Top 10 Best road bikes in 2018

Named after the infamously gruelling Paris to Roubaix Challenge, this intelligent road bike features the marque’s new Future Shock cartridge, which gives a staggering 20mm of vertical stem and bar movement to soak up bumps.

The frame and headset are chunky but it doesn’t feel like a particularly heavy bike and those oversized elements are only put in place to house the clever suspension system.

Although discreet, there’s a noticeable difference in the way the handlebars and stem miraculously iron over imperfections in the road, while the squishy seatpost makes arduously long sportives slightly less painful.

The addition of tried-and-tested DT R470 wheels means it remains a fast ride and that Fact10r frame is stiff and pointy, nicely transferring power through the wheels.

Of course, those with bicycle Spider senses will likely argue that the additional damping effects power transfer and handling but we struggled to find those flaws.

Plus, the Shimano 105 gearing and brakes is a bit stingy for a bike at this price point, but you’re really paying for that brilliantly clever frame.

In our humble opinion, it’s a race bike that doesn’t punish the spine, wrists and arse like its carbon fibre brethren. And that’s a very good thing.

It is very difficult to categorise BMC’s latest Roadmachine, as it’s not quite an all-out Tour de France racer, nor is it a properly comfortable long distance cruiser.

However, it manages to sit somewhere in the middle of those two camps, which is typically where most amateur riders want to be. It means riders get just enough speed, but with a hint of comfort for lengthier rides.

Jump off a high-end carbon racer and straight into the saddle of BMC’s affordable Roadmachine and its additional mass is tangible, especially on the climbs, but it’s ludicrously comfortable and the internal cabling, powerful disc brakes and solid Shimano 105 groupset means it can compete in terms of all-out luxury with more expensive bicycles.

Canyon is the German meister of packing as much bike as possible into as small a price and box as possible – their mail-order packaging is a masterclass in ruthless German efficiency when it comes to use of space, allied to speed and ease of setup.

Now, the more astute among you will have noted that there’s something rather odd about this ‘road bike’ and that’s because technically it isn’t one; it’s what is called a ‘fitness bike’. However, that is a very stupid and un-catchy name for what is essentially a road bike with flat pedals (by default; obviously you can fit it with whatever you like) and flat bars. And it is fantastiche, as the Germans say.

If you love carbon fibre, you’ve come to the right place because this wind tunnel tested beauty is absolutely dripping in the stuff.

The result is a featherweight speed machine that tips the scales at just 7.7kg and packs a groupset that wouldn’t look out of place amongst a professional pack of elite riders.

You’ll pay for the privilege but this high-end stunner represents great value considering the tech that has been invested in the frame, carbon rims and Shimano’s superior Ultegra groupset.

Okay, so you don’t get much change from £2,000 (you don’t get any) but that smart investment buys some of the best frame technology found in the cycling game.

Specialized’s FACT 9r carbon fibre construction is light and stiff, for improved straight line speed and inspiring greater downhill confidence, yet it manages to remain comfortable enough for longer rides.

The overall package is pretty good for the price too, with ultra-durable (if not the quickest) DT R460 rims, Shimano’s mid-to-top range Ultegra 8000 gearing components and hardy Espoir Elite Kevlar-beaded tyres thrown into the mix.

Straight out of the box, this bike is built for lengthy sportives and heavy training usage but with a little more tweaking and outlay, it can easily transform into a race-ready piece of kit.

If you’re after a ride that screams professionalism by incorporating an almost unhealthy amount of carbon fibre, this seriously slippery customer could well be the steed for you.

Vitus launched its original ZX1 models back in 1991, when it wasn’t owned by Wiggle, and wowed the world with the first one-piece carbon moncoque frame to hit the market.

Things have changed a bit since then but the latest ZX1 aims to be equally as gob-smacking with its staggeringly pointy carbon frame, which harnesses the power of Kammtail tube profiles to enhance comfort but keep the rigidity that sprinters love.

It looks good enough to go up against the pro peloton and packs some powerful disc brakes for an additional tech bonus, yet it still costs under £2,000 at its base level spec – although you can go considerably more costly if you want more polished finishing kit and an increased bells ‘n’ whistles count.

The SuperSix EVO has long been the go-to brand for the UK cyclist who wants to blend serious lightweight performance with a price tag that doesn’t require re-mortgaging the house.

This year’s model has been tweaked ever so slightly with a new colourway and a slightly lighter and more aerodynamic frame but the same excellent riding experience is still present and very correct.

The entry-level model discussed here might not be finished with bags of aero touches and lightweight components, but the money goes towards that excellent frame, which boasts one of the best handling experiences on the market.

It’s a beautifully reliable bike that will be handle a variety of levels of riding, from the occasional sportive to regular racing. It’s also a template that can easily be improved upon down the line, with a few mods.

Giant is often credited with leading the way in terms of creating long lasting, comfortable and great value road bikes and its Defy range is a great entry point to the brand.

This model is built with endurance and comfort in mind, so perhaps isn’t as racy as others mentioned on this list, but flattened seat stays and a specially designed seat post are added to decrease road vibrations and keep the dreaded Numb Arse syndrome at bay for longer.

Powerful disc brakes are also thrown into the mix as standard, which is particularly impressive given this bike comes in at £1,549. These offer extra peace of mind in poor weather, even if they can be a bit of a faff to service.

Giant’s finishing kit is also solid and will last years of heavy cycling before it gives up the ghost. Only Shimano’s entry-level Tiagra groupset lets the package down – more discerning riders may find it can prove lazy to shift and a little unreliable, compared to more expensive offerings.

A few years back, online mega sports retailer Wiggle resurrected the French bicycle marque, Vitus. It’s been inexorably improving its affordable but really rather good carbon racers ever since.

The Vitesse EVO Vri one of the best groupset, wheel and finishing kit packages on this list, with Shimano’s utterly brilliant Ultegra Di2 electronic shifters coming as standard.

These clever cogs harness the power of an electric motor in the front and rear derailleurs, meaning gear shifts are fast and precise, while the system has been tuned to automatically keep itself true.

Ultegra brake calipers also come part and parcel, as do tried-and-tested Mavic Ksyrium 25 performance wheels and a carbon seatpost to finish off the lightweight racer.

Canyon knows very well that you can easily achieve the perfect bike if you have 10 grand to spare but Canyon also knows that not everyone has that sort of dollar to blow.

Its CF SL range is light and durable, with the updated model boasting a Mavic Aksium Disc wheelset with powerful disc brakes, as well as robust Shimano 105 groupset and disc brake.

Canyon frames are naturally fast and pointy, designed with pro pelotons in mind, but the CF SL manages to blend in a soupçon of comfort, which is great for those with longer rides to undertake.