ROAD BIKES £399 - £600 WHAT TO LOOK FOR £399 - £600 gets you a light alloy frame and
fork. Carbon forks appear at around £500. Dual pivot brakes and 23-25mm tyres are a given. So are 8-spd Shimano Dual Control gear shifters (AKA 16 or 24-speed depending whether you want a double or a triple chainset). For even slicker shifts, go for 9-speed Shimano Sora.
£650 - £1,000 buys a drivetrain upgraded from Shimano 2300/Sora 8-speed to Shimano Tiagra 9-spd, or the heady heights of 10-speed Shimano 105. Cranks, wheels & tyres are similarly upgraded to enhance performance. £1,000 - £1,800
buys you a super-alloy or full carbon frame. Shimano 105 or Campag Mirage equipped, the bike weight falls to around 20lb. Note that we weigh the bike as you would receive it, with pedals, reflectors and bell attached. Not every bicycle company is this scrupulous. Some achieve a miraculous 2lb weight loss by removing these ‘extras’ (rather like a weight-watcher slipping into silk clothing) before hitting the scales.
REVOLUTION CONTINENTAL £399.99 8 7005 aluminium frame and fork 8 CST 700x25 tyres on Revolution double-wall aluminium rims on Formula QR hubs 8 Shimano 2300 Dual Control 16-speed shifters and mechs. TruVativ 36/50 chainset 8 Revolution Competition 44cm drop bars with shock-damping Velo cork tape. Authentic road bike speed and thrills on a budget The Revolution Continental offers you a rare opportunity to enjoy owning an authentic sub-25lb road bike at the best possible price. Both frame and fork are lightweight aluminium. Dual Control Shimano levers enable you to change gear with a nudge of the brake levers. Tektro dual pivot sidepull brakes scrub speed with authority.
Sizes: 48, 52, 56cm. Colour: Litening Silver. Weight: 11.1kg/24.5lb. Web Ref: 12403
GIANT AVAIL 4 £474.99
GIANT DEFY 4 £474.99
REVOLUTION CONTINENTAL SPORT £499.99
8 AluxX Aluminium SL Fluid Formed women’s-specific frame, CrMo steel fork 8 Shimano 24-speed 2300 gearing 8 Tektro Dual Control brakes
8 AluxX SL Aluminium Fluid Formed frame 8 Shimano 2300 Dual Control 24-spd gears
8 7005 alloy frame and carbon fibre fork 8 Shimano Sora 18-speed gearing.
Fluid Forming will improve your form.
The carbon-forked Continental
The photo above illustrates the benefits of Giant’s Fluid Formed frame construction. The seat stays meet the seat tube lower down to create a tighter rear triangle. The frame’s top and down tubes are oversized at the front to reinforce the frame’s stiffness at the business end, again for immediate acceleration response. Then the top tube tapers towards the rear to make the frame more compliant.
The carbon fork is the smartest route to reducing a bike’s weight, improving its aerodynamics, sharpening its steering response and making the bike more comfortable by damping ‘buzz’ from unkempt roads being transmitted through the bars. Upgrade the gearing to Shimano Sora 2x9-speed level and you can see why we are confident that the Continental Sport is the best-spec’d road bike, £500 can buy.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL. Colour: Black/ White/Silver. Weight: 11.1kg/24.7lb. Web Ref: 11291
Sizes: 48, 52, 56cm. Colour: Arctic White. Weight: 11.1kg/24.5lb. Web Ref: 12405
Women’s performance bikes start here. This is Giant’s trademark Fluid Formed aluminium frame optimised for women. It offers a perfect balance of comfort and performance. The shorter top tube makes for an exceptionally good fit that won’t have you overstretching to reach the brake levers as can often be the case when you’re obliged to ride a bloke’s bike.
Sizes: XS, S, M. Colour: Sangria/Black. Weight: 11.1kg/24.7lb. Web Ref: 11554
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