Best road bikes: Category-leading aero, lightweight, endurance and aluminium road bikes.

Choosing the best road bike for your requirements is not as straight forward as it once was, thanks to huge advancements in material, design and manufacturing processes. Road bikes have now branched out into many different categories and specialities, from featherweight climbers and supersonic racers, to mile-munching endurance machines and everything in between. With all this choice, making an informed decision really comes down to the type of riding you enjoy and the topography you’re tackling.

For example, the best lightweight bikes will dance up the steepest of climbs, but on fast flat or rolling terrain, you need to put in a lot more effort to keep up with the best aero road bikes. Whereas if riding long distances is more your thing, then the energy savings of an aero road bike might be tempting but the vibration absorption and comfortable ride of an endurance bike might be the better choice if you plan on pushing the pedals from sunrise to sunset.

As each manufacturer innovates to better the competition, they are producing bikes that go beyond what was ever thought possible. From adjustable compliance on aero road bikes, integration and built-in storage solutions, to road bikes that go beyond the limits of tarmac to open up even more riding possibilities – we’ve got you covered. Componentry such as electronic shifting, power meters and disc brakes have become common on many more bikes as well, giving an even wider set of criteria to consider.

To help you choose your next bike we have a number of guides filled with information to help you choose the best possible option in each category. However, some bikes are just that little bit more exceptional than others, so here, we have chosen the bikes we think stand out in each category.

Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, we have a separate guide for the best budget road bikes. Otherwise, if you like to head off the beaten path, check out our guide to the best gravel bikes, for a flat-bar bike designed for commuting, check out our roundup of the best hybrid bikes, or for a little bit of ride assistance, our guide to the best electric bikes.

There’s plenty to take in here, but once you know which bike you want, be sure to check out our roundup of Black Friday bike deals to see if there’s a bargain to be had. From there you’ll find plenty of other deals guides, including Black Friday Garmin deals, Black Friday Rapha deals, Black Friday GoPro deals and Black Friday cycling clothing deals. There are plenty of savings to be made, so don’t miss out!

BEST RACE BIKES

Lightweight, efficient, aggressive and aero-optimised, these rulers of the road are the top of the food chain when it comes to one bike that will perform no matter the course. Whether tackling long climbs, battling windy flats or carrying as much speed as possible through corners, these race bikes are designed to be as fast as possible.

Aggressive positioning and geometry meet a carefully considered blend of aerodynamic performance, low weight and stiffness to produce the most uncompromised road riding experience possible.

Launched just ahead of the 2019 Tour de France, Cannondale‘s latest SuperSix Evo comes complete with a first for the model – a sloping top tube, as well as a commitment to disc brakes (on the Hi-Mod model). But it’s not just the death of the flat top tube, Cannondale has also swapped to aero tube shapes for a claimed 30 watt saving (at 48kph) over its predecessor.

The frame also gets a flat-backed seat post and seat tube, and the dropped chainstays which are now a staple inclusion on race bikes. There’s room enough for 30mm tyres (28mm on non-Hi-Mod rim brake models), and the new frame is claimed to weigh 886g in a size 56, painted.

• Cannondale SuperSix EVO review

Cannondale has also opted for an integrated cockpit which sees the brands in-house KNOT components providing the bar, stem, as well as the seat post and wheelset. As you’d expect for a bike in this price bracket, the 45mm deep road wheels are carbon fibre and tubeless-ready, and a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset provides the gearing. At launch, the Dura-Ace-equipped SuperSix Evo came with a Power2Max NG Eco power meter installed (which you had to pay to activate). For 2021, that is no longer available, and only the SRAM eTap model comes with a power meter.

Giant’s TCR has long been a no-nonsense performer, and the brand as a whole demonstrates top value for money. While the top-level models are far from ‘budget’, their performance-to-price ratio makes the TCR one of the best road bikes in this regard.

The TCR has always been known for its snappy ride quality and that’s due in large part to its compact rear end. At the front, the TCR gets Giant’s chunky Overdrive steerer which combine with the front and rear thru-axles and stiff carbon fork mean no steering input is lost to flex.

• Giant TCR review: The Giant Advanced SL 0, ridden and rated

For 2021, the Giant TCR commits entirely to disc brakes, and is given a huge dose of aero-consideration, including updated tube shapes and new wheels from Cadex. At the top of the pile, there’s no Dura-Ace model available, which will put some users off, but the bike is available with eTap AXS, complete with the integrated Quarq power meter.

All models are shipped completely set up for tubeless – just add sealant – and in our time with the TCR Advanced SL 0, the Cadex tyres held air better than many tubed setups, and provided a total of zero punctures. As a whole, the bike was lightweight – at sub-7kg for a 58cm-equivalent), power transfer was excellent, but comfort is slightly lower than its competition, and the handling took a little time to build confidence.

We’re on the SL7 issue of the Specialized Tarmac, and when the bike launched, it didn’t just spell the end of the Tarmac, it also put a nail in the coffin of the Venge aero bike. Basically the SL7 took the aerodynamics of the Venge, the low weight of the Tarmac and blended it into one bike. This was marketed as ‘no compromises’ on race day, although the compromise we felt was a lack of the old Tarmac’s ride feel and comfort. The SL7 basically became a race rocket.

Of course, Specialized then launched the Aether, which beautifully recaptures that je ne sais quoi.

• Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 review

Introduced a few iterations ago, the Tarmac is based around what Specialized calls Rider-First Engineering, each frame size is built with a specific geometry, layup and tube shapes, meaning gone are the days of the ultra-stiff XS and noodly XL frames. Also gone are the gender-specific geometries, the only difference between the men’s and women’s versions are the touchpoints and cranks.

It’s only available with disc brakes, which has allowed the brand to balloon the max tire clearance to 30mm.  The Expert spec comes with a Shimano Dura-Ace DI2 groupset, Roval CLX 50 Disc carbon wheels finished in with S-Works Turbo 320TPI rubber in pleasing tan wall.

Say what you will about Pinarello’s Dogma but it has won seven of the last 10 Tours de France. The latest iteration of the Italian brand’s aero racer is the Dogma F12, and it’s the first race bike from Pinarello to come with discs from the outset. It’s quite a big deal given in 2017 Fausto Pinarello famously declared he wasn’t convinced high-performance bikes needed disc brakes. The rim brake version also swaps from a single bolt to direct mount brakes.

At first glance, the F12 doesn’t look all that different from the F10; there are quite a few claimed improvements to aerodynamics and stiffness throughout the frame. The fork has been revamped to better combat twisting forces from the disc brake caliper, and the frames themselves are said to be 10 per cent lighter than the F10 (unpainted). Pinarello has also made refinements to its asymmetric frame design and changed to a higher grade carbon, said to amount to a 10 per cent increase in stiffness.

Now with the ability to take 30mm tyres (28mm for rim brake version), the F12 is designed around the Most (Pinarello’s component brand) Talon bar and stem combo, which is available in 16-stem length and bar width combinations. Pinarello is making the Dogma F12 in 13 frame sizes, however, they are so expensive, most retailers seem to only be offering framesets at the time of writing.

What’s more, as of summer 2021, the F12 is being replaced by the Dogma F, which we’re currently putting through its paces to see how it fares against the best road bikes.

Combining the best of both lightweight and aerodynamic worlds, the BMC Teammachine SLR01 Two just begs to be raced. It’s a truly premium bike that we found a thorough joy to ride over all gradients, thanks to its fast and responsive handling that remained compliant and comfortable throughout.

Certainly at the pricier end of the spectrum, it requires quite an investment, but if you’re looking for a top-tier race machine you couldn’t ask for much more. The Teammachine SLR01 Two is constructed from the brand’s Premium Carbon tubing, tuned using TCC Race (Tuned Compliance Concept) for improved comfort and light weight.

• BMC Teammachine SLR01 Two review

Up front you’ll find BMC’s ICS carbon cockpit, a one-piece system that hides cables internally for a clean aesthetic and aero gains. It’s powered by a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and rolls on Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 wheels shod with Vittoria’s tubeless Corsa TLR tyres.

The saddle comes courtesy of Selle Italia in the form of the much admired carbon-rail Flite Boost. The BMC Teammachine SLR01 Two might have a hefty price tag, but if you’re looking for the best race bike around, you could do much worse.

BEST AERO ROAD BIKES

The introduction of aerodynamics into road bikes has been one of the most defining advancements in cycling history. Gone are the svelte tubes of artisan frames, instead frames are now designed by computers using computational fluid dynamics to sculpt wind-cheating shapes.

The result is lightning-quick bikes that destroy high speed flat and rolling roads. The advantages of aerodynamics are so great that elements have spilt over to all high-end bikes, however, nothing will match an all-out aero road bike in terms of raw speed.

• Best aero road bikes: save watts with the fastest aero bikes available

The SystemSix moniker is nothing new to Cannondale, having first appeared 12 years ago in the form of a hybrid carbon fibre/aluminium composite frame. Ahead of its time in many ways, it paved the way for future models such as the lightweight and dynamic SuperSix Evo, which has also been given the aero treatment.

The blueprint of the all-new SystemSix – Cannondale’s first dedicated aero road bike – has been touted by the American company to be the ‘fastest on the planet’. At 7.8kg it may seem a little on the portly side but Cannondale says the added grams will do little to thwart progress, even on the hills.

The SystemSix makes an endearing case for itself as far as free speed is concerned. It’s seriously fast – be it on a descent, flat or climb, and the powerful disc brakes make for controlled modulation mid-corner.

You’d expect something as aero-looking and performance-orientated as the Trek Madone to possess a harsh and unforgiving ride quality but it doesn’t. Like the Domane, the Madone also utilises an IsoSpeed decoupler, but in this application, it’s located in the top tube and offers a certain degree of adjustability – something Trek claims has boosted comfort and stiffness by 17 and 21 per cent respectively.

The Madone however, has always been a proponent of aerodynamic trickery and, as such, employs a compendium of clever go-faster techniques such as an integrated two-piece carbon bar and stem (SLR models), Kammtail Virtual Foil tubing and disc-equipped aero wheels that will accommodate tyres of up to 28mm.

A lighter rim brake version is also available with repositioned front brakes behind the fork for improved aero proficiency. As the range-topper in the Trek road bike range, all Madones feature carbon frames and high-end SRAM or Shimano groupsets.

The latest edition of the Canyon Aeroad takes the former Aeroad and brings it into the 21st century, with wider tyre clearances, integrated cockpits and, umm, a quill stem.

The quill stem might not be modern, but Canyon’s take on the antiquated system very much is. By using a quill, the integrated cockpit can be lowered without having to cut the steerer tube, meaning it can be raised once again if necessary. The handlebars split at the tops (so that Canyon can ship it to you in a normal-sized bike box), but they’re also designed to offer up to 40mm width adjustment.

• Canyon Aeroad review

There’s also an increase in speed – to the apparent tune of seven watts over the former model, a 14-per cent stiffness increase, and a weight loss of 168 grams. That all combines to offer a ride that is really fast, yet far from uncomfortable. It considers itself an aero all rounder, but for all its merits on the scales, there are still aero-optimised bikes that weight less, so we’ve kept it in the aero bikes category, because its flat-land speed is what’s most impressive.

It got off to a rough start after launch with Canyon issuing a stop-ride notice after the high-profile breakage of Mathieu van der Poel’s handlebar, but with the solution on the horizon, there’s no denying the Aeroad is a quiver-killer of a bike.

A stalwart of Vitus’ lineup, the ZX1 EVO got a makeover for 2021, redesigned for wind tunnel excellence. The brand is sold via Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles and offers exceptional value for money, demonstrated perfectly in the ZX1 CRS Ultegra aero road bike.

• Vitus ZX1 EVO CRS review

It’s a stunning looking bike with tubes that are shaped to slice through the wind, internal cables routed through an FSA SMR ACR stem and Prime Primavera Carbon bars, and geometry that mirrors the brand’s EVO climbing frame. It rolls on tubeless-ready Reynolds AR 58/62 carbon wheels with XXX tires, and is powered by a Shimano Ultegra R8000 11-speed groupset. Hydraulic brakes provide the stopping power, while the combination of a 52/36t crankset and 11-32 SunRace cassette offers up a wide range of gears.

The ZX1 is super stiff, with accurate steering both when wrenching on the bars in a sprint, or cornering at high speed. Likewise, the stiff bottom bracket delivers responsive acceleration. All this unyielding carbon does make for a little harshness on rough road surfaces, though it’s not going to rattle your fillings loose, and this is no bad thing for a race bike anyway.

In the highly competitive aero road bike category, the Basso Diamante SV stands out as a super-fast machine that offers impeccable value for money when compared with its closest rivals.

The SV in the name stands for Super Veloce (super fast), and tells you all you need to know about the bike’s intentions. The design features a fork/tyre/wheel interface that offers wider spacing to maximise airflow and reduce drag, while the fully integrated cockpit houses all cables internally. Even its paintwork is aero, with Basso claiming it contains compacted ceramic nanoparticles less prone to drag and dirt contamination.

• Basso Diamante SV road bike review

The Diamante SV makes light work of rolling terrain, carrying momentum and accelerating when the road points upwards. The frame does feature some vibration-damping measures in the stem spacers and seat tube junction, however the ride feel it delivers is more on the firm side.

The Timemachine Road 01 Two is an all-out aero bike that delivers ferocious speed in spades. It belongs to a breed of dedicated aero bikes that are at a bit of a crossroads these days, owing to the increasing popularity of lightweight semi-aero road bikes. However if you’re looking for an uncompromising pursuit of speed, this two-year old frame design still has what it takes.

It’s got all the truncated tubing, dropped seat stays and integration you’d expect, plus BMC’s TCC Speed tuning for sharp and direct power transfer. Up front the ICS stem and handlebar hides all cables from view, plus a neatly integrated out-front GPS mount.

You’ll find integrated storage throughout the frame, courtesy of Elite, while shrouds cover the front disc brake calliper for added aero gains. The Road 01 Two comes equipped with SRAM Force eTap AXS 12-speed, ENVE SES 5.6 Disc wheels shod with Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 tires, and is topped with a Fizik Argo Vento R5 saddle.

Flat-out speed is certainly its truest strength, but the Timemachine Road also excels at corners and curves, maintaining pose throughout, while its beautifully composed geometry delivers purposeful and direct handling.

If you’re looking for out-and-out speed and not too bothered about climbing finesse, then this is a top-performing steed that’s worthy of your consideration.

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT ROAD BIKES

While bike design has splintered road bikes into specialist performers by making gains through truncated this and compliance that, when the road starts pointing up and gradients become severe lightweight is still king. It’s a simple fact that the less weight needing to be powered up a climb will result in a faster climbing speed.

The UCI limits the bike weight to 6.8kg for racing and while many brands seem to use this as a stopping point, for the everyday road rider, weight weenism can easily take a bike well below the racing limitation for even greater performance.

• Best lightweight bikes: our pick of gravity-defying climbing bikes

When the designers at Specialized spent a year exploring what constitutes the essence of riding pleasure, they tore up the racing rule book and came up with the Aethos. The concept goes against the status quo of cycling and, we think, could well revolutionise bike design in the future.

Instead of building a bike around the many rules laid out by UCI in an attempt to achieve marginal gains and eke out as much innovation as possible with a legislating body breathing down its neck, Specialized create the Aethos from the ground up and achieved what is claimed to be the world’s lightest disc frame, with a production weight of around 585g.

• Specialized Aethos review

Kitted out with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting, Roval’s Alpinist CLX wheelset, 26mm wide Specialized Turbo Cotton tyres and a Specialized Power Pro saddle, the Aethos is made to perform to perfection. From our experience riding it, the very first pedal stroke, with minimal mass, is met with instant movement that feels truly special.

Geometry and handling is lifted straight from the brand’s dedicated race bike, the Tarmac SL7, and is supremely precise in its cornering and weight distribution. As Graham put it in his first look review, ‘Specialized may have found that lost Tarmac DNA and evolved it into a whole new species’.

Despite their illustrious histories, Italian manufacturers are generally not renowned for being on the cutting edge of bicycle design. We tend to think of Italian racing bikes as beautiful, classic, perhaps even old fashioned – but the reality is that, with Wilier at least, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

The Zero SLR Disc is the latest lightweight bike from Wilier. Borrowing design cues from the Cento10 Pro aero bike, it’s a thoroughly modern lightweight bike. It ticks all the boxes; a super lightweight carbon frame with truncated aerofoil tube shapes, integrated handlebars with fully hidden cables, hydraulic disc brakes, carbon wheels and clearance for 28mm tyres.

Its tried and tested geometry, and stiff frame and fork mean handling is great, and its clean lines and complete cable integration make it a real looker. Wilier is kind enough to offer some very nice paint jobs as well – matte black with white detailing, matte velvet red and a glossy admiral blue. The matte black frameset is slightly lighter, but go for the red or blue for that essential touch of Italian flair.

There’s no denying that this is a pretty expensive bike – Wilier retains that classic Italian bike characteristic – but you’re buying into a European brand with over 100 years of experience in making bikes, and all of the racing heritage that comes with that.

As of yet, there doesn’t appear to be any women’s specific versions available, but, hopefully, that’s something Wilier will offer in the near future.

Once a pure climbing machine, built to give Alberto Contador an ideal platform on which to unleash his infamous out of the saddle attacks, the addition of hydraulic disc brakes, clearance for up to 28mm tyres, and aerodynamically optimised tubing widens its potential remit considerably.

With Bontrager’s new RSL 37 wheels and integrated cockpit, the OCLV 800 carbon layup and aero tube shapes, the new Emonda is said to halve the aero gap between Emonda-old and Madone SLR, whilst retaining much of the low weight of the former Emonda.

Available in a wide range of sizes, all of Trek’s bikes can be customised through their Project One programme. The options are extensive – from paint jobs through to practically every major component on the bike (though naturally, any upgrades will increase the overall cost) – so if the stock paint job isn’t to your taste, for example, you should still be able to find something to suit.

With Canyon’s direct-to-consumer approach, it’s hard to argue the value for money aspect of the German behemoth’s range. While this particular model is still a significant investment, this is competing against superbikes that are breaking the £10K without a sweat.

Canyon claims its Ultimate CF Evo is the lightest carbon disc brake frame on the market which is paired with a feathery 285g fork. Canyon state that this frameset, including handlebar, stem and seatpost, weighs 1.51kg. Not only is the frameset light, but Canyon confidently back up the stiffness of the frame which they say has been achieved using their most advanced carbon layup. The pursuit of weight-saving extends to the finishing touches like a titanium internal seatpost clamp to assure every gram possible has been saved.

Canyon hasn’t looked to have scrimped on components either, your money gets you some serious kit. Canyon provides an impressive selection of SRAM’s RED eTap AXS groupset including a RED D1 power meter, DT Swiss 25th Anniversary disc carbon clinchers, and the CP20 EVO Evocockpit. Finishing touches come from the German lightweight carbon specialists Schmolke’s 87g seatpost and a 69g Selle Italia SLR C59 saddle.

BEST ENDURANCE ROAD BIKES

For those who seek long days on the road, an endurance road bike with relaxed geometry, larger tyre clearances and built-in comfort features make a huge difference when the miles start racking up.  Many of the best endurance road bikes feature compliance zones, optimised tube shapes or suspension systems to isolate the rider from poor road surfaces and fatigue-inducing vibrations. Relaxed geometry, larger tyres and disk brakes make these bikes steady and predictable, ready to tackle any long-distance ride no matter the terrain.

• Best carbon road bikes

The Specialized Roubaix was the first commercially available endurance road bike when it was launched back in 2004. With a slightly more relaxed geometry and taller head tube, early versions of the Roubaix featured Zertz inserts, said to absorb road buzz — their effectiveness is still up for debate.

The Roubaix has come quite a long way since then, now featuring the Future Shock. Designed in collaboration with McLaren, the Future Shock is now in its 2.0 version and features a hydraulic piston inside the head tube which provides 20mm of travel, now with a dial to adjust the compression and rebound damping.

It’s not as snappy as the Tarmac when you push on the pedals, but it does an excellent job of smoothing out square edges on the road. Specialized are firm believers that ‘Smoother is Faster’ but so is aero. The Roubaix has had the ‘Win tunnel’ treatment and according to Specialized, the new Roubaix is more Aero than the Tarmac SL6 yet lighter than a Venge. Like the Tarmac, it only comes with disc brakes and a unisex geometry, with the only difference between the men’s and women’s bikes being the touchpoints.

The third generation of the Trek Domane carries the dual front and rear IsoSpeed technology. The rear IsoSpeed uses a top-tube mounted adjustable pivot that with just a couple of tools and 5 minutes will allow the amount of compliance to be adjusted to suit your next ride whether its road, pavé or light gravel.

Trek says the new Domane is more aero than its predecessor, with Trek claiming it’s a full minute per hour faster than the previous version – although at what power output, we cannot be sure.

Trek has fully committed the Domane to disc brakes and the result is that it can accept up to 38mm tyres, or 35mm with a fender. At the front, there is a nifty cable guide mounted under the stem; it’s not quite as clean as the internally routed options, but not having to run cables and housing through handlebars and stem make maintenance and changes to bike fit considerably easier.

The Domane also features a clever down tube storage box that allows for tools and a spare tube to be stored in the frame inside a plush tool roll. While the standard Domane range is built around Trek’s H2 Endurance Fit, if you spring for the Project One SLR, the slightly more aggressive H1.5 ‘Pro Endurance’ geometry is available. Trek has also ditched the gender-specific geometries, with the only difference between the gendered bikes being the touchpoints and paint jobs.

At first glance, the BMC Roadmachine looks identical to the Teammachine racer, but closer inspection reveals a higher stack, shorter reach, softer ride and room for fat tyres. Even with the more relaxed geometry the Roadmachine still retains much of is racier cousin’s efficiency and snap when pressure is applied to the pedals, but with slightly more forgiving steering characteristics.

The frame is made using the TCC (Tuned Compliance Concept) Endurance lay-up, which BMC says is designed to take the edge off rough roads. BMC has also employed what it calls Angle Compliance technology, which is marketing-speak for flex built into the fork, seat stays and seat post. The Roadmachine is where BMC first employed its integrated cockpit design, so it’s no surprise to see it here and we love the addition of mounts for a top tube food/storage box so your pre-knock Haribo can be at hand at all times.

There is enough room in the frame for 33mm tyres so even though ‘road’ is in the name, nothing is stopping you from taking the Roadmachine past where the pavement ends. At the front, the new asymmetric fork is said to be ten per cent stiffer, while the back features the brand’s dropped seat stays. The trouble, however, is the BMC sized price tag.

Since it was introduced in 2009, Giant’s Defy has consistently been the brand’s top-selling bike — it was also the first road bike to be offered exclusively in disc brakes. With only minor refinements to the geometry over the years, every other aspect of the bike has been improved from the D-Fuse seat post and handlebar to the oversized and tapered OverDrive 2 steerer tube.

The Defy Advanced sees an updated rear end with a slight curve in the seat stays to promote deflection. To balance out the plush rear end, Giant has adapted the D-Fuse technology for the front of the bike. The tops are now D-shaped like the seat post and Giant says the amount of flex can be customised by rotating the bar in the stem.

With these comfort features the remainder of the front triangle is robust with Giant employing its beefy Megadrive down tube and PowerCore bottom bracket shell, similar to what’s seen on its race bikes. For a period in time, the Defy was the lightest frameset in Giant’s range, but now made from the brand’s second-tier carbon, it has gained a bit of weight.

BEST ALUMINIUM ROAD BIKES

While all the top-tier bikes are made from carbon that’s not to say that bikes fabricated from metal are now obsolete. Aluminium is still a fantastic material for building light and stiff bike frames and with advanced manufacturing methods, they are lighter and more comfortable than ever.

• Best aluminium road bikes: high-performance at lower prices

Cannondale’s CAAD frames have long been considered the gold standard in aluminium race bikes, and the latest iteration the CAAD13 builds on that legacy.

The geometry matches the new SuperSix Evo, and the CAAD13 retains the light steering and crisp response to pedal input. Dropped chainstays and a D-shaped seat-post greatly improve comfort, and Cannondale has used hydroforming to incorporated truncated aerofoils to help the frame slice through the wind.

The American outfit is offering the new CAAD13 in both rim and disc versions, with the latter featuring Mavic’s Speed Release thru-axle dropouts. Shod with a Force eTap AXS drivetrain the bike also comes with a full carbon fork, Knot HollowGram45 carbon and wheels fender mounts galore.

The Specialized Allez Sprint is a high-speed cornering, criterium racing weapon. With aerodynamic D’Alusio Smartweld tubing, the sprint is supremely stiff in every way, and no watt or steering input is sacrificed to flex. This also means you can articulate granular details about the road surface based solely on the vibrations coming up through the saddle.

The frame stack is 10mm lower than the Tarmac, putting plenty of weight on the front wheel and creating steering characteristics akin to a laser-guided missile. Using D’Aluisio Smartweld tech throughout the frame, weld points are moved away from high-stress areas like the bottom bracket, requiring less material for the same amount of rigidity and strength.

Specialized offers different specs and colours depending on the region you live but for the most part, complete options are based around a Shimano 105 groupset. Should you want to choose your own spec, Specialized offers the frameset in disc- or rim-brake options.