Bike and Frame Reviews

SRAM have updated their Force groupset for 2023, is it a major overhaul or a fresh coat of paint? Shoddy Dave went to Portugal to find out.

Pinarello has a new race bike out, it sits below the Dogma but could very well perform just as well as the top dog.

It looks normal enough – until you look at the geometry chart.

Trek’s latest iteration of its Domane all-roader packs more performance than ever, but there are also some big missteps that give me pause.

The R/1 semi-aero road bike is comfier than you’d guess and also comes across as more polished than the A/1 I reviewed recently, but it still feels a touch underbaked.

Wilier says the Rave SLR is a gravel bike for racing, but whether that applies might depend on your definition of racing.

It's 2023, and Shoddy Dave's temporarily traded in his old road racing ways for Orbea's new e-road bike.

Is it possible to bottle feelings? If it is, Argonaut has injected plenty of that magical elixir into its new RM3.

3T takes the aero gravel concept to the extremes.

Aerodynamic, very lightweight, great ride quality, solid pricing, and it even looks good – what more could you ask for?

A host of subtle, but highly functional, updates make an already-fantastic cargo bike option even better.

The "ultimate race bike" has only a few minor flaws – and the hole in the seat tube isn't (exactly) one of them.

Ridley's new Grifn falls into the do-it-all camp, but is it really an N+1 killer?

The updated S5 is simpler, lighter, faster – and has an absolutely staggering ride.

The consumer-direct gravity mountain bike brand enters the dropbar world.

30 mm of rear suspension travel, 20 mm of front travel, and clearance for 700x47 mm knobbies is a formula for a good time on rough terrain.

Cycle trucks are a great option if you have small-to-medium-sized hauling needs.

Flagship model weighs just 12.21 kg, and US-spec bikes get a genuinely useful 45 km/h cutoff from the new TQ mid-drive motor.

It’s a brand you’ve probably never heard of, but yet another example of why you should consider a custom steel frame.

Aero gravel that's ready for all-road use, too.

Not every bike can be a winner, but there were a few that really stood head and shoulders above the rest at this year’s Field Test.

Mid-cycle updates have improved the A/1, but the frame geometry is still a little too goofy for our liking.

The new Dogma F is a frame of two halves with plenty of surprises, but is it an F for fab or F for flop?

More aero, more stiffness, and more integration, but also a bit more weight.

It's a little CX-y, but perhaps not in the best ways.

State has a strong reputation for great value, but there’s just too much cost-cutting here to make the All-Road an enjoyable bike.

A budget take on premium integration.

The feature-laden titanium frame is incredibly appealing on paper, and it turns out this is one book you really can judge by its cover.

The fun and easy-going one of the party.

The lone steel bike in our group makes a great case for the material.

An overhauled endurance road platform meets modern all-road capability. It’s wonderful but there's a but.

The Triban RC120 is way better than you’d expect, and hits all the right marks on its way to being a perfect first road bike for new riders.

It's a gravel race bike from the future.

Colnago chases modernity with the new C68, and though it offers outstanding performance, it still loses something in the process.

A versatile road race bike that’s smoother-riding than most.

The Belgian brand gets serious about adventure.

The return of the alloy race machine.

The Supple Road rises above the aero and weight arms race, and instead looks at the big picture.

20 mm of integrated front suspension meets an already progressive gravel bike.

The Colombian's recovery seems to be coming along very nicely.

It's a party on two wheels.

Superb tire clearance, lots of mounts, and a tackle-anything demeanor, but also somewhat questionable frame geometry and a rather firm ride quality.

All the features of an integrated aero road racer, but not carbon.

A production gravel bike from the Irish company best known for its custom road bikes.

This may be old technology by Specialized's standards, but it just offers more proof that road bikes have already been very good for a very long time.

Unusually good ride quality and the handling is brilliant, but it’s hard not to notice the heft when you point it uphill.

The outstanding geometry and tire clearance comes with a big catch, though.

A fun and entertaining machine that won’t break the bank, but also a rough ride and a short reach.

Versatile design also includes rack and fender mounts, and a refreshing dearth of proprietary bits.

Sleek lines, a smooth ride, great handling, low weight, and lots of tire clearance in a value-oriented package.

Super efficient under power, but a brutally stiff ride, odd geometry and aesthetics, and some odd routing and spec choices.

Gorgeous and distinctive integrated design, a lovely ride, and a top-shelf build kit. Just try not to choke when you see the price tag.

It’s basically a fat-tired Aethos — and I mean that in the best way possible.

Major geometry changes make for a new personality that’s rowdier, but also perhaps more polarizing.

Fezzari’s revamped Shafer gravel bike has traded its old me-too personality for modern progressive handling, more capabilities, and value that should put mainstream brands on notice.

Stiffer isn't always better.

We kept things close to home this time around, with four testers thrashing a smattering of road and gravel bikes — and even some flat-bar gravel bikes — on our home turf of Boulder, Colorado, to see what works and what doesn’t.

Even an extra 100 g and heavy parts can’t dull this frame's luster.

Slick adjustable geometry is impressively quick and easy to operate, with tangible benefits in each mode.

Surprisingly good value for an experienced US builder with lots of custom options.

Wilier had a fast aero bike and a responsive lightweight bike. It now has both wrapped in one. Can the Italian brand pull off the seemingly impossible?

So good to ride, I nearly bought it for myself.

Vitus goes all-in for aero with the new ZX-1, featuring internal cable routing, huge tubing, deep wheels and integrated handlebars.

More tire clearance, capability, and mounts than the Grail — and an almost completely normal handlebar and stem, too.

A new premium version of the well-loved Aspero gravel racer.

For all the talk about tire clearance, this bike really could use more of it.

In this episode we take a look at Leah Thomas' new team Movistar Canyon Ultimate.

Check out Dave Everett's author page.

The Curve Kevin of Steel is a gravel bike that's here for a good time.

Fuji's range-topping Jari Carbon gravel bike sets out to cater for everyone.

A mountain bike so clearly intended to win World Cups that it carries a number of significant compromises for the recreational racer.

Check out Iain Treloar's author page.

Trek's new entry-level road bike combines an endurance fit with sporty handling and a whole bunch of versatility.

Factor's first foray into gravel offers a focus on saving weight, road-bike-like handling and a considered ride quality.

Ritchey's new Outback gravel bike is greater than the sum of its parts.

A workhorse budget aluminum road racer in need of more appropriate build options.

What Focus' first gravel bike lacks in flair, it makes up for with quiet competence and capability.

An in-depth review of Cervelo's new do-it-all road bike. Here we focus on the mid-priced version with fewer bells and whistles.

There's a whole lot of value (and plenty to love) in this mid-tier racer.

Canyon's Ultimate CF SL Disc may be a few years old, but including it in the Field Test has proved that this high-value racer has aged incredibly well.