Have you decided to buy your first road bike? Or, perhaps you’ve ridden before but are unsure which bike will give you the best bang for your buck as an upgrade. It can be challenging to evaluate a road bike because they’re all so different. Yet, on the surface, their differences are hard to spot without some insight. Some road bikes will be comfortable for long-distance rides, late into the night with a group of friends. Others will be so fast they’ll blow your hair back and leave it there.
You’re still asking, “How much should I spend on a road bike?” Well, suppose you only have $500 for a new bike. That may be the only factor in this answer for you. However, even if you have enough money for any bike on this list, the most expensive road bike isn’t necessarily the best fit for you.
You want to invest your money wisely into a bike that will be worth its weight in gold. On top of that, the endless number of options can leave you in a state of analysis paralysis. That’s where we come in. We’ve already taken a deep dive into a wide array of bikes and hand-picked 24 of the best ones we could find. These road bikes come from a massive range of prices, so chances are one of them will be both within your budget and enticing to you. The three broad price ranges will be referred to as the ‘budget,’ ‘mid-range,’ and ‘top-end’ bikes. Without further ado, let’s find the best road bikes in 2023!
Best Road Bikes Under $200
While bikes at this price often come with troubles such as faulty parts and a general lack of durability, many of you would be surprised to see the level of quality you can get for only $200. The best road bikes under $200 may have steel or aluminum frames, caliper or disc braking, 25 to 30-mm wide tires, and anywhere from 1 to over 20 speeds. That is to say; the specifications vary significantly between bikes in this price range. Our pick for the best road bike under $200 is the Eurobike EURXC500, offering stylish 3-spoke wheels and better specs than many $300 or $500 bikes.
Eurobike EURXC550
Key Features
- Carbon Steel Frameset
- Stylish 3-Spoke Design Option
- 700 x 28C Tires
- Mechanical Disc Brakes
- 3×7 Groupset
Why we liked it
- This bike will give your legs a great workout
- Beautiful 3-Spoke and Wide Rim design options
- It has higher quality parts than most bikes at this price
- It’s easy to assemble and unlikely to arrive damaged
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Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $200 Buying guide
Bikes at this price typically have either carbon steel or an aluminum frame. The aluminum frames at this price point can be somewhat unreliable, but they are lighter than steel frames. An aluminum frame would be better for speed and racing, but a steel frame would be better for most people because cheap road bikes will likely need work.
Road bikes under $200 can also vary between mechanical disc and caliper rim brakes. Although not as high-quality as hydraulic disc brakes, mechanical disc brakes generally outperform caliper brakes. We recommend choosing a bike with disc brakes if all other factors are constant.
The tires on road bikes in this price range vary from about 25 mm in width to 30 mm in width. Narrower tires will have more remarkable performance in most cases, but wider tires would be preferable for an inexperienced rider. They are more comfortable for long rides, and they will absorb the texture of the road better.
While it’s uncommon for a bike classified as a road bike to sport a flat handlebar, a bike on our best road bikes under $200 list does precisely that. A flat handlebar means little but implies a more relaxed, upright riding position like an endurance road bike or a hybrid bike. However, hybrid bikes usually have flat handlebars, and road bikes are overwhelmingly equipped with drop bars like those seen above.
Finally, the gearing of these bikes will vary more than at other prices. This is because single-gear or ‘fixie’ bikes are commonly seen in this price range. It may be simpler to ride for beginners, but if you’re going far on a road bike, it’s best you learn to use a multi-geared bike. Multi-geared bikes can coast faster than single-geared bikes and have a significantly better mechanical advantage for climbing hills. This is because you can trade the torque for speed in “high gears” or lesser-toothed cassette cogs, and you can change speed for torque in “low gears” or greater-toothed cassette cogs.
Related articles … Best 7 Road Bikes Under $200 in 2023
Best Road Bikes Under $300
Road bikes up to $300 begin to get more robust. This is the first price you can expect to earn an aluminum frame in almost all cases. These bikes don’t outright dominate the Eurobike EURXC500, but it’s not until you spend over $500 when that is done decisively.
Vilano R2 Commuter
Key Features
- Aluminum Frameset
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 3×7 Groupset
- Caliper Brakes
Why we liked it
- It’s a classic lightweight road bike providing great value for the money.
Pros
Cons
Trinx TEMPO 1.0
Key Features
- Aluminum Frameset
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 3×7 Groupset
- Caliper Brakes
Why we liked it
- It’s another value road bike offering decent specs at a discount.
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $300 Buying guide
The best road bikes under $300 typically have aluminum framesets. If you find an odd steel frame or fork here or there, the extra weight could hamper the top speed. However, other factors will far outweigh this in your decision in most cases.
Most of these road bikes boast respectable speeds, often 14 to 22, with 21-speed drivetrains most represented on this list. The number of gears matters less than you might think. Still, the difference between a ‘fixie’ and a multi-speed bike is significant, so read the best road bikes under $200 buying guide if you aren’t aware of this.
These bikes often have tires varying from 25 mm to 30 mm. Again, this isn’t the most significant challenge with choosing a bike in this price range. Still, you will prefer a wider tire as a beginner due to the absorptive capabilities they offer. For speed, narrower tires will marginally outperform the wider ones.
Nearly all bikes at this price feature cheap caliper rim brakes. Suppose, for whatever reason, you find a bike with mechanical disc brakes, such as the Eurobike EURXC550. In that case, the cycle is likely a good value for the money because disc brakes are more reliable, efficient, and expensive than caliper brakes.
Finally, sizing is the most significant dilemma in finding the best road bike under $300. If you cannot fit comfortably on the bike, it’s probably not going to be something you’ll want to ride often. Therefore, we recommend finding a bike that fits your height well. All the bikes above and below have suitable rider heights listed somewhere, so you can tell if you are compatible with the bike at a glance. It’d be a shame to fall in love with a road bike based on pricing and specs and then find out you’re too short to reach the pedals. Avoid that by looking at the sizing of every road bike you consider. In this price category, the two bikes listed above fit shorter people from 5’0” to 5’6” and average to taller people from 5’6” to 5’9”, respectively. Most of the pricier bikes on this list cover a broader range of heights. Many cover both degrees, so read on to find the best bike for you, assuming your budget is over $300!
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Best Road Bikes Under $500
The best road bikes under $500 have a slight quality improvement over the best $200 and $300 cycles. Aluminum framesets, caliper brakes, 12-20 speeds, and great sizing options are frequent here. The most significant difference between these bikes and road bikes at a lower price is their durability. Bikes such as these are unlikely to break down soon after purchasing them.
Vilano Shadow 3.0
Key Features
- Aluminum Frameset
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 2×7 Groupset
- Caliper Brakes
Why we liked it
- The sleek aerodynamic design with hidden cables makes this one of the most aesthetic bikes in the budget categories
- This bike reminds us of one of the best 7 Hiland road bikes, the Hiland Celerity.
Pros
Cons
Giordano Libero
Key Features
- Aluminum Frame and Steel Fork
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 2×8 Groupset
- Caliper Brakes
Why we liked it
- This bike could be a good fit for people of almost any height (5’3” to 6’4”)
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $500 Buying guide
Like the previous category, the best bikes under $500 are equipped with aluminum framesets. Some, however, do have steel forks or frames. The steel component does make the bike heavier but often comes with a tradeoff, such as more speeds or a better cassette.
Bikes in this category typically have caliper rim brakes. Any that you find with disc braking will be a good value for the money, assuming they don’t trade something more important off in return.
Many bikes in this range keep to the simple 25 mm to 28 mm tire width, both good for racing and endurance. The wider tires absorb bumps better for a smoother ride and will be more comfortable for longer rides.
Unlike the bikes in the previous category, these bikes are more likely to accommodate your height. The Giordano Libero Aluminum Road Bike fits anyone from 5’3” to 6’4”!
Find more road bikes in a $500 budget, here
Best Road Bikes Under $1,000
When looking at the best road bikes under $1,000, we start to see a significant difference in quality between the road bikes available. Bikes at this price will begin to offer carbon forks, versatile cassettes, and sometimes even mechanical disc brakes. They also typically have wider tires, allowing for a better experience for general usage and long-distance riding. This group is the last price range we consider budget bikes. Beyond this, the mid-range of road bikes starts to emerge.
Specialized Allez
Key Features
- Aluminum Frame and Carbon Fork
- 700 x 26C Tires
- 2×8 Groupset
- Caliper Brakes
- 11-32T Cassette
Why we liked it
- The sizing is very generous and fits both incredibly short people and taller individuals (< 4’10” to 6’3”)
- This is the first bike featured in this article with a high torque cassette at 11-32T
Pros
Cons
Giant Contend 3
Key Features
- Aluminum Frameset
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×8 Groupset
- Caliper Brakes
- 11-34T Cassette
Why we liked it
- The fantastic cassette will make hill climbs feel like you’re on flat ground (almost)
- This bike offers an incredible range of height accommodation (5’2” to 6’6”)
Pros
Cons
Cube Attain
Key Features
- Aluminum Frame and Carbon Fork
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×8 Groupset
- Mechanical disc
- 11-34T Cassette
Why we liked it
- The combination of a lightweight frame, mechanical disc brakes, and an excellent cassette make this the best road bike under $1,000
- It offers an impressive rider height range from 4’10” to 6’4”
Get more CUBE road bikes here
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $1,000 Buying guide
Bikes from $500 to $1000 are the final price category we consider budget road bikes. These bikes seldom contain steel frame components but opt for aluminum regularly. Sometimes, a bike at this price will have a carbon frame or a carbon fork. Of the three featured above, one has a full aluminum frameset, while two have carbon forks. It would be wise to choose one with a carbon fork, given it doesn’t come with another downside more significant.
The cassettes of bikes in this price range begin to be strong enough to be advertised. The beefy 11-32T and 11-34T cassettes will climb hills easily. The bigger the torque gears, the less significance two more teeth will have. 30-tooth torque gears provide a 7% climbing efficiency boost over 28 teeth, 32 teeth provide a 6.67% boost over 30, and 34 teeth only offer a 6.25% boost over a 32-tooth cog. However, this comparison does mean that a 34-tooth torque cog provides over 21% better climbing efficiency than a 28-tooth gear. That is where the significance of cassette specifications lies.
Your cassette’s speed gear can be thought of the same way, just that a smaller rear cog is more efficient for effortless speed. Luckily, every bike on this list offers ten or 11-tooth speed gears, a much lesser difference than torque, ranging from 28 to 36 teeth.
Best Road Bikes Under $2,000
The best road bikes under $2000, these bikes are the first mid-range road bikes to appear on this list. These bikes commonly offer carbon framesets or at least forks, more speeds, versatile cassettes, and more mechanical disc brakes than the last category.
SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×11 Groupset
- Mechanical Disc Brakes
- 11-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- The full carbon fiber frameset and 22 speeds make this one of the highest-performance bikes in the category overall.
- Good rider height versatility offers practically anyone 5’9” or shorter an ideal size to ride.
Get more SAVADECK road bikes here
Pros
Cons
Cube Axial WS Road Bike
Key Features
- Aluminum Frame and Carbon Fork
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×8 Groupset
- Mechanical Disc Brakes
- 11-34T Cassette
Why we liked it
- This bike is designed specifically for women
- The heights allowed ranging from 4’10” to 5’9”, which should fit all but the very tallest and shortest women
Pros
Cons
ORBEA AVANT H40D
Key Features
- Aluminum Frame and Carbon Fork
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×10 Groupset
- Mechanical Disc Brakes
- 11-34T Cassette
Why we liked it
- With 20 speeds and otherwise similar specs, this bike is an excellent choice for men who like the Cube Axial WS Road Bike.
- This bike offers a good range of potential riders from 5’0” to 6’3”
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $2,000 Buying guide
As road bikes become this expensive, they become ever more dominated by carbon frame components, one on this list even touting a full carbon frameset. Carbon fiber is a comparable high-durability material to aluminum but is lighter, offering better performance overall.
This price category also offers a good amount of variance between groupsets, some 2×8 and some 2×10 and 2×11. The impact is less than cassette specifications; it represents how many discrete chunks the torque and speed ratio is cut into. So, if you have 16 full speeds, your highest torque gearing (small front cog, largest rear cog) can be thought of as first gear. Your highest speed gearing (large front cog, smallest rear cog) would be considered 16th gear for your bike. It doesn’t affect how fast or effortlessly you can move; that’s up to the size of the cogs. It just cuts that gradient into more pieces, offering more control.
Find more road bikes in a $2000 budget, here
These first ‘mid-range’ road bikes tend to offer competitive cassettes such as 11-32T or 11-34T. Be wary of anything less than XX-30T as it will be somewhat harder to climb hills with. Suppose you’re using the bike primarily on flat ground or for racing. In that case, you’ll instead want to find something with a 10-XXT cassette to ensure the fastest speed gearing. Though, 11-XXT is only 10% slower on flat ground and essentially the same while going downhill, so don’t let this influence your decision too much.
This is the first price category in which it’s arguably more common to find mechanical disc braking than caliper rim braking. Disc braking is more reliable and efficient than rim braking, so it’s highly recommended to choose a bike with this if presented with the option.
Best Road Bikes Under $3,000
The best road bikes under $3,000 category again raise the bar quite significantly. They almost always consist of a full-carbon frameset, 2×11 groupsets, and hydraulic disc braking. They also provide more height versatility compared to the last category of road bikes.
Orro Gold EVO 105 Hydro R800
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×11 Groupset
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 11-30T Cassette
Why we liked it
- Efficient brakes, lightweight frameset, and 2×11-speed gearing make this a great performer for racing or endurance.
- This bike is very similar in price and specifications to one of the best Diamondback road bikes, the Diamondback Arden 5 Carbon.
Pros
Cons
Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 WMN
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×11 Groupset
- Disc Brakes
- 11-32T Cassette
Why we liked it
- It’s refreshing to see a bike made specifically for women. This one brings all the functionality you’d expect at this price point with more versatility in sizing and gearing.
- This bike is like a women’s version of one of the best Fuji road bikes, the Fuji Transonic 2.1 Road Bike.
More women’s road bikes here
Pros
Cons
BMC Roadmachine Seven
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×11 Groupset
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 11-32T Cassette
Why we liked it
- This bike combines several of the best-performing specifications from bikes in this price range to create a genuinely optimal endurance bike.
- The color, while the only one available, is great and suits the style of the bike well.
- The flexible sizing of the bike gives it a considerable edge over any other bike in its class.
- At just under $3000, this bike is an incredible value for the money.
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $3,000 Buying guide
The bikes will tend to offer carbon framesets in this good ‘mid-range’ price category. You may still find aluminum ones, but they are considered worse, so you should prioritize the carbon ones.
Like the last category, we see another marginal improvement in braking. Hydraulic disc brakes are more efficient than mechanical disc brakes, though less significant than the upgrade from rim brakes. It’s recommended to get at least disc brakes at this price point, but hydraulic ones would be best.
Find more road bikes in a $3000 budget, here
The cassettes in bikes at this price range vary less than usual, often offering at least 30-tooth torque gears in all cases. Like before, we’d recommend 30-tooth or higher torque gears for general use because of the prevalence of hills in many areas.
It’s pervasive to see 28 mm wide tires in this price range, but bikes with narrower ones will be much more jarring and less comfortable. It’d be better to have a bike with typical specs of this price range, but 28 mm tires vs. a cheaper bike like a $500 bike with 25 mm tires, even for racing. We recommend getting a middle-of-the-road to wider tire in most cases.
Best Road Bikes Under $5,000
The best road bikes under $5000 are increasingly robust in their specifications. They often have impressive 10-36T cassettes, hydraulic disc brakes, 2×12 groupsets, and full-carbon framesets. The first category on this list is a bike with carbon rims. However, it’s also the last category with an aluminum-rimmed bike. Under $5,000 would be considered the highest category of mid-range road bikes.
Ribble Endurance SL Disc – Enthusiast
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with AXS Shifter
- eTap Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 10-36T Cassette
Why we liked it
- The sizes of this bike will fit riders from 4’11” to 6’3”, a great range.
- The specifications of this bike are closer to that of a $5,000 to $10,000 road bike, while sold at $4,100, meaning it provides incredible value for the money.
Pros
Cons
Supersix EVO Carbon Disc Rival AXS
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with AXS Shifter
- eTap Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 10-36T Cassette
Why we liked it
- While not strictly better than the other best road bike under $5,000, it’s the best racing bike in the price category.
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $5,000 Buying guide
The final category we will consider, ‘mid-range,’ comes with some notable upgrades. Framesets are practically all carbon fiber, so there is little to choose from. However, sometimes bikes at this price will offer carbon fiber rims. Other times, they will maintain the cheaper standard of aluminum rims. The wheel will be lighter but provide a lesser reduction than a carbon fork and much less than the frame itself. It’s not a big difference either way, but carbon wheels are preferable.
These bikes don’t vary much in gearing either, offering 22 to 26 speeds with double front derailleurs; just choose one based on other factors.
The cassettes of these bikes begin to reach levels that are somewhat insane. The 10-36T cassettes on both featured bikes are so efficient; it’s like having your cake and eating it too. We recommend prioritizing this as a feature on your bike in this price category; all other things are held constant.
This is the first price category to offer electronically actuated brakes and shifters regularly. These eTap brakes and AXS shifters are massive quality-of-life improvements. Shifting takes much less time and immensely reduces the likelihood of dropping the chain.
If it helps, the Ribble Endurance SL Disc – Enthusiast has carbon rims, a 10-36T cassette, electronic actuators, and 28 mm tires. It would be the perfect bike for long rides, even in a hilly area. It also comes with sizes for twice as many heights as other bikes at the price point, so it’s a good choice for anyone with only $4,100 for their dream road bike.
Best Road Bikes Under $10,000
The best road bikes under $10,000 are the first category we’d consider top-end bikes. This price category signifies a shift from versatility as the value proposition to lightweight, convenient, and high-quality components. This category, unlike the categories before, contains almost exclusively bikes with carbon rims. It’s typical for road bikes at this price to come with electronic gear shifters and brake actuators. They also often do not include pedals, so consider grabbing a set of great pedals to go along with a bike this expensive.
ROSE XLITE 06 Force eTap AXS
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with AXS Shifter
- eTap Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 10-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- Offering a size for any rider from 5’3” to 6’4”, this bike accommodates the masses
- Bringing top-tier performance at a relative bargain for its class, this is the last bike on the list under $6,000
Pros
Cons
TREK Madone SLR 6 Gen 7
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 25 – 28C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with Electronic Shifter
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 11-34T Cassette
Why we liked it
- It combines top-tier lightweight performance with powerful maximum torque. The bike will be a top-tier choice for racing.
Pros
Cons
Canyon Aeroad CFR Disc MvdP
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 28C Tires
- 2×11 Groupset with Electronic Shifter
- Electronically Actuated Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 11-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- Offers valid sizing for people at 5’5” to 6’5” height, a respectable range
- Overall performance screams high-end and top-tier due to the high-quality components
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $10,000 Buying Guide
‘Top-End’ road bikes have started to reveal a prevalent trend among road bikes. Higher-priced bikes such as these offer less and less in marginal upgrades than cheaper models while costing more and more. It becomes difficult to see the true benefit of a bike this expensive unless you are a professional cyclist or a hobbyist with bottomless pockets. Bikes at half the price have complete carbon fiber framesets, but these get slightly lighter and are shaped more aerodynamically.
Likewise, these bikes often offer less in the way of cassette efficiency than even the $1,000 to $2,000 price range. You’re liable to get 30-inch thighs riding the ROSE XLITE or the Canyon Aeroad if you live somewhere with numerous big hills. However, they maintain decent speed gearing in all cases, so we’ll give them that.
The most significant benefit aside from marginally lighter and more aerodynamic design choices across the board is probably in the range of would-be riders. These bikes seem to fit everybody in almost all cases. If you are between 5’5” and 6’4”, you can comfortably choose between the two bikes listed above with 28-tooth torque gears. Only the TREK Madone has a more lackluster size spread of 5’4” to 6’0”, a tradeoff it appears to make for a better cassette.
Like the price category before, these bikes regularly offer electronic actuators for braking and shifting, which makes the processes more efficient, reliable, and timely.
In this price range, the width of your native tires also matters less because they will be much more adaptable to replacement tires. On the other hand, your bike will probably not come with pedals, so prepare to purchase those too.
Best Road Bikes Under $15,000
The best road bikes under $15,000 are increasingly high-quality and impressive. These bikes are all-carbon fiber from the frame to the rims, have electronically actuated components like the previous category, and usually share a relative lack of hill climbing prowess. However, a big difference with this category is that they are often denoted by maximum tire size instead of stock tire size. Along with the lack of stock pedals, these bikes represent a trend of machines increasingly dependent on additional purchases.
BMC Teammachine SLR 01
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 24C – 30C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with AXS Shifter
- eTap Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 10-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- While expensive, it offers good modularity in tire sizing while maintaining high-performance specifications across the board.
- It fits potential riders from 4’10” to 6’3”, great for anybody with the budget.
Pros
Cons
SystemSix Hi-Mod Red eTap AXS
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 25C – 30C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with AXS Shifter
- eTap Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 10-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- This bike fits an incredible number of people from 4’10” to 6’3”. It’s a good buy for anyone with such a big budget.
- It has a good balance of racing and endurance performance.
Pros
Cons
TREK Madone SLR 9 Gen 7
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 25C – 28C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with Electronic Shifter
- Electronically Actuated Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 11-30T Cassette
Why we liked it
- Outstanding performance on hills when compared to other top-end bikes
- On the cheaper end of pricing for the best road bikes under $15,000 category
Pros
Cons
Felt AR Aero Road
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 25C – 30C Tires
- 2×12 Groupset with AXS Shifter
- eTap Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 10-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- This bike, while pricey compared to the previous few entries, offers the same high-end performance and quality level.
- Fitting an impressive range of potential riders from 5’0” to 6’3”, it’s a great fit for anybody with 15 grand to blow on a bicycle.
Get more FELT road bikes here
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bikes Under $15,000 Buying Guide
This ‘Top-End’ price category offers road bikes with all-carbon-fiber framesets and features included in the above categories. This includes electronically actuated hydraulic disc braking, electronically actuated shifters, aerodynamic frame designs, and more. They often come in a higher number of speeds compared to other categories, most commonly 2×12 or 24 speeds.
They vary somewhat in cassettes, with 10-28T being a better racing cassette and 11-30T being a better endurance cassette. Honestly, though, the difference is not very significant.
The stock tires on these bikes are also insignificant in most cases. Anyone willing to shell out for a bike at this level is more concerned with the maximum tire clearance. They don’t come with pedals, and they don’t come with the kinds of tires professionals would use on them, so they come with hidden costs as well, further increasing the effective price of the bikes.
Unfortunately, the general quality of the components doesn’t boast significant improvements over the previous category or even the best ‘Mid-Range’ road bikes. The diminishing returns have entirely taken over and made these bikes look like a bad value for money to most individuals. The only people with any business buying a bike like this would be a die-hard road bike enthusiast with more money than they know what to do with or someone looking to compete in professional races and endurance rides.
Best Road Bikes Under $20,000
The best road bikes under $20,000 don’t differ as much from the last category as many steps along the price ladder. They are simply a more professionally oriented group of bikes. For instance, the bike featured here is much like the $10,000 – $15,000 road bikes, but it’s optimized for triathlons. This does bump the price up a little, but it appears that has more to do with marketing and pricing power than an increase in quality. These bikes also depend on external purchases like wider tires and pedals to get the most out of them.
Felt IA Triathlon Race
Key Features
- Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Carbon Wheel Rims
- 700 x 23C – 28C Tires
- 2×11 Groupset with Dura-Ace eShifter
- Electronically Actuated Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 11-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- This bike has a handful of the most expensive, highest-quality parts available
- It also fits a reasonably good range of would-be triathletes from 5’ to 6’ in height
Pros
Cons
Best Road Bike Under $20,000 Buying Guide
Road bikes in the price range of $15,000 to $20,000 are entirely different from previous price categories. The parts and specifications offered in many categories above scaled up significantly with the price. At this price point, however, you are paying a fair bit toward the company’s marketing budget. Since entering what we would consider the ‘top-end’ section of road bikes at $5,000 and above, the prices have tripled, and the returns are diminishing significantly. Unless you are the most serious of bicycle athletes, such as a professional triathlete, it’s hard to recommend you ever buy a bike this pricey. Suppose you’re seriously considering buying a bike this expensive. In that case, you should do extensive independent research about every bike and probably consult a specialist one-on-one. Otherwise, the risk of wasting thousands of dollars is very significant.
FAQs ABOUT BEST ROAD BIKES
Should I buy a ‘Budget’ Road Bike? ($200 to $1,000)
If it’s your first time owning a road bike, the wisest choice is to buy a ‘budget’ bike first. This allows you to test out the waters and discover whether you even like to ride as much as you think you will. If you end up loving road biking, you could always sell it to someone else who wants to try the sport out and then upgrade to a respectable ‘mid-range’ bike next. It’s hard to go wrong in this range, and every hundred dollars makes a big difference in the level of quality and durability your bike will have.
It is, however, a bad idea to shop in this price range if you’ve already got a lot of experience with road bikes and have a budget well over $1,000. This is because the quality improvements in the mid-range far outweigh the cost increase for many road bike fanatics.
Should I buy a ‘Mid-Range’ Road Bike? ($1,000 to $5,000)
Suppose you’ve already owned or ridden another road bike enough to know your love for racing or endurance biking runs deep. In that case, taking the leap into owning a ‘mid-range’ road bike is not a bad idea. These bikes, costing between $1,000 and $5,000, vary significantly and, at the top end of the range, have some incredible specifications you might only expect in a ‘top-end’ model. Road bikes, around $5,000, are the most expensive still to tout noticeable marginal improvements in performance per cost, so it’s at the point just before diminishing returns dominate.
Should I buy a ‘Top-End’ Road Bike? ($5,000 to $20,000)
‘Top-end’ road bikes, or bikes costing more than $5,000, are a significant financial investment for most individuals. It becomes questionable whether the minuscule differences between models warrant the price, at least to hobbyists. For professionals, where every drop of speed and performance could mean the world, there is a niche for these bikes. We wouldn’t recommend owning a bike like this except in two cases. It will make sense if you’ve got extensive hobby-level experience and a vast budget or if you’re ready to take your biking to the next level and go pro.
In Conclusion: What Road Bike Do You Choose
As mentioned before, choosing a road bike is a challenging decision. Unlike many other purchases, you’re likely to ride this purchase for hundreds of miles.
Think of it like buying a car. You wouldn’t choose a car that can’t get you up hilly roads or one with an uncomfortable seat. However, it may not always be in your best interest to grab the new 2023 Tesla, as your budget also impacts the decision. With road bikes, these issues also present themselves, albeit in a different way.
You should choose the highest quality bike you can convince yourself is a good use of your money. That will eliminate the cheapest and the most expensive bikes for many people. Overall, the most important thing is that you enjoy riding your road bike because the more you ride it, the more valuable it will be to you.
