Road cycling is a broad church, ranging from flyweight climbing bikes<\/a> through to racing-focused aero bikes<\/a> and mile-munching endurance bikes<\/a>.<\/p> Feeling generous, we offered our writers two picks \u2013 one they could realistically afford and another they\u2019d buy if money were no object. You never know when those lottery numbers are going to come good, after all.<\/p> Naturally, each rider’s individual riding style and taste play a big role in their picks, but with plenty of options available in every category what comes out on top? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p> At \u00a31,599 \/ $1,899 \/ \u20ac1,699, the Canyon Endurace 7<\/a> is the cheapest bike any of us has picked.<\/p> It might have an alloy frame<\/a>, but my experience tells me a well-designed metal frame is every bit a match for an entry-level carbon one.\u00a0<\/p> The Endurace 7 also ticks most of the main boxes with a fun-but-sensible geometry, 35mm tyre clearance, top tube bento-box style mounts, a Shimano 105 R7100 groupset<\/a> that might never need upgrading and decent finishing kit for the money.<\/p> The only thing it\u2019s really missing, given it\u2019s an endurance bike, is mudguard mounts. But there are ways around that, too.<\/p> It might not be the most lust-worthy road bike around, but experience tells me it\u2019s more than enough bike for my needs.<\/p> Long have I dreamt of swapping the second car for an ebike, and if I had an unlimited budget the \u00a312,000 ($14,000 \/ \u20ac13,000) Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo 2<\/a> would be my choice.<\/p> It\u2019s an all-road<\/a> style electric bike<\/a>, which hugely impressed me when I rode it at its launch event \u2013 it\u2019s perhaps the most capable electric road-cum-gravel bike I\u2019ve ever ridden.<\/p> The frame is made of Specialized\u2019s Fact 11r carbon (which until relatively recently was reserved for its top-spec Tarmac race bikes), and features the latest-generation Future Shock front suspension and clearance for enormous 57mm\/2.2in gravel bike tyres<\/a>.<\/p> Factor in the dropper post<\/a>, Roval Terra CLX II carbon wheels and near-unimprovable SRAM AXS mullet drivetrain<\/a>, and it\u2019s fair to say this is one fun toy.<\/p> Yet, given it has eyelets for mudguards<\/a>, rack mounts and a 320Wh battery that can squeeze out a claimed 120 miles of range, it\u2019s eminently practical too.<\/p> \u00a34,800 is a lot of money, but I\u2019d happily commit to a few years on finance to get this bike.<\/p> I\u2019ve ridden the \u00a38,000 Team edition<\/a> and it\u2019s a peach of a road race bike, but I think the 8000 model will be 99 per cent as good for far less cash.<\/p> Fast in the hills, great for group rides and designed nicely, the Merida Scultura does everything the most expensive WorldTour bikes<\/a> do for a fraction of the cost.<\/p> The Scultura 8000 sits a couple of rungs below the WorldTour<\/a>-spec bike, but it boasts everything I want from a lightweight race bike. Shimano\u2019s Ultegra Di2 R8100 groupset<\/a> is as bougie as I ever want to be.<\/p> 40mm-deep carbon wheels from Reynolds will suit mixed terrain and I\u2019d never feel the need to upgrade those Continental GP 5000 S TR tyres<\/a>. They\u2019re grippy, fast and my favourite road tubeless tyres<\/a> right now.<\/p> The cherry on the top of this glace is a choice between two cockpit approaches. You can have a two-piece aluminium FSA design for oodles of adjustability, or you can opt for Merida\u2019s Team SL one-piece carbon cockpit at no extra cost.<\/p> The only catch is Merida bikes aren\u2019t available in the US due to agreements relating to its 49 per cent stake in Specialized.<\/p> At risk of being branded a prize idiot by the internet, my money-no-object bike would be a passion project rebuild of a 2019 Cannondale SuperSix Evo HiMod<\/a> \u2013 quite easily the best bike I\u2019ve ever ridden.<\/p> 2019 was the last year of the non-dropped seastay frames from Cannondale and I love everything about them. The looks, the ride, the absolute denial that aerodynamics is a thing\u2026<\/p> It\u2019s even got a ridiculous cable-entry point for the rear brake, which rewards careful setup. Further mechanical bliss would be found with a Wheels Manufacturing PF30a to Outboard 24 bottom bracket kit. Silence is, after all, golden.<\/p> While this might seem like scrimper’s delight, I reckon (through maths done in the pub) I could easily surpass the \u00a310,000 mark.<\/p> A new old stock (or at least lightly used) Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 groupset<\/a> would be needed, as would a set of Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheels. Both would, of course, be of the rim brake variety to match the frameset and give me extra panache points.<\/p> After sourcing a full-carbon finishing kit from a fancy German manufacturer such as Tune, the bike would be off for a respray. I\u2019d be looking for a lovely Azure blue over smokey chrome to complement the sunny summer skies under which this would be ridden.<\/p> I\u2019ve tested two variations of Giant\u2019s latest Propel aero road bike \u2013 the flagship Propel Advanced SL0<\/a> and mid-range Advanced Pro 0 AXS<\/a> \u2013 both of which were notably impressive.<\/p> With a new lightweight design and geometry borrowed from Giant\u2019s much-loved TCR<\/a> platform, the latest Propel is undoubtedly one of the best all-round road racing bikes available.<\/p> If my money was on the line, though, I\u2019d be looking further down the range list, and the Advanced 2 model looks a steal at \u00a32,999 \/ \u20ac3,000.<\/p> Like most of my colleagues’ picks, it balances performance and cost with a Shimano 105 R7100 groupset<\/a>, and solid but dependable alloy finishing kit.<\/p> The alloy, rather than carbon rims are a small disappointment, but those are something I could look to upgrade over time if it felt necessary.<\/p> I don\u2019t play the lottery, but if I ever stumble across a bulging briefcase of small, unmarked bills, I might invest it in a Bastion Road<\/a>.<\/p> Bastion builds its bikes from filament wound carbon fibre tubes, bound together with 3D-printed<\/a> titanium lugs. It\u2019s a beautiful mix of ultra-modern fabrication techniques and a classic silhouette.<\/p> One of the perks of Bastion\u2019s lugged construction is the frameset and component geometry is completely custom. Given I ride road bikes to feel fast, I\u2019d likely lean towards the geometry of my 2021 Giant TCR Advanced Pro<\/a>, but I\u2019d be open to advice from a trusted bike fitter, of course.<\/p> The spec and paintjob can both be customised too. I imagine I\u2019d opt for Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200<\/a>, while Bastion offers a choice between Princeton<\/a>, Partington<\/a> and Lightweight wheels.<\/p> I\u2019d keep the raw finish of the titanium lugs and carbon tubes, though, to better show off its DNA.<\/p> Prices start from AU$35,500 \u201cplus shipping, duties and sales taxes\u201d, which is more than \u00a318,000 \/ $23,000 \/ \u20ac21,000 at current exchange rates. Lucky money\u2019s no object with this one.<\/p>Ashley Quinlan, senior technical editor<\/h2>
The bike I could afford: Canyon Endurace AL 7<\/h3>
If money were no object: Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo 2<\/h3>
![\"Specialized](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/09\/Specialized-S-Works-Turbo-Creo-2-scaled.jpg\")
Liam Chaill, road and gravel presenter<\/h2>
The bike I could afford: Merida Scultura 8000<\/h3>
![\"Merida](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/09\/Merida-Scultura-8000-scaled.jpeg\")
If money were no object: Second-hand 2019 Cannondale SuperSix Evo HiMod<\/h3>
![\"Mitch](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/09\/mitch-docker-supersix-evo-pro-bike-1-1547277508258-9h74mwusn2kl-14052cf-e1562332829457.jpg\")
Simon von Bromley, senior technical writer<\/h2>
The bike I could afford: Giant Propel Advanced 2<\/h3>
![\"Giant](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/09\/Giant-Propel-Advanced-2-scaled.jpg\")
If money were no object: Bastion Road<\/h3>
![\"Bastion](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/09\/Bastion-Road.jpg\")