It’s this mindset that’s rubbing off from the gravel scene onto the road bike segment, turning the latest road bikes into thoroughbred all-rounders. In times of “friends with benefits,” in which no one seems to want to make any long-term commitments, it obviously makes the most sense financially to invest in a bike that will allow you to realise as many of your pent up dreams as possible, doesn’t it? You want a loyal two-wheeled companion where anything goes but nothing’s compulsory. But what’s that got to do with this group test, you ask? Is it due to the hip and carefree videos of the core scene, proclaiming the freedom of life on two wheels? Maybe it’s the breathtaking reports of events in far flung corners of the earth, or perhaps the increase of traffic on asphalt roads? We’re sure that the above-mentioned aspects all play a role in the current gravel boom, but it’s primarily due to the easygoing nature and versatility of these bikes that makes them the perfect choice for so many riders. Gravel bike sales have shot up and there’s a bunch of possible reasons for this. Full-speed and full-on adventure! Road bikes: between rebirth, friends with benefits and lots of gravel
For everyone else, including the open minded disciples of pain who occasionally want more from riding their bike than just chasing KOMs on Strava, this group test is here to prove that you shouldn’t have to shy away from throwing in a few more gravel segments the next time you plan a route.
#BUDGET ENDURANCE ROAD BIKE PRO#
If you earn a living from racing your bike, demand maximum performance or simply like to believe you’re a pro, you’ve chosen the perfect hobby since you’ll be able to ride almost the exact same bike that you see in the pro peloton. It’s understandable that we’re fascinated by the pros and their bikes, but the majority of mere mortals like us shouldn’t be looking to them for guidance when buying a new bike. Just like us, Sarah and Michael are probably in awe of the performances demonstrated by the world tour pros and the wattage bombs that Mathieu van der Poel drops on a regular basis. For all the road bike individualists like Sarah and Michael who ride 6,000 km/year on average – our readers’ most common names and average annual mileage according to the 2021 GRAN FONDO reader survey of over 11,100 participants (check out the results here).
an all-road bike, excels in each of these scenarios.ĭespite the seemingly clear differences between these two schools of thought, newcomers to the sport of road riding will still ask themselves: “Which bike suits me and my requirements? Which is the best complete package? And which is the best bike of all?” This is what a lot of excited newbies sound like and you might recognise yourself in these questions. Regardless of whether it’s a short post-work ride, a relaxed cruise over several hours, hobby races, or gravel shortcuts, a modern road bike that hasn’t been designed specifically for racing and that feels at home on compact gravel, a.k.a. And the enormous potential and capabilities of the newest bikes in this segment, of course.
What used to be an endurance, marathon or Gran Fondo bike is now just an all-road bike. Do you recognise yourself here? Good, then this is the group test for you! In times where everything seems to need a new name and the neologism specialists of bike brand marketing departments are constantly trying to outdo each other, a clear line has finally been drawn. The adventurers amongst us are less about racing and more about riding, simply enjoying the time spent in the drops during their post-work jaunts. If that’s you, you’ll find what you’re looking for amongst the endurance, marathon and Gran Fondo segments. On the other side of that you’ve got the connoisseurs of good times: those who don’t follow a strict training plan, don’t always have a race number pinned to their jersey, and put a lot of value on things like freedom when they ride. Check out the group test here to find out which of the 5 race bikes came out on top. To test this hypothesis and find out which is the fastest all-round race bike currently on the market, we got out our stopwatches and power metres for our race bike group test. Competitive riders who are out to race against the clock will find performance oriented bikes that are both aerodynamically optimised for the straights and light enough for the climbs. Innovative components and the constant evolution of materials is allowing them to design bikes that are more versatile than ever, requiring fewer models for specific uses. Things are settling down – many brands’ portfolios seem to have stopped expanding with an ever increasing diversity of model ranges.
#BUDGET ENDURANCE ROAD BIKE FULL#
A sign of the times: full-speed vs full adventure!
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