Bikes - Road
Giant TCR Advanced 3 2012
The Giant TCR Advanced 3 is a fast, precise road bike that offers a smooth ride. We like it a lot.
Kinesis Racelight T2 Tiagra
The Kinesis Racelight is considered the winter training bike by professionals and amateurs alike. Good, solid, double butted tubing in a racey geometry is how it got this image. In a new build for 2012, with Tiagra 10sp, R500 wheels, a carbon fork and FSA finishing kit, does the bike still hit the mark as a true all-rounder?
Jamis Quest
It's a cracking bike, the Jamis Quest. Comfortable and versatile and quick. The bike it reminds me of most is the Genesis Equilibrium, which I liked enough to buy one. It's a close call, but for me I think the Jamis might be even better. Test bikes come and go, but I'll certainly miss the Quest when it's gone.
Frame and Fork
Canyon Ultimate AL 9.0 Di2
This, folks, is the Canyon Ultimate AL 9.0 Di2 and it's putting in an early bid to be road.cc's Bike of the Year. It's one of the cheapest bikes out there to come with electronic gear shifting and it has plenty more to offer too. You get quality components across the board and a fast, involving ride.
We'll take the best bits one by one, starting with the most obvious...
Specialized Allez Comp
Last Sunday was the first weekend day that felt like spring to me, so I filled a couple of big bottles, put on some shiny new kit and headed out on the Specialized Allez Comp for my first 100-miler of the year. After a few hours on the back roads of Wiltshire and Berkshire, I came home thinking that this is a really neat, value-packed bike that deserves some serious consideration.
Kovert FX-Pro
Kovert's top of the range FX-Pro is pitched at what is probably the most hotly contested bike battle of 2012 – the one to be the best affordable electronic shifting bike. Launched at the 2011 Cycle Show, Kovert's ethos is to bring race bikes to the market at affordable prices. The brand's racing commitment is underlined by the Kovert Elite Racing Team who are already bringing in the early season results using the FX-Pro frameset.
Scott Speedster S30
The Scott Speedster S30 is an efficient road bike that you should definitely consider if you're after a sub-£1,000 setup.
The price band just below £1,000 is a competitive one. The manufacturers know a lot of people can justify spending £900-and-something on a bike but over £1,000? It's a psychological hurdle, a step too far.
Carrera Virago
So you've got a thousand quid to spend on a road bike, you've been to the shows, you've got the brochures and you've made your shortlist, but what's the betting Halfords' Carrera Virago isn't on there, more to the point... should it be?
Pinnacle Evaporite One
The Pinnacle Evaporite One is a new bike from Evans that's aimed at high-mileage riders but we found it too stiff for all-day comfort.
Evans Cycles has been offering its in house Pinnacle brand for a few years now and 2012 brings a new carbon frame to the range. It's found on the Evaporite One, Two and Three, all with varying levels of finishing kit depending on price. A quick scan of the blurb on Evans' website explains this model as, "A bike aimed at the sportive and big mile riders looking for speed and comfort." Sounds like me.
Cannondale CAAD8 Tiagra
I'm sorry to see you leave, Cannondale CAAD8, our acquaintance was too short. When you came into my life, I thought you'd be just another run of the mill bike. How you proved me wrong.
Singletrack MTB mag
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