The sun is out, there’s a light breeze and hardly a cloud in the sky… Road bike season is finally here! It may have been a reasonably dry and warm winter (comparatively) but now is the time the masses really start to dust off their gear and hit the road. It’s also a great time to start your road cycling adventure too, with hordes of new riders taking to the roads for the first time.
Whether you’re a seasoned rider or a beginner, now is a perfect time to splash out on a new road bike to add that little extra sparkle to your rides. We’ve assembled our top picks from two of the sector’s best manufacturers – Scott and Cube – with offerings suitable for a range of budgets and different riding styles. These bikes all pack excellent performance in great value packages, while all looking fantastic to let you show off your new ride in true style.
The best budget-busting road bikes
Not everyone has the funds to buy – or wants – a carbon super bike. Budget-focussed road bikes are a world away from what they were just a few years ago. As high-end technology and manufacturing techniques filter down, budget road bikes get better and better year on year to the point where they’re now better to ride than many pro-tour level bikes from just a decade ago! What’s more with the wide-spread availability of Cycle to Work vouchers, you can really grab a bargain!
Scott has have been producing aluminium frames of the highest quality for years and the Scott Speedster 40 really showcases their talents. With a stunning double-butted alloy with Scott’s comfortable Endurance geometry for all-day comfort combined with a wide-range Shimano Claris drivetrain, the Speedster 40 is perfect for starting out on your cycling adventures.
Cube have always delivered sensational value for money, and their Attain SL Road Bike is no different. We know, £999 is not by any means cheap for a lot of people, but when bought on our excellent finance deals or through the Cycle to Work scheme, this is one of the best value road bikes around! With a stunning aluminium frame and carbon forks, combined with a slick-shifting Shimano 105 drivetrain, the Attain SL is ripe for riding all day long.
A few sportif specials
Strictly speaking, you can ride a sportif on any road bike or even a hybrid. But if you want to take longer rides seriously, investing in the right tool for the job can bring huge rewards. Lightweight carbon frames and aluminium wheels with high-quality drivetrains make your ride smoother, easier, faster and more comfortable. Designed to eat the miles with ease, these bikes are perfect for big days out, whether they’re fairly flat or hideously hilly!
Scott’s Addict has always been an incredibly light carbon bike and the latest Addict 20 road bike matches this super-light build with amazing comfort. The HMF Carbon frame is stiff where it needs to be and compliant in all the right places, providing superb comfort on longer rides while still offering savage acceleration when you put the hammer down. The 28mm Schwalbe Lugano tyres and plush Syncros Tofino saddle further improve comfort, making this an ideal for long days out on the road.
Cube’s Attain covers a broad spectrum of price points, with the Attain GTC SL Disc sitting at the very top of the tree. With a stunning GTC carbon frame that provides incredible vibration damping to improve comfort and a Shimano Ultegra drivetrain with powerful Shimano 105 disc brakes, the Attain GTC SL Disc weighs just 8.5kg and simply dances up even the steepest of climbs with ease. The disc brakes and grippy 28mm tyres ensure you have confidence to push on descents too.
The aero aces
If you want to go seriously fast yet still have a bike that can be used in a range of conditions, an aerodynamic road bike is the only choice. Aerodynamic road bikes take cues from their race bred Triathlon and TT bike cousins, teaming aerodynamic tube profiles with a traditional road bike shape. They might not be the lightest, but these bikes are built to go fast, cutting through the air with ease on the flats, climbs and descents.
Cube’s Agree has evolved into a highly developed aero-style road bike that can still be ridden all day long. The Agree C:62 Race Disc features Cube’s C:62 carbon technology to keep weight to a minimum, while the tubing profiles have been optimised to cut the air. Combined with lightweight and aerodynamic Newman SL R.32 wheels and you have a bike that loves to be ridden fast and hard.
The Scott Foil was one of the first road bikes to take on the aerodynamic
profile of TT and triathlon bikes, and the latest version of the Foil continues
to set the standard. The 2019 Foil
20 road bike is arguably the pick of the range. Combining a
lightweight HMF/IMP carbon frame and integrated Sycnros cockpit, the whole bike
just oozes speed – it even looks fast standing still! With the ubiquitous
Shimano Ultegra groupset allowing you to put the down in effortless style, the
Foil 20 is race-ready out of the box!
All these bikes are incredible bits of kit for different reasons, but they will all provide years of faithful service and put a massive smile on your face! With fantastic finance deals available, there has never been a better time to treat yourself to your dream road bike!