Good Price/performance ratio. Quick response of the bike, Beautiful but not flashy looking framset and bike. Bike shop said best deisgn of internal cabling he'd seen in a frame.
excellent power transfer this bike has when climbing or sprinting. It has the perfect blend of stiffness to make it fast in both a straight line and in the corners.
AeroCat High Performance Bicycles is based in Portland, Indiana USA. Our main focus brings high-end bicycles to market with unsurpassed value.

Strengths:
Great Looking Bike , Excellent Power Transfer , Cornering Ability , Top Notch Build Quality , Sram Group, BB30 System

Company Overview :
AeroCat High Performance Bicycles is based in Portland, Indiana USA. Our main focus brings high-end bicycles to market with unsurpassed value. We develop and build bikes by utilizing state-of-the-art materials and creative manufacturing processes, specifically catering to our customers' needs and wants, and demanding quality control standards from our suppliers and employees. Special attention has been given to the look and feel of AeroCat bicycles. The unique graphic design, tube shapes, and overall ride performance truly make AeroCat bikes stand out among other brands.

mail: info@aerocatbike.com

It's for women, friendly ride that eggs you on and throws you into corners with enthusiasm without ever feeling out of control - something that might come as a shock to women used to riding more safe female-fit bikes, though certainly not an unpleasant one.

Interesting carbon surface structure in Random Finish.

who's an experienced mountain biker, felt the slightly slack angle of the head tube meant the bike was too steady in corners, so bear that in mind if you're a zig-zag descent queen. The reach feels a bit long - probably because of that more traditional shaping and the gender-neutral handlebar - but having your body weight further forward and being able to push the power straight down into the pedals just inspired confidence and energy that we don't often feel, especially at this price.

It's a stiff bike which means there's a bit of clatter on rough roads, but we were too busy enjoying the intuitive handling, getting our heads down and pushing the pace to really notice. The bike's light nature meant it's not exactly a cruiser - it takes a little concentration to hold pace - but it's perfect for short, choppy race courses with lots of long hills, sweeping corners and changes of pace.

Frame High Modulus Aerospace Carbon Fibre T30, internal cable routing
Frame sizes 51 / 53 / 55 / 57 / 59 / 61 / 63 cm
Fork SL Modulus Concept Fullcarbon 1 1/8" - 1.5"
Headset Rose Oversize, integrated
Wheel set Easton EA70
Sprocket SRAM PG-1070, 11 - 28 (compact), 12 - 25 (double)
Tyres Continental Grand Prix 4000 S, 700 x 23 c
Crankset SRAM FORCE (version selectable), with Press-Fit BB, opt. compact 50/34 or double 53/39
Front derailleur SRAM FORCE
Rear derailleur SRAM FORCE
Brake-/Shifting levers SRAM FORCE DoubleTap
Brakes SRAM FORCE
Pedals without
Seat post FSA SL-K SB20 Carbon
Saddle Prologo Nago Evo T2.0
Handlebar FSA Wing Pro Compact, oversize
Stem FSA SL-K, oversize, with carbon cap
Colours random-carbon
Weight approx. 7.2 kg (FH: 57 cm, compact, without pedals)

SRAM's double-tap shifting (as habitual Shimano riders) but since you don't have to ram the whole brake lever inwards to shift, the system works well if reach is a bit of a problem. The only real downside was the saddle, which we had to lose after one ride to avoid painful intimate injury.

On the face of it, this is quite a traditional racing frame, with an almost horizontal top tube, though the laid-back slope of the head tube suggests a long distance friendly bike rather than an all out speed machine (and to be fair the Rose website does indicate that this bike is suitable for touring as well as racing and training).

Take a peek behind the crank and you'll see where the fight really is in this bike - where the chainstays, seat tube and down tube meet you find there's a considerable amount of bulk, and the chainstays are boxy and flattened towards this beefy bottom bracket. A "random carbon" effect with cool white lettering gives the 4400 a slick, serious look - so if you're sick and tired of pink flowers, it's a welcome relief.

There's some very decent equipment on this ride. FSA provide the carbon seatpost and stem, as well as the alloy compact handlebar. The groupset is a winner too, with SRAM's second-tier Force groupset decking out the ride, from the shifters to the derailleurs and brakes. Easton EA70 rims are reasonably light, reliable rolling stock, though given the quality of the overall package we'd consider an upgrade here.

The handlebar might cause problems for women with small hands (though the width was fine).
Rose Carbon Pro

Marin bikes Verona Carbon, Full suspension bikes had been around for a while, but they were pretty heavy and designed either for weekend riding. They were certainly not seriously considered cross country race bikes. Somehow or other, those Californian engineers had discovered the sweet spot between soaking up the bumps and pedalling efficiency.
The benefits are quite simple, not all of us have the flexibility or the inclination to ride a bike with race geometry. If you have lower back problems, you’re less likely to experience pain while riding with a more upright position.
The frame itself is butted aluminium with carbon seat stays and forks. I rather like this combination because you get the efficiency of aluminium with the comfort of carbon and I still ride a bike regularly with this set up. The top tube on the Verona is a rather unusual curved design, which seems to be purely decorative. The gearing is good, with a mix of Shimano 105 and an Ultegra rear derailleur. Now comes the thoughtful stuff. Mavic’s Aksium wheels are pretty good value.
They come with bladed spokes and have a 20 and 24 hole combination to keep the weight down a bit. The bars are the FSA Omegas and they’ve been taped with a cork/gel bar tape to add comfort. The cranks are FSA’s SL-K carbon series. These are a good crankset for the money and Marin have chosen the compact version which will suit a lot of riders. I’ve been riding compact a fair bit recently and it certainly has its advantages. The 50-34T combination here with the 12-27T cassette will allow experienced riders to ride up most hills while the less experienced riders won’t be put off when the road goes up.
Someone who likes to ride all day, or maybe already have an expensive race bike and want something to ride to work on that won’t break the budget. Bikes like the Verona can often be overlookeda shame as this is a very good appropriate for a wide range of riders.

RESPONSIVE AND COMFORTABLE

Designed for responsiveness and a comfortable ride. This frame was developed for those cyclists who want for long distance cycling ports at a fast pace to a leisurely pace. This bike is for cyclists looking for comfort and will do on occasional race or century.

The flatten tube was designed to create a virtual point of flex in the chain and seat stays.

- The top has the same flatten design in order to have flex and stiffness concept.

LOOK’s twenty plus years of carbon technology allow us to manufacture a feather weight frame that is light without compromising the overall rigidity and ride performance. Some particular areas are oversized, stiff and light, like the bottom braquet and the main tube with a squared section

CONFORT CARBON DESIGN FORK, The 100% carbon single-piece fork weighs 350 g uncut and meets the new Standard EN 14781 safety test requirement (front impact of 144 joules). The shape of the fork is studied to increase comfort and the stability on the bike : the head of the fork is oversized stiffness and the section decrease when going down the legs to keep a good flexibility. The fork also utilizes the Look patented integrated conical carbon crown (45° bearing angle).

WEIGHTWITH WHEELS 1=8,28 KG - 2/3=8,24 KG - 4=7,68 KG - 5=7,32 KG.

Enigma have their own brand of badged parts for finishing kit, which show highly effective. Drivetrain duties are provided by the excellent Campagnolo Athena 11-speed, a sturdy yet light choice that never misses a beat.

Enigma's Esprit distils the spirit of titanium in to of the most efficacious race machines available. With its light weight & classic proportions, it makes you feel part of a new titanium renaissance.

the Esprit is light & fast on its toes but remains rock solid in the face of any threat

the high level of comfort on offer makes this a very multipurpose bicycle - ride to work then head to the evening crit series & possibly pick up a prime before dinner. Or make it the cornerstone of your future racing career. Whether it is all-out racing or riding for fun & fitness, the Esprit definitely catches the spirit of titanium & delivers sheer running pleasure in abundance.

Out on the road, the Esprit is magic. Light & nimble, it dances on its toes. It does reveal a small bit of fiex, but not in a bad way, & squats down nicely in quick corners. Exhibiting the best of Italian-style handling, similar to a De Rosa or of its cousins, the Enigma is perfectly dialled.

The stool tube is an oversized 32mm diameter, requiring a rigid 31.6mm seatpost, but it is the cost you need to pay to add muscle to the bottom bracket area & help defeat pedal-induced fiex. In the event you need a small bit of additional give' in the seatpost, you could always specify a more fiexible, skinnier 27.2mm seatpost in your custom build & add a shim to make up the difference.

the ideal geometry - a classic setup based on 73 degrees parallel & a generous top tube - generating an ideal position for going quick. When you stand up on the pedals to put the power down, you are exactly where you need to be for a launch to the finish line or digging in to a steep climb.

A traditional head tube anchors a sturdy down tube, which is formed to maximise weld area at the bottom bracket & minimise overall movement, while a traditional rear triangle made of modestly proportioned full-length tubes brings a high level of comfort to the back finish. The distinctive Koski-styled dropouts have been hollowed to save weight, while the right side is supplied with a replaceable gear hanger.

Boardman bikes are always lovely value, with spec levels that can make rivals look ordinary by comparison. That is because they are sold solely through UK motoring and leisure chain Halfords, which relieves the pressure of dealer margins and means extra money in the budget for, say, a groupset tier higher.

Overview
Sprinting from the lights, braking for the next set, cornering and weaving around the traffic, then it is out in to the lanes pushing hard up the climbs and descending quick down the other side. The new efficient and controlled Hybrid Team takes it all in its stride.

Frame: Smoothly finished, lightweight with clearances for mudguards. The all carbon tapered fork with lots of room under its crown is a high point, and the chainstay disc mount is a pleasant touch.
Handling: It feels better when you are putting the power down than pootling, and as a quick fitness bicycle that'll also go off-road it takes the fight to the new breed of recreational cyclo-cross bikes.
Equipment: Excellent brakes, first rate gearing and bonuses such as lock-on grips. Bar ends and wider range Apex would make it even better.
Wheels: Rims are lovely and strong, if wide, shod with tyres that roll well but could be sturdier. With narrower rims, tougher tyres and Marin's security skewers, this package would be unbeatable.
The Boardman's carbon fork is unusual in that it's a carbon steerer in lieu of an aluminium, which saves weight. It's bags of room over its 28mm tyres, or you could fit cyclo-cross tyres (more on that later).

But there is more to making a lovely bicycle than throwing money at it. It still has to be designed properly. This is. It could have a slightly wider gear range but otherwise it is uncompromised. Ride to work with mudguards and rack. Do intervals on it in the lanes. Modify the tyres and turn up at a cyclo-cross race. Or use it for hammering around on.
The fork is tapered, as of coursework is the head tube it sits in, with the lower headset race being bigger than the top. Tapered head tubes are becoming more common, stiffening the steering response & adding durability to the more heavily loaded lower bearings. Here it is not critical but it looks nice, & in the event you choose to fit 'cross tyres & go pinging around your local bridleways you might be glad of the reinforcement.
The remainder of the frame is so smooth & organic it looks as much like carbon fibre as hydroformed aluminium. The practical fittings are here , with separate eyelets for rack & mudguard at the dropout & a set of rack eyelets on the wishbone seatstay. The chainstays are not long though, so you'll need to make use of smaller panniers for heel clearance.
In an ideal world you'd need a 35mm tyre or a 15mm rim so that the tyre was less stretched & would feel more supple over bumps. On the and side, in the event you need to fit cyclo-cross tyres or ride without mudguards, fatter tyres will go on this 18mm rim readily. The wheels ought to be strong for pitted streets & off-road excursions.
The back of the bicycle feels rock solid. It is a model on which you can put the hammer down, but sometimes you'll feel the road surface hammering back. The chainstays are shorter than on some of the Boardman's competitors & both chain- & seatstays are beefy. An 18mm-wide wheel rim is also approaching the limit of what is comfortable with a 28mm tyre fitted.
The 10-speed drivetrain is mostly SRAM Apex, with an outboard-bearing compact chainset driving an 11-28T cassette. The bottom gear of 34x28T is not bad, but there is a 48/34T compact chainset. You'd gain a sub-30in bottom gear & you are still not going to spin out that 117in top on tarmac. In the event you plan to go off-road you'd be even happier with a wider gear range.
The Ritchey OCR rims are eyeleted & the spoke holes are offset from the centreline.. that is what OCR means: Off-Centre Rim. Theoretically you receive a stronger wheel because the spokes are less steeply angled, & even if the effect is minimal you don't lose anything by it. We'd have specced different tyres for the every day grind, choosing Continental's similarly priced GatorSkin above the Ultra Race.
What is with all these off-road references? Only this: in plenty of ways the Boardman Hybrid Team feels less like flat-bar road bicycle than flat-bar cyclo-cross bicycle. It is light, pacy & racy but it also has the clearances & capacity for non-technical rough stuff.
Brakes are Avid Juicy three hydraulic discs, which are the kind of stoppers you see on first rate entry-level mountain bikes. In the urban surroundings they give you all the stopping power you need & then some, with first rate modulation. The rear calliper is mounted to the chainstay, which gets it out of the way in the event you fit a rack. Because it is hydraulic than mechanical you won't get water ingress in to the calliper & performance will be unaffected on the road or off.

Every stiff frame seems to 'respond instantly'. we were overawed by the superior brand and aesthetics and without using scales or timing our runs - how did we know which trainers were really the fastest? In the same sense, how can anyone say that one frame responds instantly, which must mean that others don't respond instantly. The marketing guy from Fox said the new titanium-crown forks are smoother than alumimum-crown forks, again how can he tell this on a moving part - suspension?

The Canyon Final is not great value, it is as well as a great ride. The bicycle reacts to pedal input instantly, & responds to steering input & body shifts as quickly. This bicycle wills you to go faster, to push yourself that bit harder & ride on the limit. Compared with its rivals here it is less refined, but for fast blasts & out of the saddle thrashing it is the ideal machine.

On longer rides the incredible VCLS seatpost takes the sting out of rougher roads â?? the basalt/carbon mix of material offering a high level of flex that delivers bags of comfort in a way we have not encountered from any other carbon post on the market.

Up front it is less refined, with a bit more buzz transmitted through the handlebar. It is not in any way uncomfortable, more noticeable than the super-smooth Scapin or the Time's magic carpet ride. But the Final is such a pure racer's bicycle with such great qualities, we'd be over happy with it at two times the cost.

Seatpost, Canyon's own design, the VCLS seatpost weaves in basalt fibres. Basalt has times the elasticity of carbon & you can feel the flex through the stool of your pants. If your bicycle feels a bit harsh out back, this might be the answer.

What makes the Final special?

Headset, Canyon's smart i-Lock headset method eliminates the necessity for a traditional internal bung & tapered interface, meaning the carbon steerer is free of stresses or potential destroy from a badly fitted headset or over-clamping.

Seat-tube, Another design patented by Canyon, the seat-tube tapers sharply from narrow at the top to thick & offset at the bottom bracket, which is massively oversized for stiffness but hollow to keep weight to a maximum.

Drivetrain, Normally they would not make a fuss about a full Shimano Dura-Ace groupset on an out & out superbike, but to have the full complement on a superbike that only costs £2600 That is something to shout about.


Opinion> There was no real frame of reference. haven ridden three bikes, one a steel road, one an aluminium road, and the other an aluminium track, I can say that there definitely was a difference in stiffness. It's hard - if not impossible - to put it exactly in words, but the aluminium track bike just felt so meaty, instant, direct, and clean. Importantly, however, these things are also quantifiable. We can, as you say, place the Nike sneakers on our hands. But we can also measure them on a weighing machine. Likewise with bike frames, we can see how much tension they can take before they fail. Just because we can't easily measure things like 'directness' and 'smoothness' doesn't mean they don't exist in a way that's meaningful.

Let me put it this way. Imagine a bike made out of cardboard. Now imagine pedalling the cranks. Surely there would be flex, because you would be applying sufficient force to flex the cardboard frame and pedals. No doubt steel would react differently to cardboard. So why would there be any reason for a carbon fibre frame to act the same as steel ones, when they're made of a different material? Likewise with, say, a Giant frame with a huge bottom bracket area. Are you telling me that those extra grams of carbon fibre would make pretty much no difference to the way the frame reacted to various twisting forces?

The crux is this: only those sensitive and experienced enough could discern those subtle - and not so subtle - differences between bikes. I know I could, to some degree. There is indeed a lot of bullshit, but I find it hard to believe that a) there would be no appreciable difference between a superlight superstiff carbon frame and a BSO b) Canyon can sell this bike for so little.

Despite having of the heaviest chassis here (1250g for the frame, although that includes the stool mast and clamp), it doesn't feel like it. It climbs superbly and the solid front finish makes descending and high speed corners on the limit true highlights. It's surefooted and stable and the Fulcrum tubular deep section wheels gain speed quickly, don't suffer from flex and hold their speed remarkably well.

Build in the latest technology; every inch of them has been pored over to minimise weight, provide ideal power transfer and generate basically the final riding experience.
artistry in the completed product ' highly engineered bikes with a glance. The Hysak bites back against this trend with its superb finish and pleasant attention to detail. Painted and styled to high a standard.

All these and points are not at the expense of comfort either; the Scapin hits the ideal balance of torsional rigidity and superb stiffness when cranking hard, but it's a fine ability to take the edge off rough surfaces that might otherwise set your hands tingling.

What makes the Hysak special?

Seatpost
Scapin's CNC machined and anodised 'S-way' chair mount eschews any trend for light weight in favour of ornate design. Mimicking the 'S' logo, it finishes the chair mast in a pure style- over-substance touch.

bottom bracket
Scapin's press design combined with the Ultra Torque bearing option and custom-bearing covers creates of the cleanest interfaces we have seen on any bicycle.


Frameset
Makes use of Toray carbon with an intricate 1k weave. The finish is painted to a wonderful standard (ten days per frame). It is not all surface jewellery though: the fluid mould manufacturing, using liquid filled than the usual air filled bags, gives greater control over the structure, reducing the amount of resin to fibres.

Internal cable routing

The issue with internally routed bikes is that all the lovely work keeping the cables out of the way of dirt and dirt is undone at the BB. Where most exit the frame at this tricky junction, Scapin keeps things internal with the 'Inside-w' cover to keep out dirt.

A very good looking bike that is extremely easy to ride from beginner to expert.
entry level bike but is fantastic value for money, the reflectors on the pedals are next to useless and you can remove them or just wait til they fall off but thats a minor gripe. quite good spec for the price looks good, very smooth ride, gear change seamless, brakes v responsive.
Spent some time surveying the market for a decent entry level bike that was sensibly priced but would give good performance. Having settled on the TDF I can sincerely say this product is outstanding value for money. For the price point, the bike has good levels of equipment that are easy to use, is quick and light as well.

Features & Benefits of the Carrera TDF Ltd Road Bike
Tektro dual pivot brake calipers provide reliable braking performance in all conditions
Full Shimano drivetrain
Shimano 16-speed ST-2300 shift and brake levers
Shimano front mech
Shimano RD-2300 rear mech
Road racing 700c x 23c tyres are fast rolling and controlled while road riding
Strong yet lightweight alloy rims reinforce wheel strength
Lightweight and durable 6061 aluminium frame with bladed fork offer an easier, faster ride

Carrera Brand:
The Carrera bike brand has been a UK market leader for over 20 years. Sold exclusively at Halfords the brand is recognised by both professional and beginner cyclists throughout the UK as one of performance quality and value.

No paint scuffs - since there is no paint. Any scratches can be gently polished out. Cleans up like new every time! Smooth ride - the ti frame, coupled with the twisted rear seatstays ensures maximum soak of roadbuzz. Yet, feels as stiff as my steel frame racer with short seatstays. the frame is so versatile. Only thing stopping me from having my sks guards on is the front forks. Touring, sportive, commuting, club riding. NOT a frame to 'pop' to town on though.. Ultra stable - the frame is well balanced and feels secure even at 40 with panniers. This is key for those Spanish mountain tours.

After the sale of Litespeed, the company the Lynskey family nurtured to such great heights, they decided to get back into the bike business. Their newest addition to an already well-represented stable is the titanium Sportive.

With tube surfaces treated with what Lynskey call an industrial mill finish – a rough, wire-brushed effect that gives a subdued sheen – the Sportive strikes a handsome note and provides a solid and reliable platform for anything from a quick 45-minute training loop to an audax brevet.

Ride & handling: Immediately likeable. quick responses combined with comfort

Made of cold-worked 3AL 2.5V titanium, the frame features a fine balance of sophisticated tube manipulation and more straightforward sections, with welded cable guides in all the right places and riveted bottle cage bosses. The rear triangle is comprised of gently curved, constant diameter round seatstays, below which lies a graceful set of oval-round chainstays.

Anchoring the rear wheel are some very thick and burly dropouts, decorated with a three-leaf clover cutaway design for a little aesthetic enhancement. A standard head tube with reinforced zones for traditional headset cups finishes off the front of the bike. Single eyelets on the rear allow you to join in with traditional audax crowds if required, with plenty of clearance for a decent-sized tyre and mudguard.

Complementing the well-proven Shimano Ultegra drivetrain on our test bike was a nicely homogenous finishing kit and wheels by Pro-Lite, which were robust yet light.