Bike Tests

It's no secret that we like bikes with stories. There are plenty of boring bikes out there that fill a price-point, keep a certain group of the cycling public mildly satiated for the short term-and then there are bikes that wake you up and…
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Kestrel is a consortium of composite engineers who, beginning in 1987, elected to abandon the cloak-and-dagger world of military advanced composite engineering and circle their wagons around the cycling industry. Since that point, Kestrel…
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Last issue we announced that BH USA was formed and the 'Connect' will be one of the flagship models for their five-bike, 2008 lineup. Designed in Spain, made in Asia and assembled at BH USA in Tempe, Arizona, the BH Connect is truly a…
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We were impressed with the Look when we first heard about it. It's designed for enthusiasts who are looking for a lightweight carbon bike that is built to allow you to improve and sneak into the racing set, should you choose. The attraction…
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Rising gas prices, traffic, environmental concerns, heavy workload, and never enough time to ride are issues that we all face on a daily basis. The staff of RBA is no different, and when the crazy idea of actually riding our bike to work…
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We can thank Redline up front for putting some utilitarian, real world, real people vision back into our '$7000 carbon bike or bust' test force. All the bike snobs in the office didn't give the R760 much of a gander lined up against the…
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For the most part, riders on a budget still have the same wish list as sponsored pros or well-to-do wannabes-and that is everything, but at an affordable price. If that sounds like an impossible dream, then check out Kona's $2899…
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Fuji Cycles blends transparent, see-the-weave carbon with a sharp-looking silver-metallic and fire-engine-red paint scheme to accent its CCR 1 sport-racing machine. It works, as does the seamless, curved transition from the seatstay…
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If you haven't heard, Felt has continued their sponsorship of the Slipstream/Chipotle powerhouse that is positioned to replace the Discovery Team as the American-based, Pro Tour race team. Felt produces a wide range of quality bikes from…
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Lapierre is a French bicycle company that is best known to American cyclists as the bike sponsor of the French Protour team Francaise des Jeux. Lapierre has been building bikes in Dijon, France, since 1946, but it wasn't until 2005 that…
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Andy Hampsten is one of the greatest American cyclists ever to grace the roads of Europe. His incredible climbing ability brought him America's only victory in the Giro d'Italia and its first victory on the famed climb of Alp de Huez.…
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Giant Bicycles has been making carbon fiber bicycles for decades, and their TCR line of composite frames has been tuned and perfected for six years. For 2008, you will see the pro-level, integrated-seat-mast TCR Advance frame on Team…
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This is the story of the Swobo Sanchez-a chromoly-framed, fixed-gear, flat-bar bicycle-and the rediscovery of the pedal-powered, two-wheeled partnership between man and machine. Stripped to its essentials, the bicycle is the most efficient…
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Let's face it, we aren't all Cat III racers with 18-year-old backs, legs and fitness levels. It's just a fact that, at some point, everyone will need to accept (we are still working on it). While most riders believe that the perfect bike is…
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Heralded as the lightest production frame in the world at 1.74 pounds (790 grams) the question should be asked: why didn't we test this bike earlier? Well, we didn't want to begin a season of testing with a 14-pound berbike and then follow…
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Throughout history, Belgium has been celebrated for producing a type of rider that stands apart due to their ability to excel in tough conditions. It's with riders like Eddy Merckx and Johan Museeuw that the accolade 'Going Belgian' was…
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Raleigh is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. Originally based in Nottingham, England, they built a reputation for high-end race bikes that have been victorious (officially and unofficially) at all of the world's most…
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The Opal TDA, Orbea's version of the affordable racing machine, is far from a carbon copy of the pro-level Orca we tested last year. This Basque beauty is sleeker looking, less complicated, and, in an age of molded monotony, the…
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