The bikes in this roundup range from around $4700 to over $8000, and are among, if not the, top model in this category for each brand. As many share individual components and/or groupsets, these reviews focus mainly on the overall performance of the whole package (some specific content on the components may repeat where applicable).
With all the sub-categories of road bike these days, it can be hard to tell which does what. But they all evolved from the original road racing machines that have changed surprisingly little in the well-over 100 years that bike racing has been a popular sport; and that category is now simply known as Road Race. These are the bikes you see flying 50 miles-per-hour down ridiculously scary descents, or tearing toward the finish lines in all-out sprint madness, at races like the Tour de France and Tour of California.
As the name suggests, these bikes are designed to do one thing above all: go crazy fast! But they must also be super agile to navigate the twists and turns of tight road races or avoid crashing in the always-dangerous peloton, all the while remaining light enough to climb for hours on end. To accomplish this, these bikes feature extremely stiff forks and frames, especially in the bottom bracket/crankset area and surrounding tubes, and the handlebar/head tube area. To balance the stiffness and weight the tubing is designed to be stiff and strong in these key areas, and as thin as possible everywhere else. Geometries tend toward the very aggressive side: Shorter chainstays and longer top tubes, plus short, steep head tubes result in a highly efficient, forward-leaning rider position and keep the tubing stiff in the key front-end and bottom bracket areas. In recent years manufacturers have become more concerned with ride quality—something that used to be saved for more casual bikes—so they manipulate the geometries and tube shape/layup even further to allow compliance wherever it won’t sacrifice too much stiffness.
| Name | Overall Rating | Ratings | The Good | The Bad | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialized S-Works Tarmac |
Best in Class
2016 |
Stiffest, most responsive in group Top-end carbon aero wheelset Outstanding carbon crankset Surprisingly comfortable ride |
Very expensive Deep wheels not ideal for climbing Rougher ride quality than others |
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Cervelo R5 |
Best all-arounder Outstanding stiffness-to-weight Electronic shifting “Squoval” aero tubing |
Most expensive in group Sub-par wheels for price Stiff Seatpost Some flex not for sprinter purists |
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Diamondback Podium Equipe |
Excellent BB stiffness/power transfer Carbon/alloy hybrid aero wheelset Strategically placed aero tubing Excellent braking for carbon wheels |
Not as agile in the turns Alloy bars too thin, flexible Rough ride in rear |
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Fuji SL 1.3 |
Lightest in group Stiff enough for sprinting Excellent value for Dura Ace Di2 Tubeless-ready rims |
Some instability on descents Could use a wheel upgrade Some front-end flex under load |
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Merckx San Remo 76 |
Excellent BB stiffness/power transfer Incredibly stable on turns and descents Outstanding braking and drivetrain High value for DA-spec’d bike |
Very heavy Low compliance in rear |
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Kestrel Legend SL |
Outstanding value for DA-spec’d bike Very light Comfortable, compliant ride Tubeless-ready rims |
Instability on fast descents Frame flex lowers efficiency |
If a pure racing machine is what you’re looking for, the Specialized S-Works Tarmac is the best overall bike in the group (also the most expensive), with a rare combination of pure speed and handling with a fairly comfortable ride. The carbon frame is extremely stiff in all the right places, including the bottom bracket and steer tube assembly, but the layup allows for decent compliant in the rear which soaks up road vibrations. With carbon aero wheels and Shimano’s Dura Ace 9000 group, along with full carbon spec, this is a top-end racing machine worthy of the many pro teams currently racing on it.
As an all-around Road Race bike, Cervelo R5 has that rarest of combinations of extreme light weight and outstanding stiffness and power transfer. And in this case it also offers an excellent ride quality and some legit aerodynamic advantages. This was unquestionably our favorite all-bike—equally adept at climbing, descending, breakaways and even some sprinting. If it weren’t for the considerably high cost—most likely thanks to the Di2 setup—and what we feel is a mediocre wheelset for a bike of this quality, this would have won Best in Class. As it is it’s a very close second, but our testers’ clear go-to for everyday riding.
For long steady power and out-of-the-saddle sprints or climbs, the Diamondback Podium Equipe is a stand-out in this group. The carbon frame is extremely stiff in all the right places, including the bottom bracket, rear triangle and steer tube assembly, and the Shimano Dura Ace group is always a top performer. Plus, strategically placed aero tubing plus deep-dish wheels add a huge advantage in the wind. The ride is a bit stiff and bumpy, and turning can be sluggish, but if raw speed is what you crave, this is an excellent choice.
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