Best Road Bikes in 2024 – Buyer’s Guide & Rankings

The modern range of road bikes is distinguished by a wide variety. They differ both in type and in cost. From our review, you will learn which road bikes are better in a particular price category.

Types of Road Bikes

There are several types of road bikes. To find the perfect one for you, you need to understand what each type is designed for.

Classic (group, lightweight)

Designed for riding on asphalt roads and is lightweight, suitable for traditional road racing over a distance of 90 to 200 km with descents and ascents. Suitable for people planning to ride in hilly and mountainous terrain.

 

Aero bike

An improved version of classic bikes with improved aerodynamics due to the use of carbon. Great for riding at speeds above 30 km / h. The landing is aggressive, which makes this option not the best choice for long rides. Great for riding on flatlands, sprinters and triathletes.

Endurance

It is heavier and has aerodynamic drag due to the 28 or 32 mm wide tires. Not suitable for fast racing. It is a great option for long distance riding due to its more upright position.

Grevel bike

Combines a comfortable endurance frame with wide tires and disc brakes for fast riding on dirt, gravel, and asphalt. Suitable for those who will ride on roads whose surface quality leaves much to be desired.

Cyclocross

Designed specifically for the eponymous sport discipline, which involves riding on snow, sand and mud on short circuit tracks. It features thick rubber from 32 to 42 mm with a deep tread pattern, aggressive fit, and a rigid frame. Suitable only for cyclocross racing.

Track

It has a short wheelbase and fixed gear. Braking is not done by hand, but by slowing down the pedals. It has become widespread as a city option, but is primarily intended for riding on a velodrome.

Triathlon/Time trial

Designed for time trial racing, this bike is not the best choice for group riding and is only suitable for triathletes.

Touring

It is characterized by a long wheelbase, upright comfortable seating position. It is perfect for long trips, as it is equipped with special mounts for installing bottles, etc.

Best Road Bikes Under $2,000

We present to your attention the top 4 bikes in the budget category.

Specialized Allez

The best choice on a budget with an aluminum alloy frame and carbon fork. It features a confident and stable ride. The downsides include budget brakes and strong jumps in gear ratios. The latter drawback will not be noticeable on flat terrain.

Boardman SLR 8.9

A lightweight bike with a carbon frame. Excellent assembly for its price. Has a beautiful appearance. Of the minuses, one can note too narrow gaps, which do not allow installing larger tires. By purchasing this bike, you can improve your driving.

Giant Contend SL 1

Excellent endurance with a small budget for purchase. It has a fully carbon fork and provides a comfortable ride even on long trips, and is also very responsive in control. The disadvantages include a weight of more than 9 kg.

Van Rysel Ultra

The perfect balance between price and quality of this road bike, combined with a comfortable ride and a striking design, make it an ideal choice for fans of rim brakes. The latter may be a disadvantage for some. Not everyone likes rim brakes.

Best Road Bikes Under $5,000

We present to your attention the top best road bikes in the mid-price category.

Cannondale CAAD13

The best mid-priced racing bike with RD 2.0 alloy wheels weighing 9 kg. It is highly maneuverable and fast. The frame is rigid but very comfortable. For its price category, it has a very good build. The only drawback is the slightly high seating position.

Liv Langma Advanced Pro Disc 1

A great choice for women with a carbon composite frame. Lighter than many competitors in the price segment (7.6 kg). Characterized by a smooth ride. The model features a power meter built into the crank. Among the disadvantages, one can note too large a spread of gears.

Trek Emonda ALR Disc 5

The best representative of road aluminum bikes with cast disks and a frame made of lightweight aluminum 300 Alpha. For this category of bicycles, it has a relatively small weight (7.8 kg). It has comfortable geometry and a nice design. The downside is that it is not the sharpest to handle.

Ribble Endurance SL R disc

An ideal option in the price range from 2 to 5 thousand individual assembly, distinguished by excellent assembly and belonging to the station wagon category. Characterized by high aerodynamics and comfort. Of the minuses, it can be noted that it is heavier than its main competitors.

Best Road Bikes Over $5,000

The truly best road bikes are made of expensive materials, and some are even assembled by hand. If we talk about the average price tag, it is above 8 thousand. However, buying such a bike makes sense only for those people who are engaged in cycling professionally or as a hobby on a regular basis.

Cervelo R5 Disc Force eTap AXS

Perfect for fans of classic design who want to enjoy a balanced ride. Perfectly combines flexibility and rigidity. Has proven itself well on descents without reducing comfort in control. Of the minuses – the cost is over 8 thousand.

Pearson HammerandTongs road bike

It is rightfully considered the best endurance bike in terms of speed with a carbon frame weighing 8.2 kg. It features the highest ride quality, spectacular aero design, and large clearance for tires up to 32 mm. Among the disadvantages, one can note the cost, which is slightly overpriced for the current configuration.

Merida Sculpture Team

A versatile bike with a wide wheel profile. The new generation has undergone some changes, allowing for a saving of several watts of power. It is great for city and mountain riding. The downside is the cost of over 8 thousand, which is a bit expensive for the complete set.

Cannondale SystemSix Carbon Ultegra Di2

One of the best aerodynamic bikes with a carbon frame and wheels. Well suited for time trial. It has very responsive control and an impressive design. It also has a minus – the tires for this price segment have low characteristics.

Scott Foil RC Ultimate

The perfect choice for fast riding due to its high aerodynamic properties. The updated version in 2022 became lighter, but still remained heavy. The bike became more comfortable and convenient to ride.

Colnago C68

Hand-built in Italy, the carbon frame bike delivers excellent playability. The only downside is the hidden protrusions, which detract from the C-series’ appearance. Thanks to its hand-built construction, the model is available in a wide range of geometries and sizes.

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7

The best all-round racing bike with carbon wheels. Responsive, fast and light. Compared to its predecessor, it is more aerodynamic. According to the manufacturer, the bike has become 45 seconds faster over a distance of 40 km. The only drawback is the price above 14 thousand.

Trek Madone SLR 9 Disc

The wheels and frames of the model are made of modern carbon. It is characterized by excellent driving characteristics and excellent control. It is distinguished by even higher aerodynamics.

Specialized S-Works Aethos

The perfect bike, riding which will please you with the highest quality of control. The model is distinguished by a light road frame (up to 565 g) thanks to the use of carbon, traditional appearance and ease of maintenance. Well suited for long trips. The only drawback is the cost above 15 thousand.