When the road calls, you answer—preferably on a road bike. Whether it’s unbridled bliss or pure adrenaline, there’s nothing like the thrill of pedaling your way down an open road. But first things first, you’ll need a good quality bike that will serve you well for years to come. Looking for a new bike can be an overwhelming albeit exciting ordeal. It is a major investment, after all—especially with some top-tier options costing as much as a car. To help you find your two-wheeled noble steed, we’ve gone over the top features you should look for and listed some of the best road bike brands on the market.
What to Look for in Best Road Bike Brands
When it comes to buying a road bike, a large part of your decision depends on personal preference. But you’ll also need to keep a few factors in mind before making your choice. These include:
Material
This is where you’ll be choosing between carbon and aluminum (or alloy). To put things into perspective, a $2000 bike will either have a top-notch aluminum frame or an entry-level carbon one. It’s safe to say that carbon-frame bikes are as awesome as they come. But a good-quality aluminum bike might be the better choice for trails that are less than ideal. It’s also worth mentioning that aluminum bikes have been gaining a bit of traction lately (pun intended).
Brand
We don’t mean to be brand snobs, but it pays to buy from a reputable brand that offers a good warranty. Imagine finding a crack in your bike’s frame and not knowing who to contact for assistance. This is often the case when you buy from online retailers who import unknown brands. On the other hand, the best road bike brands that are tried and true will have the most reliable customer service if need be.
Fit
Another factor you’ll want to take into consideration is the fit. This is a relatively easy one since you’ll most likely fall into a bike size pretty neatly. The tricky part, however, is when you’re bordering between two sizes. In any case, avoid buying a size that doesn’t fit just because the bike happens to be on sale or simply because the design is cool.
Frame Angle
Besides the material of the frame, you may also want to account for the angle. Decide whether you want something that offers a low, aerodynamic position or something more upright and relaxed. If you prefer the latter, for instance, sportive and endurance models would be the go-to option.
Add-ons
Chances are you’ll end up with a bike that’s more or less basic. Needless to say, it will be in pristine condition and all. However, add-ons will most likely be up to you. These can include a hydration setup, a cycling computer, and other gadgets that may come in handy. You can choose to either install these add-ons yourself or ask a bike shop to do it for you. And if you’re lucky enough, the bike you choose may already have one built-in.
Brakes
When it comes to the braking system, the choice is between a disc and a caliper. You’ll notice that disc brakes are becoming more common, which makes sense since they’re considered to be better. Not very long ago, you would only find them on high-end bikes. But now, many beginner bikes are equipped with disc brakes. They perform better in wet conditions or on steep terrain, they don’t wear or heat up on the rim, and they simply stop faster. But don’t write off the caliper brakes just yet. After all, they did their job just fine for years—and they are easier to fix and fine-tune if you’re a DIYer.
1. Trek
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️Wide variety of high-quality bikes | ❌Limited online availability of bikes |
| ✔️The company offers in-depth buying guides | ❌The company was once associated with doping scandals |
| ✔️Lifetime warranty |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1975
- Location: Wisconsin, USA
- Popular model: Trek Madone
- Road bike types: Aero, gravel, endurance, ebike, and lightweight
As one of the best road bike brands in the United States, Trek Bikes started when two bicycle aficionados, Dick Burke and Bevil Hogg, met over dinner. The duo built their first bike in a barn not very far from the company’s current headquarters. The brand eventually saw immense success and even provided bikes for top cyclists and races in the world, the Tour de France is one of them. Trek offers both carbon and aluminum frame varieties in addition to lifetime warranties and excellent customer service.
2. Colnago
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️Full customizability | ❌Seat posts are not as comfortable as other brands |
| ✔️High standards of safety | ❌Colnago bikes are on the expensive side |
| ✔️Colnago is focused on advancing bike technology |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1952
- Location: Cambiago, Italy
- Popular model: C68 Road, a testament to superb craftsmanship
- Road bike types: Race, urban, gravel, electric, commuter
Founded by Ernesto Colnago near Milan, Italy, Colnago is easily one of the best road bike brands in the world. Colnago himself is known for his impressive welding skills, and his eye for innovation resulted in a number of tech advances in cycling. These include placing disc brakes on race bikes and using carbon instead of steel for bike frames. The brand also boasts award-winning race bikes including the one for Eddy Merckx’s Hour Record. You can find Colnago bikes in steel, carbon, as well as titanium.
3. Canyon
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️Great value for money | ❌Bikes can be hard to find |
| ✔️Canyon constantly works to enhance its popular bikes | ❌New stock sells out quickly |
| ✔️The company ships bikes directly to customers |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 2002
- Location: Koblenz, Germany
- Popular model: Canyon Endurance
- Road bike types: Race, aero, gravel, triathlon, cyclocross, commuter, endurance, and electric
Call us biased but we do love some good German manufacturing. With a showroom in California and the bikes designed in Germany, Canyon is among the best road bike brands for the money. The company uses feedback from pro cyclists to enhance the bikes for all customers; that’s how you know they’re serious about quality. As for material, Canyon bikes are available in both carbon and aluminum.
4. Bianchi
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️Iconic turquoise color | ❌Bianchi bikes come with a hefty price tag |
| ✔️Wide variety of bikes from casual to pro |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1885
- Location: Italy
- Popular model: Bianchi Specialissima
- Road bike types: Race, time trial, triathlon, gravel, ebike, cyclocross, endurance, fixed gear
Founded in 1885, Bianchi is the oldest bicycle brand in the world and is famous for its iconic turquoise paint known as celeste. The Italian brand takes an artisan approach when designing its prestigious bikes—with both speed and bella figura in mind. Bianchi’s products range from casual to pro cyclists, making it one of the best road bike brands for beginners and experts alike. The company also boasts many Grand Tour wins, with the race winners riding Bianchi bikes.
5. Jamis
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️Women-owned brand | ❌Smaller frames don’t have much room for frame bags |
| ✔️Provides size-specific geometry to cater for smaller riders | ❌Only one racing model |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1937 as a distributor, 1979 as a manufacturer
- Location: Florida, USA
- Popular model: Jamis Ventura
- Road bike types: Gravel, urban, ebike, cruiser
Comfort is a top priority for Jamis but the best thing about the brand is that it provides size-specific geometry. The Jamis Renegade, for instance, is ideal for shorter riders who have difficulty finding bikes that cater to their height. The whole frame of the Renegade is adjusted, rather than just the height of the seat. Jamis bikes are also among the more affordable options on this list.
6. Look
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️Wide range of innovative models | ❌Certain stock parts need upgrading |
| ✔️Incredibly lightweight carbon frames | ❌Look bikes aren’t always available |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1951
- Location: France
- Popular model: Look Madison and 785 Huez Disc
- Road bike types: Track, urban, aero, altitude, ebike, triathlon, endurance
Another road bike brand to look for is Look—yes, that’s what it’s called…and yes, pun intended. Dreamt up by Jean Beyl in 1951, the French brand initially manufactured both cycling and skiing equipment. Today, Look is famous for its high-quality road bikes as well as its gaming-changing innovations such as the first-ever automatic pedal. Moreover, the company has a profound influence on the history of bike racing.
7. Cervelo
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️The company is committed to innovation | ❌The original model wasn’t up to UCI standards |
| ✔️Fast, high-performance bikes | ❌Cervelo bikes tend to be expensive |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1995
- Location: Canada
- Popular model: Cervelo R5
- Road bike types: Gravel, time trial, cyclocross, triathlon
Cervelo’s first-ever professional road bike didn’t pass UCI standards and was never used by pro cyclists. But that didn’t stop the Canadian brand from manufacturing fast, revolutionary, and award-winning bicycles over the many years that followed. Cervelo bikes, such as the R5, Aspero, and Caledonia, are characterized by unique tubing as well as top-notch aerodynamics.
8. Liv/Giant
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️The companies promote cycling for everyone | ❌Liv bikes are often out of stock |
| ✔️Lineups include bikes specifically designed for women | |
| ✔️Affordable prices |
Specifications:
- Year founded: Giant in 1972, Liv in 2008
- Location: Taiwan
- Popular model: Liv Langma Advanced Pro Disc
- Road bike types: Race, triathlon, time trial, gravel, cyclocross, performance, fitness, performance, cruiser, ebike
Sister companies Liv and Giant are undeniably among the biggest and best road bike brands in existence. The younger company, Liv Cycling, designs bikes that accommodate the female body. Giant, on the other hand, manufactures bikes and cycling gear that suit riders of all kinds. The Taiwanese brand offers both affordable as well as flagship varieties of fast, high-quality bicycles.
9. Orbea
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️The company offers lifetime warranties | ❌Racing models aren’t the most comfortable |
| ✔️Accident policy | |
| ✔️Orbea bikes are customizable |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1840 as a firearms producer, 1930 as a bike manufacturer
- Location: Spain
- Popular model: Orbea Orca
- Road bike types: Race, gravel, endurance
There’s a good reason why the Global Cycling Network prefers Orbea bikes. The Spanish brand produces two-wheeled beasts that offer stability, precision handling, and fierce aerodynamics. Orbea was initially a gun manufacturer and didn’t produce bikes until 1930. That was when the company officially became a bike producer as a way to save the family business when the demand for firearms diminished. Today, Orbea provides some of the most innovative and technologically advanced bikes that grace the roads, making it one of the best road bike brands out there.
10. Scott
| Reasons to buy | Reasons to avoid |
|---|---|
| ✔️Highly innovative designs | ❌Rare and expensive |
| ✔️Flagship, race-winning bikes | |
| ✔️Scott makes women’s models, too |
Specifications:
- Year founded: 1958 (1970 as a bike brand)
- Location: Switzerland (since 1978)
- Popular model: Scott Addict RC
- Road bike types: Aero, race, gravel, endurance, city-hybrid
Before debuting as a bike manufacturer in the 1970s, Ed Scott was initially responsible for coming up with ski poles made of aluminum instead of steel or bamboo—in addition to producing various other sporting gear. In 1989, the brand introduced the aero bar which Greg LeMond used in his Tour de France victory that year. The Switzerland-based company currently makes bikes of all types, which you’ll find in carbon and aluminum frames.
Conclusion
Ask any cycling enthusiast and they’ll tell you that no two bike brands are the same. Each will have its own feel, its signature style, and its unique geometry. After figuring out what form of riding you’ll be doing—be it urban, cyclocross, or anything in between—you should have no problem finding the bicycle that fits your needs. And with the best road bike brands to choose from, you’re sure to end up with a great investment.
