CA tests the bike that combines stability and sprightliness, and, amazingly, manages to be a master of all trades
bike reviews
Cube GTC Di2: First ride
Hands up who wants an affordable electronic shifting system? Everyone, then. We take Cube’s latest Ultegra Di2-specced road bike for a spin (and don’t want to give it back)
Islabikes Beinn 29: First Ride
Can Islabikes recreate the detail it puts into its children’s cycles on a full-size adult machine?
Boardman Hybrid Pro: First ride £999.99
Does Boardman’s new Hybrid combine the speed of a road bike with the comfort of a mountain bike, or is it just an unhappy compromise?
Scott Sportster 10: First ride
How does this hybrid Scott Sportster fare with peaty trails and stony bridleways of the Peak District?
Ridgeback Voyage first ride £849.99
Why straddle the world when you can straddle this great value tourer from Ridgeback instead?
Pinnacle Evaporite Two first ride
Pinnacle has taken an existing frame to create its Evaporite range, but in kitting it out, has it managed to make a rig that breaks the mould?
Moda Rubato first ride
Spend £1,000 on the Moda Rubato and be prepared to be blown away by its fantastic ride thanks mainly to a brilliant frame and wicked wheels
Fuji Finest 1.0 first ride
A sunny stint in the saddle on a rather traditional-looking women’s road bike, with a few interesting twists
Dawes Nomad: First Ride
Marrying a traditional Reynolds touring frame with the latest Shimano Alfine 11-speed hub could have resulted in an ugly beast, but we think Dawes has brought out the best for the Nomad
first ride: Gunnar Crosshairs £2,450 (frame and fork £995)
15th February 2011
Despite our tester’s best efforts, the Gunnar Crosshairs came out alive and showing how some solid, reliable technology can build a bike you’ll want to keep.
first ride: Kona Paddywagon £550
9th February 2011
Just because Dan Baines normally drives the design of our print magazine, doesn’t mean he’s only interested in the graphics. How does it ride, Dan?
first ride: GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc £700
8th February 2011
The GT mountain bike brand has been through the wars of late. Jamie Darlow rides its most famous model to see if the old magic is back.
first ride: Beone Karma £1,600
7th February 2011
Matt Lamy is a road rider who hasn’t mounted a mountain bike in seventeen years: where to start? Will an off-roader with no suspension make him feel at home?
head to head: Apex Twins
29th January 2011
We were keen to try SRAM’s new Apex groupset, mostly to try out the new wide-ratio gears but it was also a good excuse to see it mounted on two very different frames.
head to head: Condor Italia £999
29th January 2011
Condor’s Italian-made frame has pretensions to a sophisticated lifestyle, according to Simon Smythe. Does that make it a bad buy against the Dolan?
head to head: Dolan Preffisio £895
29th January 2011
“There’s no messing about with the Preffisio — it’s a basic aluminium frame made capably in the Far East to keep costs down, available in any colour so long as it’s black.”
head to head: Apex Twins verdict
29th January 2011
The same SRAM Apex components on two somewhat similar aluminium frames show up how little differences can make a bike perfect for your needs.
First Ride: Racing thoroughbred – Focus Izalco Pro 1.0 £2,500
28th January 2011
Neil Webb on the Focus Izalco: “The high modulus carbon frame of the Izalco 1.0 is the same as was used by Milram’s ProTour level racers only two years ago.”
first ride: Cannondale Quick 3 £800
26th January 2011
Matt Levett thinks the Cannondale Quick 3 “certainly looks like an evolution for the hybrid.” Let’s see how it works out on the road.
head to head: cross country commuters
24th January 2011
We recommend taking the back doubles, canal paths and rough roads for a quieter commute if you can manage it. Which is better for the job; hybrid or mountain bike?
head to head: Specialized Sirrus Elite £550
24th January 2011
“In photos there is a strange elegance about the Sirrus’s geometry,” says Matt Lamy on the Specialized mid-range leisure commuter.
head to head: Vitus Nucleus 0.1 £560
24th January 2011
“Normally people crowd round to laugh at whatever dubious machinery I’ve been saddled with testing, but for once there were murmurs of genuine desire.”
head to head verdict: cross country commuters
24th January 2011
So, is the Vitus mountain bike or the Specialized hybrid more suitable for commuting? The answer won’t be a surprise but our suggestion might be.
first ride: Flite of fancy – KHS Flite 300 £550
9th January 2011
“The folly of ordering in a skinny-tyred roadie bike for a First Ride slowly dawned on me.” Derri Dunn, however, discovers that even in winter, the right road bike can be fun.
