No matter where or how you ride, there’s a life-altering bike for you on these pages. The bikes that follow are divided into four broad categories: Road, Mountain, Gravel, and City. But within each, you'll find all kinds of options and every price. There are kids bikes and electric-assist options; models for racing and ones for getting lost at your own pace; ones that cost a couple hundred bucks and ones worth saving for years to buy. Our goal was to help every rider, no matter their needs, budget, or experience level, find the perfect option.
ROAD | MOUNTAIN | GRAVEL | CITY
CANYON ROADLITE 7.0
PRICE: $999 / WEIGHT: 21.3 LB (XL)
Don’t let the flat handlebar fool you into thinking this is just another hybrid: The Roadlite 7.0 is a light, zippy bike that happens to have a flat bar instead of a traditional drop bar. The svelte aluminum frame has the steep angles, long reach, and aggressive fit you expect from a high-performance road bike—there’s even a carbon fork. Compact 50/34 chainrings and an 11-34 11-speed cassette also help you go fast, never mind that it’s almost unheard of to find a thousand-dollar bike with Shimano’s 105 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. The flat handlebar adds a level of comfort and versatility that’s tough to find on a traditional road bike. The upright riding position takes pressure off your hands, puts less strain on the back and shoulders, and makes it easier to balance a heavy backpack or shoulder bag. The Roadlite 7.0 gives you comfort without sacrificing speed, stability, or maneuverability—prized qualities for commuting and battling rush hour traffic, to say nothing of the simple joy of zipping along quiet country roads or cinder bike paths.—Bobby Lea
ORBEA ORCA MLLE LTD
PRICE: $9,599 / WEIGHT: 16.8 LB (57cm)
As road bikes get more versatile, the need for multiple variants—performance road and endurance—is diminishing. The latest Orbea Orca nearly kills the dichotomy altogether. It’s as responsive and racy as you could want, with on-trend features like a truncated airfoil down tube, a D-shaped seatpost, dropped seatstays, and fully integrated cables and hoses. That flared-out fork means less turbulent air around the wheels, lest the marginal-gains nerds balk at the bike’s aero performance. But there’s clearance for 32mm tires and remarkable vibration damping, too, especially considering how rapidly the Orca gets up and goes when you apply power to the pedals. In other words, it’s as fast as it is comfortable, leaving little room for complaint in crits and fondos alike. Best of all, it’s customizable. You pick the crank, handlebar, wheels, and saddle before you buy, and Orbea’s MyO custom paint program lets you choose the frame colors and fork design—although we challenge you to beat our blue-green beaut.—Dan Roe
SPECIALIZED TARMAC DISC PRO
PRICE: $6,700 / WEIGHT: 16.6 LB (58cm)
The Tarmac Disc Pro delivers the same fast, smooth, and stiff (but not too harsh) ride as the $11,000 S-Works Tarmac, but at a more affordable price—and with near pro-level performance. Throw it into a hard turn and it responds with a reassuring steadiness, even as you stand on the outside pedal pushing the bike into the pavement. It’s so calm and graceful that you won’t need to white-knuckle the bar in hopes that the tires will maintain their grip on the road. Although not as aero as Specialized’s Venge, the Tarmac borrows design elements from that unapologetically slippery sibling while keeping weight low, making it an excellent choice for riders who like going fast uphill. Whether climbing or roaring across rolling roads, the Tarmac feels speedy and efficient. It lacks the compliance of some other carbon race bikes, but there’s enough to take the edge off. Instead of a silky-smooth ride, you get a more tactile experience, feeling just enough of the road to know what’s happening below your wheels. It’s fast, light, aero enough, and handles superbly. Simply put: It’s one of the best all-around road bikes you can buy.—BL
TREK DOMANE SLR7 DISC
PRICE: $7,800 / WEIGHT: 18.9 LB (52cm)
In many ways, the third-generation Trek Domane SLR seems to be like many other performance road bikes. The carbon frame is stiff and responsive, the frame’s tubes are shaped to improve aerodynamics, and the build looks like a straightforward race-bike clone. But this bike isn’t like many other modern road bikes—it’s better. It has Trek’s IsoSpeed system at the front and rear, which greatly smooths the ride. It rides great on 28mm tires, but it fits up to 38mm tires for extra comfort and gravel capability. A hatch under the down-tube bottle cage lets you hide a repair kit and more inside the frame. Compared to a modern road-race bike, the steering is slightly detuned, and it is a little longer and more stable. The Domane is entertaining and lively, but a bit more mellow and forgiving. It can take fenders. It looks nice. You can customize the paint and build. The Domane is the road bike for 2020 because it’s so much more than just a road bike.—Matt Phillips
A GREAT BIKE HAS A CONTINUITY OF SERIOUSNESS
—Ernesto Colnago, legendary designer, in Cambiago, Italy
We asked 9 cycling icons, visionaries, shop owners, and legendary designers what makes a bike great. Below is the first answer; read the other 8 in our story, What to Look for in a Great Bike.
The quality of the materials that are used above all [is what makes a bike great]. Unfortunately, the carbon fiber in the eyes of the people could seem all the same, but it is not so. A best-quality carbon fiber is much more expensive than a cheaper one, but aesthetically they are similar. And then there is the continuity of seriousness; Colnago has been making bicycles for 66 years. I have always done my job with passion and I have never copied from anyone. Because the frame of a bicycle is like the heart, it must be strong to withstand all the impacts and power of the rider. If a bike weighs 7 kilos and a frame weighs 1 kilo, there are another 6 kilos to work on to look for lightness.
The frame of a racing bicycle must be safe. I put safety first, which must never be missing. It also depends on the type of rider. A climber will be able to use a light bike, while a sprinter will need a stronger one. We were the first to invest a lot of money in research with Ferrari engineering; we carried out safety studies that had never been done in the cycling world. So I would say safety, quality, and durability.
A good bike is like a made-to-measure suit. Our C64 is the only frame in the world that can still be built in this way. We have 14 standard sizes; we are the only ones to make such a frame. Compared to many years ago, the technology of materials has changed, but the bicycle has changed substantially little. People like me who worked well in the beginning continue to do it now. To build good bikes, you need a lot of passion and love for cycling.
SPECIALIZED S-WORKS TURBO CREO SL
PRICE: $13,500 / WEIGHT: 26.9 LB (M)
The S-Works Turbo Creo SL is a Class 3, mid-drive e-road bike with a 28mph pedal-assist cutoff, an 80-mile range, an electronic drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and a handlebar with suspension for extra comfort. That’s a lot. What’s not a lot is the bike’s weight: At just under 27 pounds, it’s one of the lightest—if not the lightest—Class 3 e-bikes available. One reason it’s so light: It uses a smaller, lighter (1,950g), less-powerful motor with just 35Nm of peak torque, significantly less than a commuter e-bike (Specialized’s Turbo Vado offers up to 90Nm of torque). But by going with a smaller motor, the Creo rides less like a motor on wheels and more like a high-performance road bike that’s exceptionally fast. And that’s what makes the Creo SL so compelling: It’s lively and dynamic like a road bike, and it gives you just enough boost to make the worst part of the climb easier and to encourage you to make long solo rides even longer.—MP
LIV AVAIL ADVANCED PRO 1
PRICE: $5,600 / WEIGHT: 17.8 LB (XS)
The Avail advanced Pro 1 is a versatile, capable women’s endurance road bike that can also handle gravel and dirt. And we love that Liv gave it even more rubber this year, boosting the tires up to 32mm from the 25mm options that came on older versions. That gives the bike more grip and control, especially on bad roads (or when you venture off the pavement completely). The bike held its own up steep, paved climbs and down turny descents, where the lightweight carbon frame let the bike fly—it’s not race-bike fast, but it’s got more zip than you’d expect from an all-arounder with such wide tires. The balanced frame provides a strong sense of control when you’re descending and cornering. It’s even capable enough, with the tires run at lower pressures, to tour some smooth singletrack. But the bike really sparkles on gravel. It feels like butter on gritty roads, and it surfs over crushed rock, deep mud, and sand. Not many bikes we’ve tried offer the incredible versatility of this one.—Riley Missel
MOSAIC RS-1
PRICE: $11,500 (AS TESTED) / WEIGHT: 16.8 LB (AS TESTED)
Bikes with the pedigree (and price) of this one come with lofty expectations. Yet the Mosaic RS-1 still manages to blow them away. For starters, Mosaic has mastered high-speed delivery. Custom bikes often come with wait lists so long you’ll be too old to enjoy your new dream bike by the time it finally arrives years later. Mosaic, however, will get you a custom bike in just six weeks. And what an exquisite bike it is, with its vibrant paint, elegantly shaped Columbus Spirit HSS tubes, and a tapered head tube that doesn’t look out of place on the front of a steel frame. You expect fine construction and finish when you get a craft-built bike—but the rides don’t always deliver. This RS-1, however, is beautifully balanced and tuned by Mosaic owner and builder Aaron Barcheck. The ride is slightly stiff and gritty, which provides excellent communication to the rider and gives the bike life. It rides like a light and stiff bike, not quite carbon, but not far off. It’s a bike that lets you climb fast and rail corners faster without sacrifice. A true dream.—MP
CANYON ULTIMATE CF EVO DISC 10.0 LTD
PRICE: $8,500 / WEIGHT: 13 LB (S)
“Man, a 13-pound disc road bike is a helluva drug,” I thought to myself as I crested the climb. I was on the third hard ride in as many days, and despite increasing fatigue, I still had this urge to smash every hill on Canyon’s Ultimate CF Evo Disc 10.0 LTD, a bike that is as absurdly niche-y as it is pricey.
The Evo is based on Canyon’s existing Ultimate CF Disc, but uses a different blend of carbon fiber to cut weight. A medium frame is claimed to weigh just 641 grams, which would make it the lightest production road disc frame on the market. Our size small test sample weighs a jaw-dropping 13 pounds.
Still, the bike retains the sharp snap and instant response under power of the best WorldTour race bikes. It’s a razor-sharp scalpel in corners, but the stiff frame and carbon layup can make it feel more skitterish than more refined (and heavier) race bikes. The CF Evo Disc is utterly ridiculous: It’s narrowly focused, fussy much of the time, and expensive. But every moment I spent on it I found myself eagerly surging into even the smallest rise.—Joe Lindsey
JAMIS VENTURA A1
PRICE: $1,079 / WEIGHT: 22.5 LB (54cm)
The Jamis Ventura A1 gives you everything you want from a road bike at an entry-level price. For just over $1,000, you get disc brakes, tubeless-ready wheels, and a full-carbon fork. And there’s more. Jamis packs in design tech you never see on bikes at this price, like size-specific tubing and subtle tweaks in geometry: The chainstay length, fork offset, and bottom bracket drop change across the bike’s size range, ensuring that the smallest model rides the same as the largest. It’s a good-looking bike with a modern stance and graceful tube shapes. Cables and hoses run internally for a clean appearance, and there’s a three-dimensional head badge for a higher-end look. The build kit looks good on the bike, too—a Ritchey bar, stem, and seatpost, and Vittoria tires. But the best part is how superb the Ventura feels on the road. It is crisp and efficient, with predictable handling and a smooth ride. It’s a bike that every rider who spends $1,000 deserves but doesn’t always get.—MP
CANNONDALE CAAD13 105 DISC
PRICE: $1,800 to $5,750 / WEIGHT: 19.8 LB (54cm, W/105 DISC)
Cycling, as you’ve noticed, can be an extremely expensive sport. It doesn’t help that the high end keeps getting higher end. And though the best of these high-end bikes are amazing, they’re prohibitively expensive for many. Thankfully, there’s the CAAD13—proof that carbon isn’t the only material that makes a great-riding race-influenced bike, and that you don’t need to spend five digits to get a high-performance bike. This is a mid-priced aluminum bike with disc brakes that offers crisp acceleration, sharp handling, and a damped ride. It shares geometry and some of the watt-saving aero tweaks with Cannondale’s top-of-the-line carbon race bike, but it’ll save you a few hundred bucks compared to a similarly equipped carbon-framed bike, and aluminum is usually a bit more resilient than carbon when banged around.—MP
SPECIALIZED ALLEZ
PRICE: $875 / WEIGHT: 20.8 LB (49cm)
This is arguably the best cheap road bike money can buy. For $875, you get quality, versatility, and comfort, all wrapped around a sharp aluminum frame and full carbon fork. The Allez sports a crisp Shimano Claris drivetrain with an 8-speed, 11-32 Sunrace cassette and 50/34t chainring to get you over climbs and help you keep up with friends when the pace picks up. The aluminum Axis Sport wheels can take a few hits from potholes, and the Body Geometry Bridge saddle helps protect against surprise impacts. The bike’s relaxed, endurance-style geometry means it’s comfortable for a long day in the saddle as well as zipping down the block for curbside pickup at your local brewery. And because nobody likes a flat, the Espoir Sport tires have a thick tread for more puncture protection. Tektro rim brakes perform well enough and keep the bike light and cheap. You’re likely picking up a theme by now: The Allez gives riders the performance and weight savings they want while maintaining an affordable price.—RM
TREK DOMANE AL2
PRICE: $860 / WEIGHT: 21.9 LB (54cm)
The lustrous glowing blue of the Domane AL 2’s frame is the first indication that Trek didn’t mess around with this $860 bike. Start digging deeper and you’ll find even more to like. The shaped aluminum frame is nicely made and has a vibration-damping carbon fork. The rims are tubeless-ready so you can upgrade to smoother-rolling tires filled with puncture sealant—the rims are also machined for smoother braking. The brakes have a light pull and firm bite on the rim—no vague mushiness here—and provide some of the best slowing and stopping performance you can ask for on a sub-$1,000 bike. The shifters snick-snick the drivetrain through the gears lightly and crisply. There are other little surprising nuggets, too, like the pocket in the frame for a speed sensor, and the included light and computer mount that cleanly integrates into the stem. Best of all, the bike is a joy to ride. Handling is stable, precise, and attentive to pedal strokes so you feel like you’re flying over the road, not pushing through it.—MP
PINARELLO DOGMA F12 DISK
PRICE: $13,500 / WEIGHT: 16.8 LB (465mm)
The unbelievably skinny frame, aero wheels, and aggressive geometry of the Dogma F12 made jaws drop all over our office. Pinarello claims the new frame is its lightest and stiffest one yet, and that it has better lateral stiffness at the bottom bracket than its predecessor, the F10. After riding it for months, it’s hard to disagree. The bike rips. The parts Pinarello gave this model accentuate that feeling. It comes with SRAM’s electronic Red eTap AXS 12-speed, which delivers superbly smooth gear changes. The Zipp 303 Firecrest carbon clinchers are light and stiff. When you get it going, the F12 just wants to keep speeding up. One tester got a QOM on a descent—and claims she didn’t even realize she was railing it. It’s so smooth and takes corners so easily, you don’t have to fight for control or stability. And it felt more like the bike was slicing through headwinds than mashing against them. This is one freaky-fast bike, which it better be given the price tag. The F12 doesn’t leave you wanting for much, except maybe a race to go win.—RM
GIANT CONTEND 3
PRICE: $680 / WEIGHT: 22.7 LB (L)
Giant is one of the only brands that manufactures in-house. It’s so big and does it so well that a lot of well-known brands turn to Giant’s factories to get bikes made. The Contend’s frame is sharp and aggressive, with nice details like internal cable routing for a more elegant silhouette. Rolling on tubeless-ready wheels, the Contend 3 can take up to 32mm tires—surprising for a rim-brake bike. Put on those big tires and you’ll get an even smoother ride on the road, and more control if you venture onto dirt roads. The geometry favors a more upright position that’s easier on the body and provides a better view of everything in front of you. The steering is tame and doesn’t feel nervous if you lay off the brakes and let it run. It’s a smooth-riding bike, too—surprisingly so, and ready to comfortably carry you on your first century.—MP
ROAD | MOUNTAIN | GRAVEL | CITY
KONA MAHUNA
PRICE: $999 / WEIGHT: 31.3 LB (S)
Kona knows how to make high-quality, high-value mountain bikes, and the Mahuna delivers on both. With a longer, slacker geometry than many hardtails, it handled almost everything we threw at it, including some of the most technical, rocky trails in our area. And the whole thing weighs 31 pounds—not a bad number for a bike like this, and it feels lighter on the trail, where it is lively and eager. When the 29-inch wheels get rolling, the Mahuna eats up small trail obstacles, thanks to some really nice parts. The WTB Trail Boss tires are excellently grippy, which seriously helps climbing, and they feel planted everywhere else. The RockShox 30 Silver TK Solo Air fork feels more supple and controlled than most at this price. Kona even gives you Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a 1x10 Shimano Deore drivetrain. Even with a 28t front chainring, the 11-42 cassette puts you in a gear that can feel too hard on steep stuff, but that’s an easy upgrade down the road. The Mahuna also comes with tubeless-compatible rims and internal-dropper post routing, giving you more opportunities to deck out your ride later.—RM
TREK FUEL EX 5
PRICE: $2,100 / WEIGHT: 33.9 LB (XL)
Trickle-down economics doesn’t hold up in modern economic theory, but the idea does ring true in the bike industry: What’s made for the folks on top will usually benefit the rest of us. That’s the Trek Fuel EX 5, a blue-collar bike that profits from previously costly innovations: an air-sprung fork, a 1x Shimano drivetrain, adjustable geometry, internal cable routing, and modern (long and slack) geometry. Yes, it’s heavy, and no, the suspension isn’t as sensitive as you’d get on a more expensive build, but as folks who routinely test much pricier bikes, we’re pleased to report that the Fuel EX 5 can hang with those models. It climbs well enough to hold anyone’s wheel if you’re determined enough and descends confidently, conquering rocks and log-overs with 140mm of front travel and a 66-degree head angle. For beginners, it’s a platform your skills won’t soon outgrow, and seasoned riders will appreciate its up-to-date capability—it’s a high shred-per-dollar proposition for all.—DR
YETI SB 140 T2
PRICE: $7,399 / WEIGHT: 28.5 LB (S)
The SB140 is a long and slack trail bike with 27.5-inch wheels for riders who like things to happen quickly. Compared to a lot of 29ers, it feels faster, snappier, and more playful. You can change direction easier, and pop off features that bigger-wheeled bikes would plow over. The heart of the bike is its Switch Infinity suspension system. Other Yeti bikes with the design have won Editors’ Choice awards for how well they blend smooth, efficient pedaling and excellent traction, without sacrificing too much ability to soak up big blows. It’s a testament to the design, and advances in shock tech, that this bike feels like it pedals even better than the previous one. With a 65-degree head angle and 460mm reach, this is one of the longest and slackest trail bikes you can buy. But it still handles incredibly well: You feel the quickness in acceleration, the snappiness as you ratchet the cranks through tricky sections, and the eagerness to lean into corners and pop off the top of a roller, turning wide grade reversals into doubles. It’s one of the most exciting trail bikes we rode all year.—RM
HOW WE SELECTED THESE BIKES
Over the past year, our test team has ridden and evaluated hundreds of bikes, in every variety. We hammer them on our mountain bike test loop, power up our steepest road and gravel climbs, bomb our favorite Strava segments, and use them just the way you would—racing, on weeknight group rides, and running to the grocery store to pick up lunch. Every model here has outperformed the others in its category. Some have won our Editors’ Choice awards, but even those that haven’t are still fantastic options—because they represent an excellent value, fit a specific style of riding, or deliver something unique we think a lot of you will appreciate. The bikes here are the best ones available right now. Some have been around for a few years; others have just launched. And even though we love these bikes for many reasons, we guarantee they’re all exceptional to ride.
WOOM OFF 4
PRICE: $669 / WEIGHT: 17.3 LB
“If my bike had a nickname, it would be Speedy,” says my 7-year-old son, Maddox. “It’s fast. It can absorb stuff. It can go on bumpy stuff.” he says. As a dad and bike tester, I’m pretty excited about the Off 4, too. At just over 17 pounds, this 20-inch model is as light as some of the decent 16-inch bikes out there. Like a full-size mountain bike, it’s long and low, which makes it as fast and stable as a train.
To keep weight low, Woom gave this a carbon fork a butted and hydroformed aluminum frame, aluminum rims and hubs, three-piece cranks, and lightweight Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.25-inch tires. It also comes with a 9-speed cassette fired by trigger shifters, which are easy to use and make hilly terrain more accessible to young riders. It’s my kid’s favorite thing about the bike. Here’s how he compares it to his last one: “I like this one better because it shifts gears. I can go farther. And maybe I can beat some people in races.”—Louis Mazzante
EVIL OFFERING X01
PRICE: $7,399 / WEIGHT: 29 LB (M)
Evil’s Offering is the brand’s newest model, which means this 141mm (rear) travel 29er has the most progressive geometry—notably its steep 77-degree seat-tube angle—of any Evil yet. Its overall position is between the brand’s highly regarded 120mm Following MB and 160mm Wreckoning LB. But somewhat magically, the Offering climbs at least as well as the shorter-travel Following and goes downhill almost as fast as the Wreckoning. That makes the Offering the most versatile of any Evil model so far, and a riot to ride. The suspension is super-sensitive yet still offers excellent control and chassis stability when pounding down a rough section of trail. Reach is long for a centered riding position and stability, but the front end is a touch steep compared to similar bikes, which works to the Offering’s favor—it makes the bike lively and easier to manage on climbs.—MP
SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER EVO COMP CARBON 29
PRICE: $4,520 / WEIGHT: 31.25 LB (S2)
Usually Specialized is on the leading edge of trends. But its Stumpjumpers—in both short- and long-travel variants—have relatively conservative geometry. You might even call them short and steep, with a relaxed seat-tube angle. The Stumpy Evo, however, is a much different animal. This 140/150mm (rear/front) 29er gets a 63.5-degree head angle and a climb-friendly 76-degree seat angle. Top tube and reach lengths are rangy, and much more in line with modern trail-bike trends. The geometry is designed for downhill speed, and so the Evo gets parts that match: four-piston SRAM Code brakes with 200mm rotors, a Fox 36 fork and DPX2 piggyback shock, meaty Butcher tires with tough casings, and 165mm cranks for ground clearance. It’s not quite an enduro bike, nor is it a park bike, but it’s not far off of either. It’s a bike with well-rounded and smooth suspension, and tough parts that you can use to earn your turns…and your gaps, drops, and sends. Plus, it has the wonderful SWAT storage system in the down tube. —MP
IBIS RIPLEY X01 AXS
PRICE: $8,199 / WEIGHT: 26.9 LB (M, AS TESTED)
The new Ripley is a trail demon. This 120/130mm-travel 29er is more stable than the preceding version, thanks to updated geometry that pushes out the wheelbase and slackens the front end. Yet fans of that older version can sleep easy: The Ripley is still quick, lively, and one of the lightest trail bikes you can buy. Its dw-link suspension delivers the crispness Ibis owners expect, with excellent traction when pedaling and braking. It’s a fantastic design that’s both sensitive and deep, giving the Ripley a balanced ride that feels exceptional whether you’re powering across smooth trails or dropping into rowdier terrain. Further boosting the bike’s trail capabilities, Ibis designed the frame to let all riders (not just those on large or XL frames) run at least a 150mm dropper post. And riders will appreciate the threaded bottom bracket and full-length hose and housing tunnels that make maintenance and repairs a snap. Easy to ride, easy to live with, the new Ripley is for anyone who wants to pedal fast and hit the trails hard.—MP
PIVOT SWITCHBLADE TEAM XTR
PRICE: $8,999 / WEIGHT: 30.6 LB (L)
It’s rare to find a longer-travel 29er trail bike that offers all the benefits of the modern low/long/slack trend, but also climbs crisply and handles well on slower-speed singletrack. The Pivot Switchblade is one of those bikes. It’s big—29-inch wheels, 142mm of rear travel, 160mm fork—with a long cockpit and a long wheelbase. Downhill, it is what you’d expect from a modern trail 29er with Fox suspension—fast, stable, confidence-inspiring, hooked up. But when the trail flattens out or turns uphill, the new Switchblade’s performance is unexpected. It’s much easier to ride at slower speeds than many bikes like it because the Switchblade’s front end stays sharp and manageable instead of floppy and loose. There’s decent crank clearance, so you can keep the pedals turning and the momentum up. This is the bike to get if you want all the benefits of a modern big trail bike with the slow-speed sharpness that lets you tackle the toughest climbs.—MP
TREK MARLIN 7
PRICE: $799 / WEIGHT: 31.4 LB (XL)
The Marlin 7’s aluminum frame is packed with subtle features that make this $800 model an exceptional value for anyone who wants a fast-handling proto–race bike that also feels great on leisurely cruises. The bike’s aggressive head and seat angles, tight wheelbase, and high bottom bracket give it the sort of sharp steering that makes ripping around trails at full gas exciting, not dangerous. It also feels smooth and balanced at slower speeds. Agile steering, strong brakes, and impressive bump absorption from the coil-spring RockShox XC30 fork make the Marlin 7 adept at traversing rocky and technical trails. It tracks nicely on fast sweeping turns, but you need to run the narrow 2.2-inch-wide wire-bead tires at high pressure to avoid pinch flats, making it harder to hold a line. Upgrading to tubeless tires would dramatically improve handling, but isn’t necessary. There’s also a cost-saving 2x9-speed Shimano drivetrain, instead of a more popular (and easier to shift) 1x system. But those are fair compromises for a bike at this price that works for racing and casual riding.—BL
JULIANA MAVERICK X01 CC
PRICE: $7,099 / WEIGHT: 29.3 LB (S)
Get ready to clock your best times on your favorite descents. This 29er trail bike has everything you want to feel confident and capable on the trail. Its 140mm of rear travel matched to a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate 150mm fork lets you bomb downhill while maintaining full control. The Santa Cruz Reserve carbon wheels roll over obstacles swiftly and nimbly and (dare we say it?!) make riding uphill pretty dang fun. The lightweight carbon frame helps keep the total weight to just over 29 pounds. The efficient suspension makes it feel lighter on climbs, and the pro-level fork, shock, and wheels let you crush anything in your path. Plus the extra firepower from the super-grippy Maxxis Minion DHR2 tires delivers a bomber ride that’s ready for anything.—RM
SANTA CRUZ TALLBOY SRAM X01
PRICE: $8,199 (W/RESERVE CARBON RIMS) / WEIGHT: 27.7 LB (M)
The new Tallboy is one of the most progressive mountain bikes you can buy; it totally rewrites our expectations of what a 120mm rear-travel mountain bike can do. The geometry is very long, low, and slack—we used to consider its numbers in the realm of enduro bikes. Santa Cruz also overhauled the suspension, driving the shock off the lower link for this bike instead of the upper link, and fine-tuning its anti-squat and shock rate. The result is a bike so good it’s almost confounding. It climbs great, descends like a holy terror, and encourages the rider to slash, pump, and pop off of everything. Does it descend better than it climbs or climb better than it descends? Yes—sure—who cares? The Tallboy delivers an unexpected mix of big-bike capability and small-bike efficiency that’s sure to please almost everyone.—MP
GIANT STANCE 29 2
PRICE: $1,550 / WEIGHT: 30 LB (S)
This $1,550 mountain bike is the kind of bike that I would recommend, without reservation as to quality or ride, to anyone looking to save money on a full-suspension 29er—it’s a pretty rare and wonderful find. The Stance 29 2 is new for 2020—Giant has had a Stance 27.5 model for several years now, but this is the first year it gets bigger wheels.
To save some money, Giant uses a simplified version of the Maestro multi-pivot suspension that’s found on its higher-end mountain bike models. It’s effectively a single-pivot rear suspension system, which relies on the flex of the aluminum seatstays and chainstays to provide 120mm of squish, says Andrew Juskaitis, global product marketing manager at Giant. The 12-speed, 11-50 cassette has enough gears to both climb techy trails and bomb down paved roads. The Giant-branded wheels and Maxxis Forekaster tires are both tubeless-ready, though the bike comes with tubes. And at 30 pounds, the Stance is pretty darn light, weighing less than some trail bikes that cost twice as much.—Taylor Rojek
TREK RAIL 9.9
PRICE: $12,000 to $12,500 (DEPENDING ON FINISH) / WEIGHT: 47 LB (M)
Think of Trek’s newest e-mountain bike as a Slash—the company’s acoustic long-travel 29er—with more-modern geometry. The 150mm (rear), 160mm (front), full-carbon bike is slack (64.5-degree head angle), with a long wheelbase and somewhat long reach. Its gravity bias is evident on trails: It’s stable and comes alive on fast descents, where Trek’s RE:aktiv shock with Thru-Shaft responds immediately to offer one of the smoothest and most supportive rear suspensions in the business. Power comes courtesy of Bosch’s latest Performance Line CX motor, a smaller, lighter (by 2.5 pounds!) version of the previous generation motor that produces less drag, provides more peak wattage, and still churns out up to 75Nm of torque. The Rail 9.9’s Bosch PowerTube 625 (that’s watt-hours) battery is nicely integrated into the frame and will last up to 100 miles of riding. But the e-friendly features don’t end there: You also get SRAM AXS wireless electronic shifting and a RockShox Reverb AXS wireless dropper.—MP
PREVELO ZULU TWO HEIR
PRICE: $799 / WEIGHT: 19 LB (16 in.)
If you’ve been paying attention at all to the words in this issue, you know you want a low, long, and slack mountain bike. Your kids do, too. The Zulu’s extra-long wheelbase and low bottom bracket make it as stable as a freight train—a nice thing for parents watching their kids working up the courage to hit little tabletops and roll across roots. The easy-to-squeeze disc brakes lend a ton of control (whether your little grom is trying to skid, or avoid it). And the air-sprung Heir fork works as well as (and maybe better than) models on adult bikes that cost hundreds more. There’s only one speed, and the bike weighs close to 20 pounds, but it’s the most trail-capable 16-inch kids’ bike we’ve ever tried.—LM
LIV PIQUE ADVANCED PRO 29 0
PRICE: $12,300 / WEIGHT: 23.5 LB (XS)
The Liv Pique is a badass, zero-compromises, XC race bike. Everything about it is designed to be as light and efficient as possible, so you can focus on getting to the finish line first. Both the brake and shifting systems are SRAM’s top-of-the-line options: The XX1 Eagle drivetrain and Level Ultimate hydraulic disc brakes are the lightest and fastest off-road products the company offers. The SRAM XX1 Eagle is a 1x12-speed system with a 10-50 tooth cassette, which gave me plenty of gearing range to pick my way up steep singletrack at the cadence I wanted. The frame rides on a Giant XCR-0 Composite WheelSystem, a full-carbon wheelset that weighs a mere 1,482 grams. The RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post smoothly lowered 100mm out of the way when I was ready to rip back downhill. What’s more, it’s one of just a handful of bikes available right now with Fox’s Live Valve, an electronic system—connected to the Pique’s Fox Float fork and shock—that automatically, independently, and nearly instantaneously adjusts the firmness of the suspension according to changes in the terrain, delivering one fierce, fun ride.—RM
GIANT TALON 29 2
PRICE: $750 / WEIGHT: 29.5 LB. (L)
This hardtail is an excellent choice for both dirt-curious riders wanting to explore singletrack and active riders who want to try racing. The 100mm RockShox XC 30 fork is one of the best coil-sprung forks you’ll find—it does a remarkable job on rough, rugged trails. The Shimano 2x9 drivetrain comes with an 11-36 cassette and 22/36 chainrings up front, giving riders a wide range of gears that’s good for both hauling the mail on pavement and noodling up long, steep climbs. Aggressive geometry and precise steering are balanced with a short reach and high stack for an upright and comfortable riding position. Possibly the Talon’s best feature, and a big perk on a bike at this price, are the tubeless-ready aluminum rims (although you’ll need new tires).—BL
SPECIALIZED FUSE COMP 29
PRICE: $1,675 / WEIGHT: 30.9 LB (XS)
This hardtail 29er has a semi-slack setup and a 130mm RockShox Recon RL fork, making it a capable and maneuverable little ride. Adding to its ability to take on rowdier trails is the smooth-operating TranzX dropper post and the well-knobbed 2.6-inch tires. The grippy, wide tires are not quite plus-size (the frame accommodates 27.5+ tires and wheels, too), but they deliver handfuls of traction on rock, snow, and slick clay. On climbs, the combination of the steep seat angle and longer reach help keep the rear wheel driving you forward and the front wheel tracking where you want it to go. For the price, this bike has a huge range of capabilities and features, including hydraulic disc brakes, a 12-speed SRAM SX Eagle 1x drivetrain, and a 750mm-wide handlebar (780mm on sizes medium and up), which slows steering for a more stable ride. Whether you’re new to mountain biking or a vet, the fun-loving Fuse can turn every ride into a party.—RM
ROAD | MOUNTAIN | GRAVEL | CITY
SALSA WARROAD CARBON APEX 1
PRICE: $4,399 / WEIGHT: 19 LB (57.5cm)
Joining the venerable Warbird in Salsa’s all-road lineup is a similar but speedier option called the Warroad that the company developed for riders who want an endurance road bike that can take on gravel if the need arises. The new bike’s tighter geometry and sharper handling deliver an edgier ride that’s ideal for crushing gravel grinders or covering max distance on a mixed-surface ride. Many gravel bikes, including the Warbird, have a long wheelbase, short reach, and high stack height to increase stability on rough terrain and put the rider in a more comfortable position. They excel on gravel and are acceptable on pavement. This bike heads in the other direction, with the steep angles and low stack height more commonly found on bikes made for road racing. Salsa designed the frame to work with 650b or 700c wheels. With the larger option, the bike feels crisp and efficient on the road and hard-packed dirt and gravel. With 650b wheels, it’s a cushy and speedy adventure bike that is a joy to ride anywhere. That versatility makes this bike a winner: It’s something you can use to race your legs off or, with a quick wheel swap, to rail some pretty wild singletrack.—BL
JULIANA QUINCY SRAM FORCE AXS
PRICE: $7,099 (AS TESTED, W/SANTA CRUZ RESERVE 700C CARBON RIMS) / WEIGHT: 18.8 LB (54cm)
What started as a dedicated ’cross race bike has turned into a ’cross, gravel, and bikepacking beast that is one of the liveliest and most versatile “gravel bikes” we’ve ridden. On the spectrum between ’cross and gravel geometry (the former prizes agility and the latter tends to prize stability), the Quincy remains ’cross-biased—Santa Cruz wanted this to be a bike you could race in between your gravel adventures. It rides like a road bike on pavement and a gravel bike on dirt, and when it hits mellow singletrack, it transforms into a mini mountain bike. With its endless grip on long, fast, swooping fire-road descents and over gravel sections, the Quincy will encourage you to dive into turns faster, brake less, and test the traction of the 2.0-inch tires in corners. But its light weight and shorter wheelbase keep it nimble enough to dodge or hop over obstacles and washouts. Juliana sells two versions of the bike—this one and another with SRAM’s Rival group and 650b wheels that runs $3,599. Both use frames made with the company’s premium CC carbon and accept 650b or 700c wheels.—RM
CANNONDALE TOPSTONE CARBON FORCE ETAP AXS
PRICE: $6,750 / WEIGHT: 19.8 LB (L)
Like the Niner MCR, Cannondale’s Topstone is another gravel bike that deploys rear suspension to give you more speed, comfort, and control on the roughest roads. Compared to the MCR, however, the Topstone uses a simpler design that allows for up to 30mm of seated compliance controlled by flex zones in the chainstays, seat tube, top tube, and a single pivot on the seat tube. It’s light, efficient, and requires little maintenance. Cannondale calls it Kingpin, and it’s based on similar designs the company has used on mountain bikes over the years. Over rough roads, the Topstone feels as speedy as a rigid gravel bike, but with better traction that lets you carry more speed and worry less. It powers uphill, the rear wheel tracking the terrain with minimal slipping. Powering along on straightaways and smoother surfaces, you can feel the suspension move some, especially while seated, but that’s mostly a good thing. The bike is doing its job—keeping you moving forward instead of bouncing up and down over rocks and ruts.—BL
MOOTS ROUTT RSL ULTEGRA Di2
PRICE: $12,500 (AS TESTED) / WEIGHT: 18.5 LB (54cm)
The Routt is unquestionably one of the most pleasing-to-ride-fast gravel bikes you can buy. The titanium frame has that rare power to seemingly amplify the energy you pour into it and convert it into forward movement while also insulating you from the forces hammering back at you from the road. With 40mm tires on 700c wheels, it glides over Really Bad Roads at race speeds, holds a line when you bounce into a pothole, and puts you in a position to go hard for hours, maximizing control while minimizing back-kinking fatigue. It does this a degree or two above any other bike in this issue. But the difference between that next-level performance and the $12,500 price tag is still wide. To justify the high price, you have to value the aesthetics; otherwise any carbon frame will do. Whether the precise welds, near-custom fit, and glinting titanium tubes are enough is a personal decision. But on test rides across broken roads and soft summer gravel, I felt the tug of this bike and rode it harder and more often than any other. There’s some real value in that, too.—LM
CERVÉLO ÁSPERO GRX
PRICE: $4,000 / WEIGHT: 19.4 LB (54cm, AS TESTED WITH GRX Di2 )
The gravel category is exciting; everyone’s take is a little bit different. With so much variety, there’s a bike that aligns with every rider’s wish list. Cervélo’s Áspero is the bike for riders who want a plain, fast gravel bike. This bike forgoes many of the features that make some gravel bikes so versatile—you’re not going to slap cargo cages on the fork or mount fenders to the Áspero. It does have good tire clearance (up to 700x42mm or 650x49mm) and a longer wheelbase, but overall, it’s a clean carbon frame with some aero shaping (it is a Cervélo, after all), a longer cockpit, and a quick-steering front end. It’s an efficient-feeling bike—it’s responsive and very stiff at the bottom bracket, and, though not abusive, it transmits more feedback than many gravel bikes. The Áspero feels like a fast and light road-racing bike, only with bigger tires.—MP
CANNONDALE SYNAPSE NEO SE
PRICE: $4,500 / WEIGHT: 40.3 LB (L)
Part endurance bike, part gravel bike, the Synapse Neo SE is a willing adventure partner. Off road, the 650b wheels and 47mm-wide tires encourage you to explore terrain that’s unsuitable for skinny tires. On pavement, the Synapse Neo feels natural, more like a traditional bike than most e-bikes. The Bosch motor engages with little initial torque, accelerating you gradually and delivering power in such a smooth, seamless way that it’s hard to tell you’re getting any boost at all. The gears on this bike’s motor disengage when you hit the top assisted speed, eliminating friction from the motor and allowing you to push this as fast as you want under your own power.
For me, pedaling in the least powerful Eco mode made riding feel like it did when I was at my highest level of fitness and lightest race weight. I’m still close enough to my racing days to remember how exhilarating and liberating it was to fly down country roads and dance up rolling hills with impunity. The smooth ride and extra boost of the Neo reopened a door to experiences I thought I had lost forever.—BL
SALSA CUTTHROAT GRX 810 1X
PRICE: $4,199 / WEIGHT: 21.8 LB (54cm)
Leave it to the godfather of gravel, Salsa, to design the best adventure bike we’ve tested all year. The Cutthroat is a lightweight, drop-bar 29er mountain bike built to carry the kitchen sink and cover a lot of ground fast. More than 20 mounts on the 54cm frame provide oodles of secure carrying capacity. But even fully loaded, the Cutty is graceful, quick, and eye-catching—more pack unicorn than mule. Carrying front and rear dry bags and four bottles, the bike feels smooth and lively, and never sluggish. That’s crucial for extended, self-supported outings. The long, slack carbon frame and super-compliant fork make the Cutty equally adept at Grinduro-style gravel racing, where courses are filled with singletrack, chunky B roads, fresh gravel that’s as squirrelly as fresh snow, and a moon-shot’s worth of vertical gain. Routes like that reward a light, agile bike that sticks to its line at high speed and won’t be deterred by larger obstacles. Set an FKT on the Continental Divide, shred some singletrack, go crush a gravel-enduro—the Cutthroat’s got you covered.—Selene Yeager
PIVOT VAULT TEAM FORCE AXS
PRICE: $6,699 / WEIGHT: 18 LB (M)
Despite the name, gravel bikes are the most versatile drop-bar bikes out there. With skinny slicks, they make damn good bikes for riding tarmac. Shoehorn in some big knobbies and they’re a blast on smooth mountain-bike trails. Naturally they’re awesome for gravel, too. Pivot’s Vault embraces this versatile nature. Stiff, smooth, and fast, the Vault is a race- and performance-oriented gravel bike. The IsoFlex seat-tube sleeve is a key part of this versatility. It’s made of rubber and reinforced nylon and fits between the frame and seatpost. It provides additional isolation from bumps and comes in two sizes: one for lightweight 27.2mm posts with lots of vibration-damping deflection and one for 30.9mm posts for riders who want to equip the Vault with a dropper for even more control off-road. Mounts for fenders and a top-tube bag round out this one-bike solution.—MP
GIANT REVOLT ADVANCED PRO
PRICE: $5,500 / WEIGHT: 18 LB (M)
Of all the fast gravel bikes we’ve tested, this may be the easiest to slide into. There’s the price, to start. Giant delivers a ton of value across the six-bike Revolt line, which starts at $1,000 for a version with an aluminum frame and climbs up to this one, which comes with better parts than almost any bike at this price. The ride is incredibly accessible, too. It’s fast and stable when you sink low into the drops and hammer, yet cooperative when you’re cruising on rail trails and broken-up dirt roads.
But this is no touring bike, or even one made for bikepacking expeditions. The Revolt has a stiff lightweight carbon frame that accelerates quickly, and once you get it up to speed, it feels effortlessly efficient. Yet, you don’t need crazy amounts of flexibility or an elastomer-damped spinal column to enjoy this ride. For most riders, it’s a position that’s aggressive enough to keep your wheels in check as you rip down a gravel descent, but won’t leave you begging Floyd’s of Leadville for a CBD sponsorship after every long ride.—LM
NINER MCR 9 RDO 4-STAR SHIMANO GRX
PRICE: $5,900 / WEIGHT: 25.3 LB (53cm)
The Niner MCR (Magic Carpet Ride) is a full-send, full-suspension, chunder-smoothing gravel bike that brings a new level of comfort and control to gnar-riddled courses. The suspension is firm, and tuned to soak up small, high-frequency impacts, like the ones a seated rider experiences humming along in the Flint Hills of Kansas, making gravel feel like smooth glass. By soaking up rocks and ripples, the suspension keeps your wheels firmly planted over rough roads, through tricky corners, and when traveling at speed. All this comfort, traction, and control helps keep you fresher longer, because your wrists, shoulders, and other shock-absorbing body parts get a break. The MCR is also an admirable pack mule. There are 11 mounts for frame bags, bottles, and gear-holding accessories. Does everyone need a full-suspension gravel bike? Nope. But the MCR handles so comfortably and capably that riders who like to go long on rough roads are surely going to want one.—SY
ROAD | MOUNTAIN | GRAVEL | CITY
BENNO eJOY
PRICE: $3,400 / WEIGHT: 57 LB (ONE SIZE)
There’s something about the eJoy 9D that makes you want to take care of it like a new pet, to dress it up not in silly sweaters but in accessories like a front tray or panniers or even a child seat (it comes stock with a big-ass rear rack). You’ll find yourself admiring it, using your own spit to remove smudges. It’ll become your go-to compact e-cargo bike for running errands, zipping around at the beach, even commuting (it gets up to 80 miles on one charge). You’ll never toss it in your garage too close to the mower; you’ll use its massive kickstand to park it carefully. You’ll encourage friends and family to “go ahead, take it for a spin” because you want to share the joy it brings—with its extremely low standover and stable balloon tires, even your 73-year-old mother won’t be deterred by its capacity to reach 20mph. You might not notice at first, but you’ll come to appreciate its integrated lights and lock and the fact that its wheelbase is about half a dozen inches shorter than a typical cargo bike (a space-saving feature to rejoice in). Add the eJoy 9D to your life and you will love it unconditionally.—Jen Sherry
TERN HSD S8I
PRICE: $3,799 / WEIGHT: 55.9 LB (ONE SIZE)
Tern’s older GSD cargo bike deserves every bit of the love we’ve lavished upon its kid-haulin’, load-wranglin’ frame. But it’s a big bike, overkill if you’re not a nuclear family with a couple of kids looking to replace a car. The HSD is a midsize cargo bike that shares many features with the GSD. Fold down the HSD’s handlebar unit and it stands on its rear rack, taking up about as much space as a floor lamp. The fat 55mm Schwalbe tires on 20-inch wheels roll smoothly, with a custom Suntour suspension fork providing a bit of extra comfort and control. Topping out at 20 mph, the Bosch Active Line Plus motor is glassy smooth and nearly silent, as is the low-maintenance Gates belt drive and Shimano Nexus 8-speed internally geared hub. A 400Wh battery provides up to 69 miles of range and is secured by the same key that locks the built-in ring lock. The HSD can handle up to 374 pounds, accepts one child seat, and works with a variety of cargo accessories for the front and rear for all your commuting and errand-running pleasure.—MP
MARIN PRESIDIO 1
PRICE: $680 / WEIGHT: 27.1 LB (L)
At $680, Marin’s Presidio 1 defines the baseline of meeting the urban cyclist’s needs. The Shimano Nexus 3-speed internal-gear hub is smooth and much lower maintenance than a similarly priced external drivetrain. The Vee Tire Co. Baldy tires are puncture-resistant and have reflective sidewalls for visibility, and the Shimano hydraulic disc brakes dispatch real stopping power. In other words, it does everything you need for safe, reliable commuting. All that rationality sounds as sexy as servicing a headset, but the Presidio has enough attitude to inject some adrenaline into your daily jaunt. The bike’s tall head tube and heads-up riding position make your steering input more immediate. It feels zippy under pedaling as you hop between bike lanes, and the 3-speed drivetrain shifts fast and suits all but the hilliest routes. These attributes make it a bit skittish on downhills, and the frame doesn’t feel particularly stiff, but it still delivers a lively ride—it’s not a wooden errand-runner like some other commuters. Prioritizing value and reliability, as proven by the Presidio 1, is no excuse for making a boring bike.—DR
RAD POWER BIKES RADWAGON
PRICE: $1,499 / WEIGHT: 73 LB (ONE SIZE)
If you’re considering the Rad Power Bikes RadWagon against your traditional e-cargo options from Tern, Yuba, Xtracycle, Riese & Müller, and others, ask yourself whether you’d rather have a little more torque and refinement or $3,000. That’s the price differential between the RadWagon and its direct e-cargo competitors. After a couple months of riding the big, bright orange thing, I’d recommend you buy one and save that $3,000.
That’s not to say that the RadWagon is a sketchy budget e-bike, although you’d be right to find the pricing incredulous. The 750-watt Shengyi direct-drive hub motor isn’t as torquey as comparable mid-drive systems, but the bike easily climbed the same hills we use to test other (mid-driven) cargo bikes. There are some concessions, however. You see more exposed cables, and the frame comes in only one size; at 6-foot-2, I maxed out the seatpost, which doesn’t bode well for taller riders.
Economies of scale make this bike $1,500, but it’s no jalopy. It’s a completely viable and seriously entertaining car alternative—tell me you’d rather be stuck in traffic than whipping a 73-pound e-bike between errands.—DR
RALEIGH REDUX 1
PRICE: $650 / WEIGHT: 26 LB. (M, CLAIMED)
If your checklist for must-have essentials in a rugged urban commuter bike looks something like this, search no further: lightweight aluminum frame for convenient stair climbing to a second-floor apartment; an easy-to-operate Shimano 8-speed trigger shifter for keeping one hand free to carry coffee or signal safely; big, comfy saddle for long commutes in jeans—and a bash ring to protect them; wet-weather necessities, including disc brakes, lock-on grips that won’t slip or twist, fender mounts, and alloy pedals that don’t get slippery; wide, 47mm tires on 27.5-inch wheels for leaving the pavement on a whim; a 680mm-wide flat bar with a 15mm rise for better leverage and more control; an 11-34 cassette and 40t chainring for all the gears you need for quick escapes at traffic lights, swift climbs up gradual hills, and hustling across loose-gravel paths; and a slightly more aggressive geometry than an upright city bike so you can maintain your mission while still taking in the sights. If that’s not enough to convince you, then maybe the $650 price tag will.—JS
AVENTON PACE 500
PRICE: $1,400 / WEIGHT: 48.9 LB (M)
This speedy e-bike reaches 28 mph by pedal assist, but you can maintain a steady 20 mph by holding down a thumb throttle. Like other urban e-bikes that cost twice as much, the Pace has commuter-friendly features like hydraulic disc brakes, an upright riding position, and e-bike-rated tires. And it’s as adept at getting up to speed on hills as it is at tackling cracked country roads, though the 11-32 cassette and 42t chainring have a tendency to spin out on flats before the bike reaches its max speed. (The company’s newest speed bike, the Level, solves that issue with a 46t chainring and 12-32 cassette; it also gets a suspension fork.) But, wait, that price! Rather than use a complete e-system from a well-known brand like Bosch or Shimano, Aventon picked the motor, battery, and display from reputable manufacturers and designed the system to fit the bike. It also went with a rear hub-drive motor, which is a cheaper (yet still effective) alternative to a mid-drive motor, and some lower-cost parts, like the entry-level Shimano Altus drivetrain. But Aventon is the first to admit that the Pace 500 wasn’t designed to be at the top of the e-bike rank charts; it’s meant for the paycheck-to-paycheck folks among us who want a fun, comfortable, and reliable ride. Hallelujah!—JS
URBAN ARROW SHORTY
PRICE: $5,699 / WEIGHT: 101 LB
This snub-nose, front-loading cargo bike is so sensible it had to be designed by Europeans. But you don’t have to live in Copenhagen or Amsterdam, where the company’s HQ is, to enjoy this e-cargo hauler. The front box has an upper section for freight or mounting a child seat, and a lower compartment for stashing even more stuff. The box is made of expanded polypropylene, a lightweight material that’s surprisingly durable and helps the bike maintain a low center of gravity. A Bosch Performance CX motor provides smooth power and 75Nm of torque, making the bike’s 100-plus-pound weight irrelevant when coming off the line. At 80 inches long, the Shorty has a laughably poor turning radius, but it’s an easy enough bike to maneuver once you’re up to speed. And the centered position of the cargo hold means adding weight won’t throw off the handling too much, so load it up to your heart’s desire and get on with your car-free commute.—DR
CANNONDALE TREADWELL EQ REMIXTE
PRICE: $950 / WEIGHT: 27.1 LB (S)
Part cruiser, part commuter, and part fitness bike, the Treadwell has both your fast and slow city rides covered. Its geometry sits somewhere between upright and aggressive, meaning it’s comfortable for a full day of errands, but puts you in a slightly forward position to run those errands quickly. Cannondale equipped the bike with a ton of features to make riding easier, in almost any weather. A comfy, quilted seat and squishy Cannondale Comfort grips help smooth out the ride. Fenders are a bonus for making wet-road commutes less sloppy. A big, stable front rack makes the Treadwell an exceptional choice for running errands. There’s enough space to hold a bag of groceries or a box of donuts (but its open sides mean a wallet or keys can slip out, so pack accordingly). A Shimano Altus 1x9 drivetrain makes one-handed shifting a breeze in busy traffic. It also has an integrated wheel sensor (developed with Garmin) that pairs with an app on your phone to track speed, distance, time, calories burned, and routes.—RM
BROMPTON ELECTRIC
PRICE: $3,639 / WEIGHT: 39.1 LB (ONE SIZE)
The plucky, smart, and wholly British Brompton Electric feels slick, like it came out of Q’s spy shop in a Bond film. Like any other Brompton, it folds in three places and becomes very small very quickly—I got it down to 3 cubic feet of steel and rubber in 30 unhurried seconds. But unlike other Bromptons, this one has a 250-watt hub motor that propels it up to 16 mph. And it does burnouts. The six-speed version costs a staggering $3,639. (There’s also a $3,499 two-speed model, but spend the extra $140; the gears are worth it.) The tiny frame can make an average-sized adult look somewhat ridiculous soaring atop its 16-inch wheels. But it handles way better than it should, even at speeds pushing 25 mph. It’s a brilliant urban bike because its pint-sized proportions make you feel content while skirting through a crowded city center, but it can get up and go when a gap opens up.—DR
