BikeRadar’s road tech writers are in the enviable position of getting to ride countless bikes every year, but it’s one thing to test a bike and another to drop cold, hard cash on one.
If they had to head to a bike shop today to purchase a road bike with their own money, what would they buy?
Road cycling is a broad church, ranging from flyweight climbing bikes through to racing-focused aero bikes and mile-munching endurance bikes.
Feeling generous, we offered our writers two picks – one they could realistically afford and another they’d buy if money were no object. You never know when those lottery numbers are going to come good, after all.
Naturally, each rider's individual riding style and taste play a big role in their picks, but with plenty of options available in every category what comes out on top? Let’s find out.
Ashley Quinlan, senior technical editor
The bike I could afford: Canyon Endurace AL 7
At £1,599 / $1,899 / €1,699, the Canyon Endurace 7 is the cheapest bike any of us has picked.
It might have an alloy frame, but my experience tells me a well-designed metal frame is every bit a match for an entry-level carbon one.
The Endurace 7 also ticks most of the main boxes with a fun-but-sensible geometry, 35mm tyre clearance, top tube bento-box style mounts, a Shimano 105 R7100 groupset that might never need upgrading and decent finishing kit for the money.
The only thing it’s really missing, given it’s an endurance bike, is mudguard mounts. But there are ways around that, too.
It might not be the most lust-worthy road bike around, but experience tells me it’s more than enough bike for my needs.
If money were no object: Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo 2
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13120636
Long have I dreamt of swapping the second car for an ebike, and if I had an unlimited budget the £12,000 ($14,000 / €13,000) Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo 2 would be my choice.
It’s an all-road style electric bike, which hugely impressed me when I rode it at its launch event – it’s perhaps the most capable electric road-cum-gravel bike I’ve ever ridden.
The frame is made of Specialized’s Fact 11r carbon (which until relatively recently was reserved for its top-spec Tarmac race bikes), and features the latest-generation Future Shock front suspension and clearance for enormous 57mm/2.2in gravel bike tyres.
Factor in the dropper post, Roval Terra CLX II carbon wheels and near-unimprovable SRAM AXS mullet drivetrain, and it’s fair to say this is one fun toy.
Yet, given it has eyelets for mudguards, rack mounts and a 320Wh battery that can squeeze out a claimed 120 miles of range, it’s eminently practical too.
SQUIRREL_13120636
Liam Chaill, road and gravel presenter
The bike I could afford: Merida Scultura 8000
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13120637
£4,800 is a lot of money, but I’d happily commit to a few years on finance to get this bike.
I’ve ridden the £8,000 Team edition and it’s a peach of a road race bike, but I think the 8000 model will be 99 per cent as good for far less cash.
Fast in the hills, great for group rides and designed nicely, the Merida Scultura does everything the most expensive WorldTour bikes do for a fraction of the cost.
The Scultura 8000 sits a couple of rungs below the WorldTour-spec bike, but it boasts everything I want from a lightweight race bike. Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 R8100 groupset is as bougie as I ever want to be.
40mm-deep carbon wheels from Reynolds will suit mixed terrain and I’d never feel the need to upgrade those Continental GP 5000 S TR tyres. They’re grippy, fast and my favourite road tubeless tyres right now.
The cherry on the top of this glace is a choice between two cockpit approaches. You can have a two-piece aluminium FSA design for oodles of adjustability, or you can opt for Merida’s Team SL one-piece carbon cockpit at no extra cost.
The only catch is Merida bikes aren’t available in the US due to agreements relating to its 49 per cent stake in Specialized.
SQUIRREL_13120637
If money were no object: Second-hand 2019 Cannondale SuperSix Evo HiMod
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13087791
At risk of being branded a prize idiot by the internet, my money-no-object bike would be a passion project rebuild of a 2019 Cannondale SuperSix Evo HiMod – quite easily the best bike I’ve ever ridden.
2019 was the last year of the non-dropped seastay frames from Cannondale and I love everything about them. The looks, the ride, the absolute denial that aerodynamics is a thing…
It’s even got a ridiculous cable-entry point for the rear brake, which rewards careful setup. Further mechanical bliss would be found with a Wheels Manufacturing PF30a to Outboard 24 bottom bracket kit. Silence is, after all, golden.
While this might seem like scrimper's delight, I reckon (through maths done in the pub) I could easily surpass the £10,000 mark.
A new old stock (or at least lightly used) Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 groupset would be needed, as would a set of Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheels. Both would, of course, be of the rim brake variety to match the frameset and give me extra panache points.
After sourcing a full-carbon finishing kit from a fancy German manufacturer such as Tune, the bike would be off for a respray. I’d be looking for a lovely Azure blue over smokey chrome to complement the sunny summer skies under which this would be ridden.
SQUIRREL_13087791
Simon von Bromley, senior technical writer
The bike I could afford: Giant Propel Advanced 2
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13083866
I’ve tested two variations of Giant’s latest Propel aero road bike – the flagship Propel Advanced SL0 and mid-range Advanced Pro 0 AXS – both of which were notably impressive.
With a new lightweight design and geometry borrowed from Giant’s much-loved TCR platform, the latest Propel is undoubtedly one of the best all-round road racing bikes available.
If my money was on the line, though, I’d be looking further down the range list, and the Advanced 2 model looks a steal at £2,999 / €3,000.
Like most of my colleagues' picks, it balances performance and cost with a Shimano 105 R7100 groupset, and solid but dependable alloy finishing kit.
The alloy, rather than carbon rims are a small disappointment, but those are something I could look to upgrade over time if it felt necessary.
SQUIRREL_13083866
If money were no object: Bastion Road
I don’t play the lottery, but if I ever stumble across a bulging briefcase of small, unmarked bills, I might invest it in a Bastion Road.
Bastion builds its bikes from filament wound carbon fibre tubes, bound together with 3D-printed titanium lugs. It’s a beautiful mix of ultra-modern fabrication techniques and a classic silhouette.
One of the perks of Bastion’s lugged construction is the frameset and component geometry is completely custom. Given I ride road bikes to feel fast, I’d likely lean towards the geometry of my 2021 Giant TCR Advanced Pro, but I’d be open to advice from a trusted bike fitter, of course.
The spec and paintjob can both be customised too. I imagine I’d opt for Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200, while Bastion offers a choice between Princeton, Partington and Lightweight wheels.
I’d keep the raw finish of the titanium lugs and carbon tubes, though, to better show off its DNA.
Prices start from AU$35,500 “plus shipping, duties and sales taxes”, which is more than £18,000 / $23,000 / €21,000 at current exchange rates. Lucky money’s no object with this one.
Warren Rossiter, senior technical editor
The bike I could afford: Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2
SQUIRREL_TEXT_13084241
Giant’s current endurance-focused Defy generation is sportier, smoother and lighter than ever. The flagship Advanced SL 0 model is one of the best endurance bikes I’ve ever ridden.
This more affordable Pro model (£3,499 / $3,670 / €3,900) is just as impressive for much less cash.
The Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 is our current road Bike of The Year, and for good reason. This Pro-level frameset is a little heavier than the SL version, but at 860g it's still seriously light. It gets the lightweight, 345g carbon fork from the SL bike too.
An endurance bike is considered a steady distance bike, comfortable, versatile and sensible without drama and excitement.
The Defy isn’t that, however. It is sensible, smooth and comfortable, but it’s still a devilishly exciting bike to ride.
It handles like a TCR but layers on compliance, giving comfort and confidence. The net gain is speed.
It comes with a 12-speed, mechanical Shimano 105 groupset, which is about as good as mechanical groups get. It also gets a carbon finishing kit and great-quality carbon wheels.
SQUIRREL_13084241
If money were no object: Mosaic RT 1TR
A bit of a cheat here, because this is a dream bike I’ve recently had the chance to experience to the full.
The process of purchasing a Mosaic RT 1TR involves a full-service consultation, including a professional bike fit, a custom spec and a discussion about what kind of riding you enjoy and more.
The RT 1TR I had built has a SRAM Red AXS drivetrain, ENVE finishing kit, a custom 3D-printed saddle, and Partington wheels.
All in, it weighs 8.11kg with cages and pedals fitted, and would cost £15,900 – or around $20,000.
In use, it encompasses all of the great characteristics of the finest titanium road bikes, with the buzz-killing compliance of the material and the feedback it gives.
Add that it’s made-to-measure and has a finish that’s as good as I’ve ever seen on a handmade bike, and I think it justifies its five-figure price tag. If you want to find out more about this special bike, you can read all about it in issue 424 of Cycling Plus – on sale on 27 September.
