![]() ![]() The only downside to the S-Works Aethos is its price tag. Here you have a threaded bottom bracket, as well as a classic looking cockpit, without the full cable integration that saves a few watts but makes swapping out parts or fitting new cables a bit of a bind. Its versatility is strengthened by Specialized's desire to make the Aethos somewhat more traditional when compared with its out-and-out race bikes. It climbs and descends like a dream and is plenty quick on the flat stuff too. It's numbers are pretty similar to the Tarmac after all.īut this really is bike that excels on long rides over varied terrain. Of course, you could race on this bike, as Kasper Asgreen did during a stage in the 2021 TdF. It offers a quality of ride that's hard to beat not the stiffest or the most aero but rather a blend of properties that make it suited to all-day comfort while still being incredibly agile. On test we found this to be the case (opens in new tab). Credited with being the lightest production road frame available it's a bike designed less for racing and more for pure enjoyment. ![]() Specialized's Aethos made quite the splash on first launch. But all in all it's an impressive package for the price, making the Allez very competitive against the other best cheap road bikes we've reviewed. That range spread over eight speeds does result in some quite large jumps between gear ratios though.Ī wheelset upgrade would significantly improve performance, while the bike would also benefit from an upgrade as well. The weight does hold you back a bit on the climbs though, despite the range down to less than 1:1 offered by the Shimano Claris 8-speed groupset, which shares a lot of the ergonomics of Shimano's top spec Dura-Ace. The Axis Sport wheels are on the heavy side though and the Tektro rim brakes aren’t the most effective, but nevertheless the ride quality and sporty feel are up there with much pricier bikes. There's room for mudguards and a rack, so we reckon it has the versatility to serve duty as either a first road bike, a winter bike or even a bike for commuting. The geometry was designed using Specialized's huge bike fit database, for a fairly upright ride position and a fit that's comfortable for many riders. ![]() Specialized’s budget road bike has a lightweight frame and all-carbon fork, with cables routed internally. Here are our picks of the best road bikes at a variety of different price points. The rise of the gravel bike offers a machine that you can ride on the road but that you can also take on tracks and trails, giving you more choice in where you ride.įortunately we've tested hundreds of road bikes at Cycling Weekly, enabling us to better help you navigate an increasingly busy and competitive marketplace, and ultimately find the road bike of your dreams. The road bike sector is more nuanced than it's ever been, with frame materials, aero features, wheel construction and tyre width all offering loads of choice. But if you find those price tags hard to swallow, check out our guide to the best cheap road bikes which we've ridden. We've divided this guide up into bikes priced at under $2,000 / £2,000, those priced under $5,000 / £5,000 and money no object options. Road bike prices have seen a lot of inflation over the last few years and the top end models now often retail for over $10,000 / £10,000. ![]()
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