This feature was produced in association with Cycle Surgery.
One of the most important considerations when buying a new bike is the material it’s built from. Although carbon isn’t unheard of at the lower end of the market, it’s almost de rigueur once you start poking around in the section with the big price tags.
As a material, it’s light, stiff, strong and highly adaptable. Traditionally, of course, bikes were made from steel and in many places still are.
Strong and easily repaired, steel does, however, suffer in the weight stakes compared to other metals such as aluminium, which ruled the road bike world until carbon came along at the end of the ’90s and swiped its crown.
Titanium is the other material to be found in frame manufacture. With similar properties to steel, it’s much lighter, but also tougher to work with and so accordingly tends to be pricier and less commonly used.
Orbea Orca M11i Pro
In a nutshell: A racing machine, yes, but one that is designed to take the edge off of long, hard miles.
Stand-out features: The monocoque carbon frame is constructed to produce optimal stiffness, with the head tube, down tube and chainstays all shaped to resist twisting so that all your power is poured directly into the pedals.
The pattern of the carbon lay-up, meanwhile, plus that thin top tube and slender seatstays are all designed to deliver comfort and control. The wireless SRAM Red eTap electronic groupset also takes this bike to the next level.
£4,699 | cyclesurgery.com
Scott Foil Disc
In a nutshell: This update of the super slippery Scott Foil sees disc brakes added and the carbon frame modified to counteract the extra weight that disc brakes bring.
Stand-out features: The Foil Disc has a wider deeper fork leg than its predecessor. This shields the front disc calliper to reduce drag. The lack of rim brake callipers also means the tyres up to 30c can be fitted – making it an aero bike that can also deliver on comfort.
£3,299 | cyclesurgery.com
Specialized Tarmac Pro
In a nutshell: Pro by name and pro by nature, the new Tarmac is a bike that’s stuffed with all the know-how Specialized has poured into its S-Works range of Grand Tour-winning machines down the years.
Stand-out features: The sleek frame is made from 10r FACT carbon fibre which is not only supremely light, but also supremely stiff, meaning all the watts you generate will go directly into getting that back wheel flying.
A full Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8000 groupset and Roval CL 50 carbon wheelset round out a truly top-grade package.
£5,750 | cyclesurgery.com