Best​ ​Road​ ​Bikes​ ​Under​ ​£2,500

If​ ​you’re​ ​looking​ ​to​ ​up​ ​your​ ​road​ ​cycling​ ​game,​ ​starting​ ​the​ ​search​ ​from​ ​£2,000​ ​is​ ​your​ ​gateway​ ​to​ ​a  bike​ ​to​ ​match​ ​your​ ​performance​ ​aspirations,​ ​and​ ​there’s​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​you​ ​can​ ​get​ ​for​ ​sub-£2,500.​ ​Carbon​ ​fibre  builds​ ​that​ ​don’t​ ​compromise​ ​on​ ​parts​ ​are​ ​ideal​ ​for​ ​racing,​ ​while​ ​new​ ​innovations​ ​offer​ ​all-day​ ​comfort  for​ ​speedy​ ​sportive​ ​riders​ ​and​ ​adventure-seekers​ ​alike.​ ​At​ ​Hargroves​ ​Cycles​ ​we​ ​offer​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​selection  of​ ​road​ ​bikes;​ ​here​ ​we​ ​have​ ​a​ ​look​ ​at​ ​some​ ​of​ ​our​ ​highest-performing​ ​2018​ ​options.

GOING​ ​THE​ ​DISTANCE 

Cube​ ​twins​ ​a​ ​low-weight,​ ​Comfort​ ​Flex​ ​carbon​ ​frame​ ​with​ ​premium​ ​parts​ ​for​ ​its​ ​2018​ ​Attain​ ​GTC​ ​SLT Disc​ ​for​ ​£2,099.​ ​Its​ ​beautifully​ ​sleek​ ​chassis​ ​features​ ​a​ ​tapered​ ​head​ ​tube​ ​which,  together​ ​with​ ​its​ ​ultra-stiff​ ​qualities,​ ​simply​ ​invites​ ​speed.​ ​Fast​ ​as​ ​it​ ​may​ ​be,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​bike​ ​built​ ​for  comfort​ ​and​ ​endurance;​ ​the​ ​CUBE​ ​CSL​ ​carbon​ ​fork​ ​softens​ ​vibrations​ ​and​ ​works​ ​in​ ​harmony​ ​with​ ​flex​ ​in  the​ ​seat​ ​stay.​ ​For​ ​2018,​ ​its​ ​Fulcrum​ ​Racing​ ​wheelset​ ​is​ ​matched​ ​with​ ​a​ ​22-speed​ ​Shimano​ ​Ultegra  groupset​ ​that​ ​includes​ ​hydraulic​ ​disc​ ​brakes​ ​for​ ​strong,​ ​yet​ ​lightweight,​ ​stopping​ ​power.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​the  Attain​ ​serves​ ​up​ ​speed,​ ​comfort​ ​and​ ​control,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​can​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ride.

 

With​ ​their​ ​Agree​ ​C:62​ ​Race​ ​Disc,​ ​£2,499,​ ​Cube​ ​boast​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​advanced  disc-compatible​ ​carbon​ ​race​ ​frames​ ​on​ ​the​ ​market.​ ​The​ ​build​ ​features​ ​a​ ​full​ ​Shimano​ ​Ultegra​ ​groupset  with​ ​hydraulic​ ​disc​ ​brakes​ ​like​ ​the​ ​Attain,​ ​but​ ​begins​ ​life​ ​with​ ​Cube’s​ ​premium​ ​C:62​ ​carbon,​ ​adds  all-over​ ​aero​ ​optimisation​ ​and​ ​finishes​ ​the​ ​look​ ​with​ ​DT​ ​Swiss​ ​Spline​ ​disc​ ​wheels​ ​and​ ​their​ ​stiff,  semi-aero​ ​rims​ ​helping​ ​you​ ​fly​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ups,​ ​and​ ​descend​ ​with​ ​confidence​ ​even​ ​on​ ​rainy​ ​rides.

If​ ​the​ ​speed​ ​appeals​ ​but​ ​you’re​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​a​ ​race-friendly​ ​bike​ ​(draft-legal​ ​races​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UK​ ​require​ ​rim  brakes​ ​under​ ​current​ ​governing​ ​body​ ​rules),​ ​the​ ​Cube​ ​Agree​ ​C:62​ ​Pro​ ​2018​,​ ​£2,099,  might​ ​just​ ​be​ ​your​ ​perfect​ ​match.​ ​Its​ ​Advanced​ ​Twin​ ​Mould​ ​carbon​ ​race​ ​frame​ ​is​ ​aero-inspired​ ​with​ ​a  flowing,​ ​neat​ ​design​ ​featuring​ ​an​ ​integrated​ ​seatclamp​ ​and​ ​tapered​ ​headtube.​ ​And,​ ​while​ ​it​ ​excels​ ​over  fast​ ​courses,​ ​it’s​ ​marginally​ ​more​ ​‘relaxed’​ ​than​ ​Cube’s​ ​out-and-out​ ​race​ ​bike​ ​the​ ​Litening,​ ​making​ ​it​ ​ideal​ ​for​ ​tackling​ ​century​ ​road​ ​rides​ ​and​ ​100-mile​ ​TTs,  too.​ ​And​ ​its​ ​components​ ​only​ ​bolster​ ​this​ ​–​ ​putting​ ​down​ ​the​ ​distance​ ​will​ ​be​ ​worry-free​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Mavic  Cosmic​ ​Elite​ ​wheelset​ ​and​ ​a​ ​22-speed​ ​Shimano​ ​Ultegra​ ​groupset​ ​which,​ ​more​ ​than​ ​simply​ ​reliable,  combines​ ​pleasingly​ ​high​ ​levels​ ​of​ ​drivetrain​ ​performance​ ​with​ ​shifting​ ​that’s​ ​as​ ​crisp​ ​as​ ​a​ ​winter’s  morning.

Specialized’s​ ​Tarmac​ ​SL4​ ​Elite​,​ ​£2,000,​ ​is​ ​another​ ​competition-ready​ ​contender​ ​at​ ​this  price​ ​point.​ ​It​ ​features​ ​a​ ​lightweight,​ ​stiff​ ​FACT​ ​9r​ ​carbon​ ​frame​ ​with​ ​tapered​ ​FACT​ ​carbon​ ​fork​ ​for​ ​front  end​ ​stiffness​ ​and​ ​responsive​ ​steering,​ ​and​ ​serves​ ​up​ ​Shimano​ ​Ultegra​ ​2×11​ ​components​ ​for​ ​smooth,  reliable​ ​performance.​ ​Its​ ​race-ready​ ​caliper​ ​brakes,​ ​aero​ ​design​ ​and​ ​winning​ ​geometry​ ​are​ ​the​ ​stuff​ ​of  podium​ ​dreams​ ​–​ ​the​ ​Tarmac​ ​model​ ​has​ ​been​ ​ridden​ ​to​ ​victory​ ​in​ ​all​ ​three​ ​Grand​ ​Tours.

 

SMOOTH​ ​OPERATOR

Specialized’s​ ​Roubaix​ ​Sport​ ​2018,​ ​packs​ ​in​ ​a​ ​FACT​ ​9r​ ​carbon​ ​frame​ ​and​ ​fork,  performance​ ​Shimano​ ​105​ ​2×11​ ​groupset​ ​and​ ​mechanical​ ​disc​ ​brakes​ ​for​ ​£2,200​ ​–​ ​and​ ​adds​ ​its  innovative​ ​FutureShock​ ​suspension​ ​that’s​ ​got​ ​tongues​ ​wagging,​ ​helping​ ​it​ ​win​ ​Cycling​ ​Plus’s​ ​2017​ ​Bike of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​Award​. This​ ​bike​ ​is​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​thrive​ ​on​ ​any​ ​road,​ ​anywhere​ ​–​ ​hence​ ​its​ ​name:​ ​the​ ​annual​ ​Paris-Roubaix  monument​ ​race​ ​is​ ​known​ ​for​ ​its​ ​gruelling​ ​cobbles.​ ​The​ ​technology​ ​serves​ ​up​ ​20mm​ ​of​ ​travel​ ​in​ ​the  headtube​ ​which,​ ​together​ ​with​ ​its​ ​light,​ ​strong​ ​and​ ​laterally​ ​stiff​ ​frame,​ ​means​ ​smoother,​ ​faster,  comfortable​ ​efficiency.

For​ ​time-tested​ ​performance,​ ​Cannondale​ ​excels​ ​–​ ​their​ ​40​ ​years​ ​in​ ​road​ ​bike​ ​production​ ​has​ ​gained  them​ ​a​ ​solid​ ​reputation​ ​for​ ​quality.​ ​Cannondale​ ​Synapse​ ​Carbon​ ​Disc,​ ​£2,199.99,​ ​​is  built​ ​to​ ​go​ ​hard​ ​and​ ​long,​ ​in​ ​comfort​ ​and​ ​style.​ ​Its​ ​light,​ ​stiff,​ ​carbon​ ​frame​ ​and​ ​Shimano​ ​105​ ​groupset  offers​ ​performance​ ​efficiency​ ​for​ ​speedy​ ​rides,​ ​yet​ ​the​ ​relaxed​ ​geometry​ ​and​ ​good​ ​helping​ ​of  smoothing​ ​SAVE​ ​Micro-Suspension​ ​within​ ​the​ ​frame,​ ​fork​ ​and​ ​post​ ​beckon​ ​full​ ​days​ ​spent​ ​in​ ​the  saddle.​ ​Want​ ​to​ ​put​ ​in​ ​the​ ​winter​ ​distance?​ ​Synapse​ ​is​ ​mudguard-ready,​ ​can​ ​fit​ ​32mm-wide​ ​tyres​ ​and,  equipped​ ​with​ ​Shimano​ ​hydraulic​ ​disc​ ​brakes,​ ​is​ ​primed​ ​for​ ​the​ ​worst​ ​of​ ​British​ ​weather.

With​ ​the​ ​blend​ ​of​ ​speed,​ ​comfort​ ​and​ ​efficiency​ ​that​ ​the​ ​top​ ​performance​ ​picks​ ​from​ ​our​ ​2018​ ​range ​ ​deliver,​ ​you’ll​ ​be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​fulfil​ ​your​ ​potential​ ​in​ ​the​ ​year​ ​ahead.