Bicycling’s Take a look at Group and employees collectively rode accurately over 100 fully fully totally different bicycles between January and December. Most have been dropbar bikes—freeway, gravel, or all-road vogue—nonetheless we frolicked on many mountain bikes, e-bikes, cargo bikes, and commuters. We even rode spherical on a {{{custom}}} one-off circus bike.
Of the bikes we rode in 2024, many have been glorious nonetheless none have been absolute stinkers. Bicycle producers and small builders normally have factors like geometry, dealing with, and suspension kinematics pretty dialed. Most bicycle components—drivetrains, brakes, wheels, and so forth.—carry out at a excessive stage and the variations in bikes come all the way in which wherein all the way in which all the way down to small particulars. This makes the biking expertise elevated for ceaselessly riders.
Senior Take a look at Editor Matt Phillips and Take a look at Editor Dan Chabanov testing gear on a recent journey.
Nonetheless, a wide range of bicycles stood out to us over all others this 12 months. These ten bikes are essential benchmarks in journey top of the range, bicycle enchancment, look, or value. Most significantly, they’re all a blast to journey. We furthermore spotlight three new bikes we’re able to’t wait to journey in 2025.
Seplavy’s Picks
Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy
BlackHeart Freeway AL
The Freeway AL is forthright in both aspect. Because of the bike’s set up suggests, it’s an aluminum freeway bike. It makes use of principally spherical 7005 aluminum tubes paired with an Enve Freeway fork; the bike doesn’t have radical aerodynamic shaping or use proprietary components. The up to date Freeway AL includes a T47 backside bracket, a Widespread Derailleur Hanger (UDH), and clears as so much as 34mm (measured) width tires.
On pavement, the Freeway AL is sharp and stiff. It has predictable dealing with nonetheless with a bit bit little little bit of an edge and chew—similar to Specialised’s Allez Dash, it’s possible you’ll’t be lazy with the Freeway AL in a nook. It accelerates shortly and climbs elevated than its weight could recommend. With SRAM Power AXS, Zipp cockpit, Reserve 42|49 wheels, and 32mm Bontrager tires, my Freeway AL weighs 19.4 kilos with pedals and cages—not superlight nonetheless constructed with sturdy and reliable components.
What objects the Freeway AL other than fully totally different aluminum freeway bikes is customization. When you cannot change geometry (BlackHeart presents eight physique sizes; 46cm to 62cm), BlackHeart consists of {{{custom}}} Cerakote physique paint and mannequin colours (select from 137 alternatives) contained in the $1,949 frameset price (+$200 for {{{custom}}} fork shade). Full bike costs begin at $3,649. BlackHeart presents digital shifting teams from SRAM, Shimano, and Campagnolo, and loads of wheelset, cockpit, and half issue alternatives.
BlackHeart achieved my try bike in “Pink Sherbet” and “Blue Raspberry” Cerakote to match my KruisCX crew skinsuits—a contact normally reserved for Olympians or World Champions. This bike has as a lot persona and aptitude as you want. It’s a {{{custom}}} bicycle for riders with out the value range or persistence for a motorbike with {{{custom}}} geometry and it rides as accurately (or elevated) than many bikes from much more recognizable and greater producers.
Firefly Gravel
Of the handfuls of bikes I rode in 2024, none have been as expensive or uncommon as this Firefly. Nonetheless this bike isn’t good attributable to its price—range-topping bicycles from many mainstream producers now routinely worth upwards of $15,000 or could take weeks or months to trace down. The Firefly’s perfection comes from its artisan craftsmanship, elegant ride-feel and dealing with, and precision match.
Although this Gravel try frameset was fully optioned out with a titanium fork, instruments, and {{{custom}}} anodizing and prices roughly $12,000, costs for Firefly’s Gravel and Freeway Plus framesets begin at $5,200 for {{{custom}}} geometry with titanium tubing and an Enve fork. Full bike builds worth $8,000 and up. That’s contained in the ballpark (or so much a lot much less!) than many high-end carbon manufacturing framesets and bikes from principal producers. Nonetheless none of these pricey manufacturing bikes are custom-made precisely in your driving and physique.
Nearly talking, each rider can not pay cash for a {{{custom}}} bike; most don’t even need one. Nonetheless whilst you’ve acquired fitment wishes exterior the fluctuate of a producing bike—or just want one issue distinctive and particular—a {{{custom}}} bike is worth investing your money and time on.
READ FULL REVIEW
Gazelle Medeo T9 Metropolis
Commuter e-bikes repeatedly come by the use of Bicycling’s door for our Greatest Electrical Bikes and Greatest Cargo Bikes testing. Most of those bikes perform moderately accurately and are priced right for getting riders to work, school, or spherical metropolis. We try the entire points from expensive carbon fashions to zippy-small wheelers to budget-priced consumer-direct e-bikes.
Nonetheless, the bike I uncover myself reaching for bigger than the others is Gazelle’s Medeo T9 Metropolis. The Medeo checks the entire turning into containers for a mid-priced electrical commuter. It comes inventory with Bosch’s Vigorous Line motor, Shimano disc brakes and 9-speed Alivio drivetrain, Continental tires, steel fenders, lights, and a rear rack. It even has a built-in cafe lock for transient espresso stops or a fast run into the put up workplace.
In a hyper-competitive e-bike market the place many producers truly actually really feel inclined to throw “additional” or “bigger” at their electrical bikes, Gazelle stripped the Medeo down to precisely what’s required for an exquisite particular person expertise. The T9 Metropolis’s mid-drive motor isn’t as extraordinarily environment friendly or torquey as some opponents’ hub motors nonetheless the Gazelle’s Bosch unit presents smoothness, reliability, and world supplier help. Plus, the bike’s battery isn’t housed inside a large downtube and the Medeo makes use of a discrete current versus a vast touchscreen.
At $2,299, the Netherlands-made Medeo T9 Metropolis prices barely bigger than economical e-bikes from consumer-direct producers nonetheless has an extra refined journey truly actually really feel and higher top of the range components all by. That is the commuter e-bike to purchase in case you don’t have a wide range of cash to drop nonetheless need one issue well-built and reliable.
Phillips’ Favorites
Senior Take a look at Editor Matt Phillips
Parlee Ouray
Not extended after I obtained this Ouray try bike, I discovered that Bob Parlee had handed after a battle with most cancers. Bob was a vast man nonetheless quiet and delicate. I rode a wide range of iterations of the custom-made carbon bikes that bore his set up, and all folks was a masterpiece.
My favourite Bob reminiscence: Many Bicycling lifetimes before now, we hosted an awards BBQ on the Sea Otter Typical. We awarded a Parlee Z-series bike, “Dream Bike of the 12 months.” Bob sought me out after the occasion and commenced thanking me, nonetheless then stopped abruptly, grabbed me, and gave me a vast hug. His bike deserved the award on account of it was so good, nonetheless I used to be nonetheless touched to see how a lot he appreciated the popularity.
Bob’s model has new owners who proceed his legacy with US-made {{{custom}}} bikes and inventory bikes much like the Ouray. Whereas not thought-about certainly one of many {{{custom}}} bikes that constructed the model’s status, the Ouray looks like these {{{custom}}} Parlees I’ve sampled. Mild, crisp, and fast, clear nonetheless not overly damped, and it’s unfussy and has the clear traces of the Z-Assortment as accurately. Amongst fully totally different user-friendly selections, the Ouray has good tire clearance (as so much as 40mm) and taller stack geometry that may match many riders.
As quickly as I journey this bike, I ponder Bob: A candy, clever man who made good merchandise and was totally glad when folks cherished his bikes.
Specialised Stumpjumper 15
I rode a wide range of distinctive path bikes this 12 months. The Spot Mayhem 140, Specialised Stumpjumper 15, and Transition Sentinel are all nice bikes—I’d be pleased with any of them as my solely mountain bike.
Nonetheless, I’d decide the Stumpy if compelled to determine on my favourite—not most fascinating, on account of they’re all so good I can’t set up a most fascinating. I identical to the effectivity of the Genie shock and the way in which wherein it presents the suppleness of a coil spring and the tuning alternatives of an air spring.
The Stumpjumper is likely to be surprisingly gentle, and, contained in the Expert model I examined, has a brilliant assemble instruments, together with the quick and light-weight Bike Yoke Revive dropper, SRAM Transmission and Maven brakes, and Roval’s wonderful Traverse SL wheelset.
READ FULL REVIEW
Mosaic RT1 iTR
In my function as Senior Take a look at Editor, I journey a variety of bikes that I like. Nonetheless I solely purchase the bikes I truly actually really feel I can not reside with out. And that’s why I bought this Mosaic.
The RT1 iTR presents almost definitely in all probability essentially the most balanced combination of smoothness and reactivity I’ve ever professional in a steel bike. It glides down the freeway so merely it’s possible you’ll suppose it’s lazy and clear. It’s not: When often known as upon, it’s sharp and fast. I can put 28mm tires on it and it rides with additional edge and chew, or I can organize 35mm tires for increased cushion and efficiency. It’s lovely, and it’ll remaining perpetually. It’s good.
READ FULL REVIEW
Zwift Experience
After 5 years of heavy use in my two-rider family, my Wahoo Kickr Bike (V1) bricked (the HCU failed). Barely than commerce it with a mannequin new, $3,800 Kickr Bike, I went with a $1,299 Zwift Experience with Kickr Core. bundle.
It was a wise various. Not solely is the Experience 65 % cheaper, nonetheless it furthermore has a smaller footprint, is lighter, is easier to retailer, and is decrease and easier to swing a leg over. The Experience is quiet and clear (although not as a lot as a belt drive indoor bike), sturdy, and straightforward to manage, and the Kickr Core is an excellent coach.
Admittedly, the Experience has just a few match shortcomings I’d wish to see addressed. It wishes a zero offset put up threat and extra crank-length alternatives (all Rides have 170mm cranks). Nonetheless full, the Experience has bigger than adequately crammed the function of the way in which extra expensive Wahoo threat. Don’t overlook, it’s best to take advantage of your HSA or FSA funds to purchase a Experience.
Chabanov’s Picks
Take a look at Editor Dan Chabanov
Enve Fray
Fully totally different endurance and all-road bikes present comparable selections to the Fray, nonetheless few come shut to totally nailing what I would love from an endurance bike—a quick freeway bike with ample tire clearance. It ought to be a easy ample system, nonetheless many producers overcomplicate their endurance bikes. This leads to bikes that principally actually really feel underequipped off-road or overbuilt for paved rides with heavy and obtrusive compliance selections that make these bikes truly actually really feel gradual.
Nonetheless, many riders couldn’t need or can’t make their our our our bodies work with the race bike match, in order that they normally go for the endurance bike. To that finish, the Fray has a 20mm taller stack in contrast with Envy’s race bike, the Melee. This makes it far more according to the stack excessive of varied producers’ hottest endurance fashions. The primary disadvantage of these fully totally different bikes is that producers normally strip away an excessive amount of of what I like and need from a freeway bike in a quest for versatility and opulent.
That’s exactly why I’m so passionate regarding the Fray. Here’s a bike optimized spherical 31 to 35mm tires nonetheless with clearance for as so much as 40mm (in a 1x configuration, max 2x clearance is 38mm), which actually feels conservative. It’s furthermore impressively gentle at 17 kilos with tires measuring 38mm and deep-section Enve aero wheels.
Whereas these numbers are spectacular, the 2 factors that clinched the Fray for me have been the way in which wherein it rode, which is sort of a freeway bike—Confidence-inspiring, precise, and dynamic.
READ FULL REVIEW
Ritchey Freeway Logic Disc
Followers of metallic frames could shortly grasp all of the Freeway Logic’s intangible qualities. Nonetheless, there’s one home by which the Freeway Logic completely and fully trounces most of immediately’s carbon shock bikes: its elegant simplicity.
Improve the Freeway Logic is a breeze. There normally will not be any inner traces or cables to run, no bearings to press. Nothing is built-in or proprietary. You may endlessly tweak match or half selections to your coronary coronary coronary heart’s content material materials supplies. Put plainly, nothing is annoying relating to the Freeway Logic—which is uncommon for plenty of 2024 freeway bikes.
A means I do know when a motorbike is good is that if I need to defend driving it after my typical analysis interval expires. I journey quite a lot of try bikes extended ample to present them an sincere evaluation after which cling up till it’s time to ship them as soon as extra. And thought of certainly one of many choose few bikes I saved returning to for additional rides is the Freeway Logic.
Out on the freeway, the Freeway Logic exhibits your emotions as soon as extra to you. On days after I felt good, it floated up the hills and snapped out of corners with the an equivalent feeling as my light-weight carbon bike. Nonetheless the Freeway Logic felt additional mellow when my legs didn’t have 100% to present. I might merely sit and spin a low gear up a climb or calm down and stretch out excessive tube on the flats. It’s not a motorbike that imposes itself or defines your journey—like how some racier bikes demand quick and aggressive driving. Nonetheless the Freeway Logic shouldn’t be a mellow endurance bike. As an alternative, it’s maybe most fascinating described as a grand tour race bike. It’s snappy and fast, in a position to go for the win, nonetheless with ample forgiveness and provides for infinite all-day miles.
READ FULL REVIEW
Specialised Crux DSW
If the Crux DSW had a motto, it could be “So much a lot much less is additional.” Fully totally different gravel bikes present additional selections for the same sum of money, nonetheless that’s not principally what each rider needs. There’s one factor very attention-grabbing a few stripped-down, easy, and light-weight race bike.
In case your definition of gravel is biased in path of exploration, backcountry journey, and multi-day excursions, the Crux DSW could also be not for you. The geometry is sporty ample to be cozy racing cyclocross (although it’s nonetheless mellow by old-school cross requirements), and it solely has mounting parts for 3 bottles: two inside the standard spots and one on the underside of the downtube. There normally will not be any attachment parts for racks, gear mounts on the fork or extreme tube, or fender mounts. That’s naked bones even by the requirements of many gravel race bikes—many opponents’ bikes have inner storage hatches or top-tube mounts for a feed bag.
I can’t inform you that the Crux DSW is sort of almost pretty much as good on account of the pricier carbon alternatives. Nonetheless I might fortunately spend my very private cash on one. An aluminum gravel bike makes a ton of sense for my driving. That may very well be very true given the abuse a physique is also topic to all by way of gravel occasions in adversarial native climate—I do know two riders who wore by the use of carbon fiber frames racing Unbound on account of gathered mud buildup. If these bikes have been aluminum, there’s a elevated likelihood that the hurt would have been magnificence pretty than structural.
For riders searching for sharp dealing with and spirited journey top of the range, the Crux DSW is the entire belongings you want and nothing you don’t.
READ FULL REVIEW
Three Bikes We Look Ahead to Using in 2025
Colnago Y1Rs
Of three of my favourite bikes of 2024, one was metallic, one was aluminum, and each had externally routed cables. Does that make me any so much a lot much less excited by what’s undoubtedly the wildest-looking freeway bike of the final word decade? Totally not!
Colnago made some big claims relating to the Y1Rs, primarily that it’s objectively the quickest bike contained in the WorldTour, not decrease than whenever you measure that in a wind tunnel, with a model, all by way of a wind sweep of -15º to +15º, and at a velocity of 31 mph. Does that matter to me? An individual who likes to journey quick nonetheless not races? In all probability. All I do know is when a motorbike seems that fully fully totally different from the remaining within the market, I need to strive it. -D.C.
READ MORE HERE
Scott Addict RC
Although my favourite dropbar bikes from 2024 weigh about 19 kilos, one issue about light-weight bikes all the time piques my curiosity. Whereas not wildly portly, my ’24 favs are about 4 kilos heavier than the UCI minimal weight (15 lb./6.8 kg) for freeway race bikes—a bar many high-end freeway bikes merely slide underneath on this period of carbon fiber establishing and weight optimization.
Weighing 15.4 kilos for an XL measurement Addict RC Expert with pedals and cages (Scott claims its RC Final assemble in a smaller measurement weighs a mere 13.01 lb.), the model’s lately launched Addict RC is a light-weight, high-end freeway race bike. Nonetheless what intrigues me relating to the Addict RC is that its tires measure over 33mm giant, not some skinny 28mm rubber. Scott’s product managers didn’t in the reduction of corners reaching a low weight. It furthermore has large (in contrast with many comparable bikes) 52/39T rings and a wide-range 11-34T cassette. The bike arrived at Bicycling HQ remaining week and I can’t wait to get some extended rides on it inside the brand new 12 months. -T.S.
Open Cycles U.P.(P.E.R.)
Asking me only one bike I need to journey in 2025 is like asking me to determine on only one cookie. I need to journey (eat) all of them.
I’m optimistic there’ll almost definitely be bikes I don’t examine nevertheless that I’ll should journey. After which there are apparent picks like Colnago’s Y1Rs and Steelnovo, an Apogee One, or one factor made by Baum, Prova, No.22, or English. After which there are bikes I’ve wished to journey for years, much like the Bridge Surveyor and Ministry Psalm 150. Nonetheless, right now, the bike I’d most wish to journey is Open’s new U.P. and U.P.P.E.R.
The U.P. debuted ten years before now as a light-weight, agile drop bar bike designed for large tires. It was so forward-looking that it nonetheless seems comparatively fashionable immediately. It’s so good, it’s thought-about certainly one of many bikes in my assortment. Ten years is an unheard-of lifespan for a carbon bike, nonetheless that’s how prescient the U.P. was.
Now, lastly, Gerard Vroomen and Andy Kessler have cooked up what appears to be like like a worthy successor to the U.P. It’s additional aero, has a steeper seat tube angle, matches yet-larger tires, and has inner storage and runs a threaded backside bracket and UDH hanger. It virtually undoubtedly obtained’t be as groundbreaking as a result of the distinctive U.P., nonetheless it nonetheless appears to be like like a brilliant machine for contemporary drop bar driving. -M.P.
As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product try crew; after having beforehand led product enchancment and sourcing for a wide range of bike producers, run World Championship worthwhile mountain bike groups, wrenched at famend bicycle retailers in Brooklyn, raced the entire points from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six fully fully totally different continents (touchdown herself in hospital emergency rooms in 4 worldwide areas and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the freeway and path testing merchandise. A well-recognized face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks contained in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she’s going to normally be discovered racing for the New York Metropolis-based CRCA/KruisCX crew. When not driving a motorbike, or speaking about them, Tara listens to a variety of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes an excessive amount of social media.
A gear editor for his full occupation, Matt’s journey to turning proper right into a main biking tech journalist began in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; seemingly driving additional biking devices than anybody on the planet alongside the way in which wherein whereby. Earlier to his time with Bicycling, Matt labored in bike retailers as a service supervisor, mechanic, and product gross sales specific individual. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys driving and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so that you just’re merely as additional susceptible to see him on a freeway bike carrying Lycra at a Tuesday night time worlds journey as it’s possible you’ll be to hunt out him carrying a full face helmet and pads driving a motorbike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race normally, nonetheless he’s sport for one factor; having entered freeway races, criteriums, trials competitions, twin slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, transient monitor, time trials, and gran fondos. Subsequent up on his to-do itemizing: a multi day bikepacking journey, and an e-bike race.
Take a look at Editor Dan Chabanov bought his begin in biking as a New York Metropolis bike messenger nonetheless shortly discovered his means into freeway and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and worthwhile a Grasp’s Nationwide Championship title in 2018. Earlier to turning right into a member of Bicycling in 2021, Dan labored as a part of the race group for the Crimson Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, together with a contract creator and photographer.