CUT-PRICE CARBON
For all that we prize our metal bikes and laud the resurgence of premium aluminium, the lure of carbon has never really waned. Affordable carbon bikes as we once knew them seem to be in decline however, between the rise of disc brakes, rampant worldwide demand for bicycles pushing prices up and entry-level models being replaced by alloy alternatives.
These days ‘cheap’ carbon means bikes closer to two grand, which is a decent chunk for anyone, and so we present three very different ways to spend around that much cash. Two are disc race bikes – the Merida Reacto 4000 is cutting-edge and aerodynamic, while the Holdsworth Corsa Superlight is more classic in its approach. Giant’s cheapest TCR rounds things out, a rim-braked race bike that’s at once ultra-modern and almost wilfully old-school.
GIANT’S ALL-TIME CARBON CLASSIC
Race bikes with rim brakes may be an endangered species but there’s still a case to be made for simple, lightweight bikes that focus on riding pleasure. The TCR is a legendary platform that’s won countless tests. With Shimano 105 and a frame that’s barely different from its superbike cousins, is it still a winner?
Giant’s TCR is a benchmark for all-rounder race bikes. The TCR Advanced 2 is the least expensive model and the latest incarnation of a relatively affordable machine that won our 2018 Bike of the Year award. Prices have crept up, but it remains an appealing proposition for riders seeking a pure road bike experience, and a top choice for aspiring racers who can live without discs.
It might feel perverse to choose lesser brakes, but for mostly fair-weather riding, good rim brakes remain a
