What are the best racing bikes? A guide to choosing

If you're looking for the best road bike for your autumn rides, we recommend continuing to read. We will provide useful tips and advice to help you choose the right bike based on your needs in terms of features, aesthetics, and budget.

Keep reading to discover the best road bikes according to us, Cicli Mattio.

A road bike can have endless combinations and features, so no, they are not all the same.

Perhaps a few years ago, road bikes all had similar characteristics: drop handlebars, 23" tires, and more recently, disc brakes and carbon frames. But now, the variety of options is vast, influenced by factors like setup, materials, technologies, brands, models, components, and more!

Additionally, road bikes are divided into "race," "aero," and "endurance" categories. Race bikes offer a lower, more aerodynamic position, while endurance bikes prioritize comfort and stability for long distances.

The materials used to produce a road bike frame represent one of the key differences among models.

Many of the top-of-the-line road bikes available on the market and at leading retailers like ciclimattio.com are made from carbon fiber, a material known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, allowing brands to create bikes that are both lightweight and highly efficient!

The most common materials for road bike frames are:

• CARBON: Carbon fiber is undoubtedly an exceptional material for bike frames. Its stiffness, lightness, malleability, and high resistance to stress make it the choice for most mid-to-high-end racing bikes.

• ALUMINIUM: Aluminum road bikes offer a ride experience similar to carbon but at a lower cost. It is lighter than steel and more resistant to corrosion, but less durable over time compared to carbon.

• STEEL: Steel road bikes are affordable, durable, and easy to repair. Steel frames last a long time, often seen in vintage bikes like the "Eroica" models.

• TITANIUM: Titanium bikes share many properties with steel but are lighter, more resistant to oxidation, and long-lasting. However, titanium is expensive to produce and requires specialized skills.

Each material has its own peculiarities and offers a range of characteristics that differ from others. When choosing, we invite you to consider the different material options in relation to how you intend to use the racing bike.

In terms of budget, summarizing and generalizing, we find the following order from the most expensive to the least expensive: titanium, carbon, aluminum, and steel.

Before guiding you in choosing the best racing bike, we recommend assessing how you intend to use it and the price you are willing to spend.

There are indeed entry-level racing bikes for those approaching this sport for the first time, with prices around €1,500 to €2,500.

The second price range can be defined as mid-to-high-end, from €2,500 to €5,000, usually made of carbon and equipped with hydraulic disc brakes and electronic shifting.

Finally, above €5,000, we find top-of-the-line models used by World Tour professionals, designed in meticulous detail and built to make the cyclist fast, aerodynamic, and, in a word: victorious!

We tried to create our ranking of racing bikes for 2024, selecting different but high-quality models that can elevate your cycling level.

Here’s our “Top Five” racing bikes:

1. Colnago V4rs: The Colnago V4Rs Disc Force eTap AXS is a high-end racing bike designed for superior performance. Featuring a lightweight and durable carbon frame, it offers aerodynamic geometry for a fast and stable ride. Equipped with the SRAM Force eTap AXS electronic group, it ensures precise and effortless shifting. The disc brakes provide excellent stopping power in all conditions. Ideal for passionate cyclists seeking a high-performance and technologically advanced machine.
   
   
2. Bianchi Specialissima: The Specialissima is a top-tier racing bike that guarantees better performance on climbs, increased braking power thanks to disc brakes, and superior aerodynamic performance. The carbon disc frame weighs just 750 grams, ensuring the weight/stiffness ratio that World Tour athletes love. The Bianchi CV system eliminates road vibrations and enhances the riding experience by absorbing surface imperfections and improving downhill control. Designed for pro riders seeking a true racing machine: a lightweight bike with an extremely stiff frame.
   
3. Wilier Filante SLR: The Filante SLR is an extremely lightweight aero bike that significantly improves the stiffness-to-weight ratio. The result is a high-end, aerodynamic frame that complements our pure climbing bike, currently used by Groupama - FDJ Cycling Team and Astana Qazaqstan Team. Weighing in at just 350 grams for size 101x42, the integrated Filante Bar carbon monocoque handlebar houses the brake and control cables within, routing them inside the frame.
   
4. Cannondale SuperSix Evo: The Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2 is a high-performance racing bike characterized by an ultralight and stiff carbon frame designed for aerodynamic efficiency and speed. The frame geometry is optimized for a responsive and comfortable ride. It is ideal for cyclists looking for a combination of high performance and sophisticated design.
   
5. Trek Madone SLR 9 Gen 8: The Trek Madone SLR 9 Gen 8 is a high-end racing bike designed to maximize speed and aerodynamic efficiency. The OCLV 800 Series carbon frame offers an excellent combination of lightness and stiffness, while the IsoSpeed system absorbs vibrations for superior comfort. Equipped with the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group, it ensures precise and quick shifting. The sleek white design gives it a sophisticated look. Designed for those who pay attention to detail and want to be the fastest!