Top 10 Best Road Bike Brands
Picking the right bike brand is a big decision. There are tons of amazing options, each with its own special sauce - some are known for speed, others for comfort, while others hit that perfect balance.So, what are the titans of the cycling industry? Which brands consistently deliver bikes that put a smile on your face?
We're talking about the brands that bike enthusiasts like yourself swear by. We want to know which names immediately come to mind when you think of high-quality road bikes. Is it one of the industry giants or perhaps a smaller boutique brand with a devoted following?
I recently got into cycling. I did some research before going to the bike shop, but once I rode a Giant, the game was over. It's a great bike for beginners like myself. It's affordable, light, and offers everything you need.
I expect to get many miles out of this bike. It is just awesome.
I own a Giant Defy Advanced 2 (2012 version) with full Ultegra, and I cannot fault the bike. It rides, accelerates, and handles like bikes costing twice as much. This is a bike you can easily ride all day. It's so comfortable and smooth that it just irons out the road in front of you.
I own a 2013 Venge Comp and have put well over 5,000 miles on it. It offers a perfect balance between power and comfort, which are two difficult things to balance in a race bike.
Even though I had a Giant bike, when I look at these Specialized bikes, I'm always amazed by the style and specs. This is my dream bike.
I have an S-Works Tarmac SL and I love it so much. It's so stiff and lightweight that I could ride it forever. Specialized in general is the most recognized company for bicycles.
I've owned four Cannondales, from a CAAD 10 to a SuperSix and two Synapses. Their carbon frames are some of the best in the business, and these days nobody does alloy better than Cannondale. The steed getting most of my attention these days is a Synapse Carbon Disc Di2 with Reynolds Aero 46 wheels. Seventy-five miles into a ride and you just become one with it. The bike becomes an extension of the person.
I switched from a Specialized city bike to my 2014 Synapse 105 disc alloy and am convinced that it is the best and most comfortable bike I have ever had. It has the best fit and finish of any alloy bike.
I am on the verge of turning 62 and have never enjoyed riding more than now on my Cannondale. My Harley just sits in the garage now.
I own both the Wahoo (an aluminum frame mountain bike) and the Madone 5.2 (a carbon fiber road bike). Both are incredibly well-built bikes. Although I don't ride hardcore anymore on the mountain bike, I have put well over 6,000 miles on the road bike. It's very comfortable if you find the right saddle, and is both powerful and fast. You get what you pay for, and these bikes deliver great quality and durability.
I love my Madone 2014 6 Series. It climbs like a dream and has lots of speed and power. It's so much fun to ride. I originally bought my children Trek Trikesters, which were built sturdily and were easy for them to ride. I was very impressed with the quality, so I continued buying Treks as my kids grew older. Before settling on my road bike, I test-rode several other brands, but the Madone was the most fun to ride out of all of them.
I own a Felt Verza Speed 50. It's of excellent build quality, and I have had no problems after many miles. The aluminum frame is incredibly light and well-constructed. It also has a very comfortable seat (Selle Royal Freccia) with which it came.
It is very fast, has excellent components, and is far cheaper than the competition. The layout and design are beautiful. I would recommend it to everyone. It scores a 10/10.
Felt makes top-quality bikes and often sells them much cheaper than the competition. It doesn't make economic sense, but it makes a lot of sense to ride the bike. I have an endurance road bike from them, and it's a horse for life.
The Pinarello Galileo is my first road bike since I was 16 years old (a few years ago!). I wouldn't change this for anything, except perhaps another Pinarello. It offers a sweet, comfortable, and smooth ride that just makes me want to stay in the saddle longer every ride. Awesome bike.
I've been riding a Pinarello FP Quattro Ultegra for 1,000 km, and it always puts a big smile on my face. Everything works perfectly. There's no friction at all. It feels like a dream.
The bike is also stiff and comfortable. You can't feel tired riding such a bike. I can't imagine anything better, maybe only the Pinarello Dogma F8.
I have had a Cervelo since the age of 12, and I can personally tell you that these bikes deliver the fastest, most comfortable ride.
The best climbing bikes on the market, hands down, are the R3 models. They're so lightweight, it feels like you're riding on air.
I have had an S2 for almost a year now. The ride is excellent and smooth, and it's a head-turner on the road.
I own a 2013 Fuji Roubaix bike. You can't get better bang for your buck. I love it. I spent $1,200 on it and have been pleasantly surprised.
Bear in mind this is a beginner-level bike, but it rides nicely, shifts well, and brakes well. Plus, Fuji came recommended by the store staff themselves over many other brands.
Fuji's ride is comparable to other bikes included in the Grand Tours. It's stable in corner turns and very stiff when accelerating during sprints. All it needs to do is participate in high-profile tours and recruit standard riders.
The Fuji Altamira SL can be very reliable, and the Fuji SST can accelerate along with other top road bikes.
Bianchi has been making road bikes for as long as I can remember. I grew up looking at magazines featuring their bikes, dreaming of one day being able to own one and cruise around on a proper Italian bike. Bianchi has been making the same great bikes with the same hand-crafted quality for 133 years now. Their bikes are made in Italy and designed by people who have an eye for design, innovation, and craftsmanship. Bianchi is number one in the world and forever number one in my heart.
The oldest road bike company still in existence must be one of the best. For people who know bike brands other than Giant and Trek, they would agree that Bianchi should be in the top ten at least.
Scott is the best. I bought a Specialized Tarmac, but after a few months, the Specialized frame developed a crack in the head tube. So, I decided to buy a new frame and chose the Scott Foil. My Scott Foil is now two years old and is in excellent condition. Kudos to Scott bicycles.
The Scott Aspect is the best mountain bike I've owned. I highly recommend it. Trek, Cannondale, Giant, and Raleigh don't even come close in ride quality, reliability, and customer service. I've owned all the above brands, and Scott outperforms them all on the trail.
I own a Spark Ultimate, Addict Ultimate, Foil Premium, and Plasma Premium Kienel Edition. Each of these bikes is superior to the competitors and a joy to ride.
Stiff frames, superior quality-price ratio.
I own a Merida Reacto 400TW. My verdict is that it's a great aero bike for your money. It's made of light aluminum and weighs around 8.6 kg. Plus, it's equipped with a full 105 groupset.
I own a Merida Reacto Team, probably the best aero bike on the market.
I own a 2014 GTR. This bike offers so much bang for the buck. It's super light for an intermediate-level bike, responsive, and the Wilier design is one of a kind.
My 2012 Wilier Gran Turismo is one of the best bikes I've owned. It looks great, but more importantly, the ride and handling are fantastic.
I have a Wilier Le Roi in team Lampre colors from 2008 with a Campagnolo Record titanium and carbon groupset. Amazing build and stunning colors, plus it's amazing to ride!
I bought a Raleigh Revenio 3.0 this year and love it! This bike is very comfortable for riding long distances. I rode 165 miles on a one-day bike ride without any problems.
Hands down, one of the best road bikes you can get. Excellent balance and overall road performance.
I have a 1983 Raleigh Zenith - still goes like the wind 33 years later.
Polygon bikes may not be the stiffest or lightest bikes on the planet, but they're still top-notch. They often come at incredibly competitive prices. Many of their range-topping models come with all the top-tier specs, like Dura-Ace Di2, at a fraction of the cost from other companies.
Polygon, for me, is a smart bike brand that makes the rider comfortable on any type of bicycle. It also has pretty cool specifications, especially the Shimano 105 equipped in the Polygon Helios C5 2016, all for under a $2,000 price.
Amazing quality for the price you pay. I got a 2016 Helios C5 that is super light, super fast, and super good!
You'll often see BMC bikes in the Tour de France, usually among the front group. I own a Team Machine SLR02, and there's really nothing to describe - it's just amazing.
I just got a Teammachine SLR02. It's the best bike in its price range, by far.
Belongs in the top 5 of this list.
Simple, robust, and precision-made bicycles. German quality at a reasonable price, and a nice paint job.
De Rosa produces some of the most beautiful bikes ever built, crafted from top-quality materials. The welds on these bikes are also aesthetically pleasing. I previously owned a steel Bottechia and deeply regret selling it. Just looking at its nice tubing was a blessing. Long live Italian bikes!
Great-looking bikes, but you pay a premium price. They are very stiff and fast. You'll feel every rock and pebble, but you'll probably win the race.
Very nice, clean-looking bike. It may be a bit stiff, but it seems very fast.
Awesome modern designs from one of the oldest manufacturers. Superb lines unmatched by the usual humdrum of mass-production builders. The ride matches any competitor - unique and value for money.
I just bought the Orbea Avant Carbon M50. It's very smooth and handles great.
Best finish, excellent shock absorption with minimal flex in the carbon range, balanced and extremely stable, and unique designs.