Whether you’re looking for the latest and greatest superbike or a budget bike under $1K, we’ve got just the bike for you. Here are our picks for the best bikes of 2019 in every category:
BEST ENTRY-LEVEL ROAD BIKE
GIANT CONTEND 3
$650
One of the great things about advancements in cycling technology is what it does for entry-level bikes. The Giant Contend 3 is a bike that would have cost much more in the past, and offers anyone looking to get into cycling a great bike you’ll be happy with for years to come. The aluminum frame is lightweight and durable, while the Shimano Claris drivetrain offers reliable shifting and plenty of options with an 11-34 cassette. If you want to hit the occasional dirt road, 28c tires make things a little easier on your handling and overall comfort.
BEST VALUE ROAD BIKE
CANNONDALE CAAD12 DURA ACE
$3,675
Road bike prices are all over the map these days, ranging from $800 for entry-level bikes to more than $15,000 for pro-level super bikes. Sliding in somewhere in the lower-end of the middle range is the CAAD12, which minimizes costs by using an aluminum frame instead of pricier carbon. But what you’ll find when you ride this bike is it’s surprisingly comfortable for an aluminum steed and accelerates like a bike that costs twice as much. Factor in the high-end Dura Ace drivetrain, and you’ve got a bike suitable for racing and training.
BEST BIKE UNDER $1,000
MOTOBECANE GRAN PREMIO ELITE
$899
If you’re a touch nostalgic about how bikes used to be, this steel-framed bike is a throwback. The frame material improves comfort and durability over most aluminum models at this price while still maintaining a surprisingly reasonable overall weight. The Shimano RS11 wheels are a nice addition that won’t necessarily require an upgrade, and the R7000 drivetrain features reliable shifting and quality performance that make this bike an overall great buy.
BEST ALL-ROAD
SPECIALIZED DIVERGE PRO
$6,029
The trend toward road bikes that can do it all has continued in 2019. The Diverge lineup from Specialized is one of the best we’ve found, with the Pro falling somewhere in the middle of the $1,100–$10,000 range. A carbon frame, slack head tube, short wheelbase and Future Shock Progressive suspension technology ensures this bike handles a skid around a corner in the dirt just as well as it does zipping down a long descent on the road. Hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra Di2 and 42mm tires are other impressive specs on a bike that’s ready for any adventure you pursue.
BEST WOMEN’S
LIV ENVILIV ADVANCED PRO 0 DISC
$5,880
Not only is this one of the best women’s-specific aero bikes available, it’s also one of the best values of any bike on the market. The frame is extremely responsive, it handles exceptionally and is stiff enough to put down major power when an acceleration is needed. Disc brakes, Ultegra Di2, tubeless carbon wheels and an included power meter round out a package that you’ll find hard to beat.
BEST COMMUTER
RALEIGH REDUX 1
$550
Simple, tough and reasonably priced, the Raleigh Redux 1 is the kind of daily commuter that can handle the abuse of commuting through less-than-ideal city streets. Beefy tires make it look more like a mountain bike than road, but we like this choice for dealing with rainy weather, rough roads and train tracks — and for what it adds to the overall comfort and handling. The 1x drivetrain makes shifting and maintenance pretty simple, while the 11-34 cassette still provides plenty of options should you have to deal with any hills along the way. The bike also comes with rack and fender mounts to add to your options.
BEST ELECTRIC
TREK DOMANE+
$7,000
The electric-assist version of the classic Domane, the beefed up downtube fits a 500Wh Powertube battery that can provide up to 28mph of pedaling assistance. This makes for a super-fast road bike that’s perfect for anyone traveling long distances for a commute or for slower riders looking to hang with the pack on fast group rides. Whatever you decide to use the Domane+ for, we guarantee you’ll have a ton of fun as you speed down the road in comfort and style.
BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GROWLER 20
$899
Yes, there are a ton of great mountain bikes in 2019, and many of them will out-perform the Rocky Mountain Growler 20. But when you compare $10,000 to the $899 price tag, this is, without a doubt, one of the best trail bikes you can buy for the money. The trail geometry makes this bike fast and it handles in a way that won’t let you down. While it is a hardtail and has an aluminum frame, it features 140mm coil spring fork, hydraulic brakes and Ranger tires that really make a difference in how well this bike performs on technical terrain. Put it all together and you’ve got a bike that rides a lot like bikes three times its price.
