frame and fork - usually utilising stiffer carbon and therefore fewer layers resulting in lower weight, carbon wheels of 50mm+, one piece carbon bar/stem Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red AXS or Campagnolo Super Record Wireless, power meter as standard.
A major difference between cheaper and more expensive bikes is their frame material. Bikes costing under $/£1000 are typically made of aluminium alloy, with the tubes welded together. It’s a material used in more expensive bikes too and can result in a strong, lightweight machine.
But pricier bikes are usually made of carbon fibre. The fibres give the bike strength and are embedded in a synthetic resin to hold them together. The mix of fibres used and their lay-up determine the bike’s ride feel. More expensive bikes will use more high modulus carbon fibre, which lowers the weight without reducing the bike’s strength.
Titanium is another material used in some more expensive bikes. It’s lightweight, strong and doesn’t rust or fatigue. And you can still find bikes made of steel tubing, which was the traditional framebuilding material. It’s not quite as light as other choices, but robust and gives a distinctive ride feel.
You should also look at what the bike’s fork is made of. Many bikes will have an all-carbon fork or one with carbon fork blades and an alloy steerer. This tends to absorb road bumps well for a more comfortable ride, but you can find alloy or steel forks on some lower priced bikes.
Bike makers push their bikes’ aero credentials, especially on more expensive machines, with claims of wind tunnel testing and time saved. Time was, an aero frameset was significantly heavier than one with the traditional round tubes, but the best aero bikes can now be as light as a non-aero one.
On the other hand, around 80% of the wind resistance comes from the rider, not the bike and those time savings are typically when riding at around 45kph/28mph. Since wind resistance increases as the cube of speed, if you’re riding at half that, you’ll have an eighth of the drag, so all those aero features won’t make a lot of difference.
After the frame, gears are the most important thing to consider when choosing a road bike. Today many top end road bikes will come fitted with 12-speed cassettes. When paired with a double chainring this means you'll have 24 gears. Remember however that some of these gear ratios will be duplicated in certain chainring/cassette combinations.
More affordable road bikes tend to come with fewer gears. These cassette options should range from 8-speed to 10-speed, again most often paired with a double chainset.
As for groupset brands, Shimano gearing is the most common, but the other major options are SRAM and Campagnolo. Shimano’s top end groupsets, Dura-Ace, Ultegra and 105 have a 12-speed cassette, while less expensive bikes may come with 10-speed Tiagra, 9-speed Sora or 8-speed Claris.
SRAM and Campagnolo also offer 12 speeds on their top end road bike groupsets and all three brands offer electronic shifting rather than the mechanical cables used on lower priced ranges.
Wider range cassettes help in the hills
When choosing a new road bike it's important that you think about the gears it comes equipped with. Fortunately if you've already matched your potential bike to the kind of riding you plan on doing, there's a good chance that the gear choice will also be well-suited.
An out-and-out race bike may come with a more traditional gearing set-up, for example 53/39 tooth chainset paired with an 11-30 tooth cassette.
However road bikes that fall into the endurance or sportive categories are likely to have a compact chainset, most likely a 50/34, and a cassette that will have 30, 32, 34 or even 36 teeth as the largest option. The lower gears will help you to both tackle steep hills with more ease and generally pedal with a higher cadence. However, this can mean larger gaps between gear ratios.
There are other options out there too. SRAM, for example, now offers its eTap AXS groupsets with 48/35, 46/33 and 43/30t chainsets. Paired with its cassettes starting at 10 teeth, these give similar highest gear ratios to traditional gearing starting at 11 teeth, but greater low-end gear range for easier climbing and less need to shift between chainrings on undulating roads.
Disc brakes have largely taken over on road bikes and all but the lowest priced bikes are now in general disc brake only. That said, you can still find rim brake bikes, usually at either end of the price spectrum.
Typically disc brakes give you more consistent braking, whatever the weather conditions, better modulation and greater overall stopping power. On the flip side, they’re heavier than rim brakes, although bike makers have been able to make frames lighter, largely mitigating the extra weight.
Most disc brake bikes use hydraulic calipers, although you can find mechanical disc brakes, usually on cheaper machines. Discs have been creeping down the price range for the last few years, which means it's still likely an option even if your budget is limited.
Disc brakes are a feature of the majority of new road bikes
While the major groupset brands - Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo - still offer mechanical groupsets, there has been a significant shift towards electronic shifting in recent years. Here a motor shifts the derailleurs between ratios, rather than the traditional cable.
The main electronic systems are Shimano Di2, Campagnolo Wireless and SRAM eTap AXS, which all offer 12 speeds.
There are benefits and drawbacks of both mechanical and electronic options.
Mechanical components, such as mechs and levers, are generally cheaper and lighter than their electronic counterparts. They are also, for the most part, easier to fix when something goes wrong.
Electronic gears benefit from reliable shifting. There's no cable tension at play here. If you've suffered a hand injury, the ease of changing gear with the press of a button could be appealing.
Electronic gearing can be personalised through an app, allowing you, for example, to shift multiple gears seamlessly. However, all this tech doesn't come cheap and complete road bikes fitted with electronic gears will be more expensive. Plus, you've got to remember to charge the batteries.
Electronic shifting is now a mainstream option on higher spec bikes
Road bike wheels are typically 700c size, although the smaller 650b size can be found on some smaller frames. Regardless of size, both are available as carbon or alloy options.
Carbon fibre rims are used on most of the best road bike wheelsets. These rims lower weight and are often deeper, to improve aerodynamics over a shallow wheel. In fact carbon can be produced in a far greater range of shapes, allowing manufacturers to create wheels optimised for a varied range of riding styles.
Alloy rims are generally cheaper and will feature on many complete road bikes. They are usually heavier than their carbon counterparts although lightweight alloy options are available.
Wheels are a component where bike makers often look to economise, so a budget wheelset may feature even on an expensive bike. It’s worth considering whether you’ll need to upgrade them to get the best out of your new bike. If you decide to do so, you can always keep the original set for winter riding.
Wider tyres let you reduce tyre pressure, increasing comfort and grip
There was a time when tyre options for road bikes were limited by the frames they were fitted to. A 23mm tyre was commonplace. If you were lucky, you might be able to squeeze a 25mm into your frame.
However, today road bikes now come with increasingly wide tyres due largely to the advent of disc brakes; even race bikes will typically have clearance for 28mm to 32mm tires, while endurance machines will likely allow for wider still. It's worth noting that even if your new bike has come specced with 25mm or 28mm tyres, there's a good chance it will have the clearance for something wider.
With wider tyres, it's possible to run a lower tyre pressure for more comfort and added grip. Wider tires can be as fast as or faster than narrower widths as well.
Wheels and tyres are increasingly tubeless-ready too. This means that you can add sealant and dispense with the inner tubes, reducing the risk of punctures and upping grip and ride comfort even more. Tubeless tires are, in general, faster as well.