If you have £1,000 to £1,500 to spend on a road bike, you really do get a lot for you money. A benefit of spending this sort of money is that the bikes start to get much lighter than those costing half as much, which will have a significant impact on the ride quality and performance, and your times up your local hills.

Shimano 105 and Tiagra are the dominant groupsets in this price range. While there is a lot of own-brand kit for parts like wheels, handlebars and saddles, which is no bad thing (manufacturers have really raised their game with own label components), there is a lot more branded kit from the likes of Mavic and Fizik.

At the time of writing (October 2015) we're in the transition between 2015 and 2016 models, so our selection reflects that. There are some 2015 bargains here, as well as some of the best 2016 bikes in the category.​

Boardman Road Pro Carbon — £1,499

Boardman Road Pro Carbon.jpg

Boardman is making some great bikes this year – both in terms of performance and value – and the Road Pro Carbon is no exception. If you're after a disc brake road bike that's engaging to ride, you should certainly take a look at this. If you're looking for a more versatile all-rounder, it's not such a good fit.

Given that this bike comes from an endurance mould you might expect the ride to be more forgiving than it actually is. The Boardman doesn't have the surface-taming characteristics of something like a Cannondale Synapse or a Trek Domane, it's much more of a road bike feel. It's not uncomfortable, but it is firm. It's well balanced in that the front and the back give about the same level of feedback from the road.

Certainly the frame and fork are a package that's worthy of some upgrades here: it's a very well-balanced bike that responds well to pretty much every kind of road riding. The steering is very predictable and never nervous, and I had no issues with any wobbles, vagueness or lift-off descending at speed.

Find a Boardman dealer

Read our review of the Boardman Road Pro Carbon

Trek Émonda S 5 — £1,105

trek-trek-emonda-s-5-2015-road-bike.jpg

With a lightweight carbon fibre frame and Shimano 105 group, this speedster from Trek's racing range would be a good deal at its £1,300 RRP; at this price it's a steal.

The Emonda line is Trek's take on making the lightest road bikes it can produce for a given price, which means the frame here is worth upgrading as the parts wear out; it wouldn't be shamed by a Shimano Ultegra group.

Find a Trek dealer

Lapierre Sensium 300 — £1,249

Lapierre Sensium 300 CP 2016.jpg

This is the successor to last year's Sensium 100 which we found to be an easy bike to get along with. With the same frame, this should also be comfortable to ride for hours on end at the weekend or for an hour’s blast after work. It’s agile and fun when you want to mix it up in a group, and it’s solid and reliable enough to keep maintenance to a minimum. It doesn’t really have a notable weakness. Okay, it could have better wheels, but that is an option higher up the Sensium range.

The Sensium’s carbon-fibre frame is built with a comfortable ‘endurance’ geometry: a lengthened head tube compared to a standard road bike, and a shorter top tube to put you into a more relaxed riding position. The main change from last year is the updated Shimano Tiagra group, which now routes the brake cables tidily under the bar tape.

Read our review of the Lapierre Sensium 100
Find a Lapierre dealer

Giant Defy Advanced 2 — £1,299

2016_Giant_Defy_Advanced_2

Giant’s Defy has long been a benchmark for bikes that combine comfort, endurance and value. Over the years the model range has grown from being purely a mid-price aluminium bike to where we are now where the Defy spans price points all the way from £500 up to £8,000.

The Defy Advanced models are the first carbon bikes in the Defy range. There are three models but the Defy Advanced 2 looks the pick of the bunch. It has the extremely highly rated Shimano 105 11-speed transmission, plus TRP’s also highly rated Spyre mechanical disc brakes.

At £1,149 the Defy Advanced 3 is also worth a look, same frame and brakes but with the new Shimano Tiagra groupset.

Find a Giant dealer

Fuji Sportif 1.1 — £1,100

fuji-sportif-11-2016-road-bike

If the 2015 version is any guide, this will be an excellent bike that’s reasonably quick, solid and reliable. It offers a comfortable, assured ride that comes from a dependable frame and fork and a well-considered equipment package. You get Shimano's excellent hydraulic discs without any major compromises elsewhere.

The frame is hydroformed and double-butted aluminium while the fork has carbon legs and an alloy crown and steerer. The head tube is tall for a fairly upright ride position. It's a comfortable bike, both because of the position and because the 28mm tyres and decent bar tape and saddle take a lot of sting out of the ride. Overall, this is a really good multi-purpose road disc bike that's well-specced.

Read our review of the 2015 Fuji Sportif 1.1 LE

Vitus Venon Disc — £1,214.99

VENON

The Vitus Venon Disc is a well-priced carbon build that is fun, stiff and surprisingly comfortable to ride over long distances. It comes with a pretty decent build kit too, and  for 2016 gets TRP Spyre disc brakes.

At the heart of the Venon is a T700 high modulus, unidirectional carbon fibre frameset. It's hung with a complete Shimano 105 11-speed groupset. It's solid, reliable stuff, providing a good compromise of shifting and longevity.

The Venon is a very easy bike to ride, with precise handling. Initial acceleration isn't the sharpest due to heavyish wheels and an all up weight of 8.73kg (19.25lb) but once it's up and rolling it maintains speed well.

Read our review of the 2014 Vitus Venon

Focus Cayo 105 Mix — £1,299

The Focus Cayo 105 Mix uses a race-proven carbon fibre frame and fork with a more relaxed fit and geometry than the German company's racier offerings. The frame is fitted with Shimano 105 11-speed gears and RS500 semi-compact crankset, along with Fulcrum WH-CEX 7.0 wheels and Schwalbe Lugano tyres. Focus uses its own-brand Concept for the handlebars, stem, saddle and brake calipers.

Find a Focus dealer

Bianchi Intrepida — £1,500

We bet most people will want a Bianchi on any new bike shortlist. Bianchi classifies the Intrepida as part of its endurance racing line-up which places an emphasis on comfort over long distances. That means a slightly more relaxed geometry and more upright position than a traditional race bike. Bolted to the frame is Campagnolo's Xenon groupset with an FSA Omega chainset and Bianchi's own label Reparto Corse for the wheels and all finishing kit, including the brake calipers.

Find a Bianchi dealer

Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7.0 — £1,349

German company Canyon has made quite an impression in the UK with its direct-to-consumer business model meaning big savings for those prepared to bypass the bike shop for their next bike purchase. The Ultimate CF SL is produced using the same mould as that the Ultimate CF SLX we tested a while ago, it's just using a cheaper carbon fibre. That keeps the price lower. Although the weight does go up a bit, it's still light at a claimed 940g. This is the entry-level model built with a full Shimano 105 groupset, Mavic Aksium wheels, Continental GP 4000 25mm tyres, Canyon's own bars and stem and a Fizik Antares saddle.

Specialized Tarmac Sport — £1,500

If your tastes run to fast and sharp-handing road bikes, but your budget won't stretch to the astounding Specialized S-Works Tarmac Disc, this everyman race bike will provide a big chunk of the thrills without holing your bank account below the waterline. It has Specialized's light, nimble  FACT 9r carbon frame with a Shimano 105 groupset providing the stop and go bits. 

Find a Specialized dealer

Cannondale CAAD12 Disc 105 — £1,499

It might seem a lot of money to spend on a frame that isn't carbon, but the CAAD12 sets a new benchmark for all aluminium frames and puts a lot of carbon bikes to shame. With a frame weight under 1,100g for the disc brake and regular versions, it's not much heavier than carbon either. Cannondale package the frame with a full Shimano 105 groupset and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, carbon fibre fork with tapered steerer tube, 52/36 crank and a Selle Royal Seta S1 saddle.

Read our report from the CAAD12 launch
Find a Cannondale dealer

Hargroves Cycles have rolled into town with their deal guns blazing. Not only are they firing red hot deals and fantastic discounts your way, they're offering up to £250 worth of FREE stuff when you buy a 2016 road bike from them.

If you're looking to upgrade your ride for the summer, it looks like Hargroves is the place to go. Regardless of your budget you'll be able to take home a selection of free bike bits, the size of that selection however does depend on your budget.

The Spend & Save offer goes like this:

Buy a 2016 road bike between the prices of £500 & £749.99 and you'll get a £50 discount; between £750 & £999.99 you'll receive a £75 discount; £1000-£1499.99 will see you with £100 to spend; buy a bike worth £1500-£1999.99 and you'll get £150 to spend; anything between £2000 & £2499.99 will get you a £200 voucher; and anything over £2500 will see you with a huge £250 worth of free bike stuff.

If that's not enough for you, in today's DealCatcher we've also got a 1/3rd off a Bianchi Intenso Tiagra bike, 57% off Specialized's full RBX Expert Kit, up to 40% off Tifosi sunglasses, and 26% off a fantastic smartwatch from Garmin.

Happy shopping!

Up to £250 of FREE kit when you buy a 2016 road bike
Cube's 2016 Attain GTC Disc | £1799.99

Cube Attain GTC Dsic 2016.jpg

First up we've got the Spend & Save deal that we mentioned above for you.

Hargroves have a huge selection for 2016 road bikes, but Cube's 2016 Attain GTC Disc road bike caught our eye.

If you opt for the Cube, you'll be getting an extra £150 to spend on bike kit.

Cube's Litening range is a favourite of ours here at road.cc and the new-for-2016 disc-equipped Attain has already got our mouths watering.

Cube's new Comfort Flex carbon frame has a tapered head tube and an integrated headset and is supposedly surprisingly stiff - despite the choice of name.

The rear end seas Aero Flex stays, which bizarrely do flex, and make the ride significantly more comfortable than the front end would suggest, which is just as well, this is a high performance long-distance racer.

The rest of the componentry features Shimano's Ultegra groupset, Shimano BR-RS505 hydraulic disc brakes, DT Swiss Spline R24 wheels, and Schwalbe One Kevlar tyres.

- Read more: road.cc's Cube Litening C68 Pro Blackline review

33% off Bianchi's 2015 Intenso Tiagra 
WAS £1500.00 | NOW £999.99

Bianchi Intenso Tiagra 2015.jpg

Away from the Spend & Save hullabaloo, there are some fantastic deals to be had on Hargroves' stock from last season.

This 2015 Bianchi Intenso features a full Shimano Tiagra groupset, a geometrically comfortable high-end carbon monocoque frame, Shimano WH-R501 wheels, and a San Marco Era Startup Power saddle.

As far as bang-for-buck bikes go, this one's pretty high on our list.

- Read more: road.cc's Bianchi Vertigo review

57% off Specialized's RBX Expert Bib Short & Jersey bundle
WAS £115.00 | NOW £49.99

Specialized Pro RBX jersey shorts combo.jpg

Even if you're not prepared for the summer yet, you can at least get your wardrobe up to scratch. And it's even easier with Hargroves' massive discount on Specialized's RBX Expert kit.

This RBX jersey and short bundle, with its 57% discount, offers incredible value for money.

The jersey's got a comfortable fit, which means you won't be sticking to the inside of a skintight race jersey in the blazing sunshine. There's a hydrofit finish on the elastic SL 130 fabric that helps moisture evaporate, speeding up the drying process. A full front zipper will help keep you cool, reflective stripes will keep you seen, and UPF50 UV protection will keep you not sunburnt.

The bib shorts offer good value too. Their anatomic shape, heavy Action Elastan material offers fantastic muscle support from a compression standpoint, elasticated hems and silicon grippers will keep the shorts in place too.

30%+ off Hargroves' range of Tifosi glasses, including:
40% off Tifosi's Pro Escalate S.F.H. Glasses
WAS £149.99 | NOW £89.99

Tifosi Pro Escalate SFH Glasses.jpg

We like Tifosi sunglasses, we've reviewed quite a few of them. We've even reviewed the Pro Escalates that feature here as recently as March.

When these goggles passed across our review desk our man Dave Atkinson snapped them up, took them out for a spin, and finished up giving them a solid 8/10.

He said they the Tifosi Pro Escalates are a "versatile eyewear system that gives you a good range of frames and lenses in one case."

He does go into more detail in the review, which you can read below, but we'll note that while these are Tifosi's most expensive pair of glasses, Dave says they "still represent decent value because they're really versatile, and it's good to have everything you could reasonably need in one place.

"If you're looking for one purchase to cover all your eyewear needs - on and off the bike - these are definitely worth looking at."

- Read more: road.cc's Tifosi Pro Escalate FSH glasses review

26% off Garmin's Forerunner 630
WAS £389.99 | NOW £289.99

Garmin Forerunner 630.jpg

Finally, if you missed yesterday's DealCatcher, Hargroves' deal on Garmin smartwatches featured.

This is the Garmin Forerunner 630. It features a stunning full colour touchscreen and metrics that can monitor distance, speed, and your lactate threshold, as well as your stride length and running performance when you decide - god knows why - to leave your bike at home.

We also mentioned yesterday that you can also buy one of seven Garmin smartwatch options for bargain prices right now. That offer is made even more appealing thanks to the extra £5 Hargroves are offering off of the Forerunner 230 & 235 with the coupon code 'Garmin5'.

Check out the full range here. 

1.  1975 Mk2 Raleigh Chopper has been ridden up the Stelvio in under three hours. 
Find out more here. 

Unicycle chimney.jpg

2. It’s possible to unicycle around the edge of a 250 metre tall chimney.
Find out more here.

3. The public hire bike hour record is 32.72km (20.33 miles).
Find out more here. 

Fuuvi Charley Monotone Triangle Bell

4. You can be fined AUD$106 for cycling without a bell in Sydney, Australia.
Find out more here. 

Sir Bradley Wiggins with his fifth Olympic gold medal (copyright Britishcycling.org_.uk).jpg

5. Sir Bradley Wiggins’ net worth is £13 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.
Find out more here. 

6. A motorist won’t get compensation it they clip a postbox while ogling a cyclist. 
Find out more here. 

Mick Ives.jpg

7. Mick Ives has won 85 national titles in cycling.
Find out more here. 

Owain Doull after winning gold in Rio (copyright Britishcycling.org_.uk).jpg

8. Two of Team GB’s team pursuit gold medallists from Rio 2016, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Owain Doull, will ride in the Tour of Britain.
Find out more here.

9. You can buy a gravel bike that weighs 6.7kg.
Find out more here.
 

10. Food at the Rio Olympics was “terrible”, according to Mark Cavendish.
Find out more here. 

11. The Bianchi Oltre XR4 in a Campagnolo Super Record build is the most expensive complete bike we’ve had in for test at road.cc this year: £9,500.
Find out more here. 

The Bianchi Oltre XR4 is a lightweight race bike that puts in a superb performance. It's agile and mega-stiff with pin-sharp handling, and it's comfortable enough that you can thoroughly enjoy long rides rather than counting down the miles until it's time to get off.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - riding 3.jpg

In the past, we've reviewed:

• The Bianchi Oltre XR 

• The Bianchi Oltre XR1 

• The Bianchi Oltre XR2 

They've all impressed us very highly, so we had high expectations of the XR4 (Bianchi has bypassed the XR3). It doesn't disappoint.

What's new?

One of the biggest changes from previous Oltres is the inclusion of Bianchi's Countervail technology for the first time.

'Countervail is a patented viscoelastic carbon material with a unique fibre architecture that cancels up to 80% of vibrations while increasing the stiffness and strength of our carbon frames and forks,' says Bianchi.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - seat stays detail.jpg

The Countervail material, from Materials Science Corporation, is embedded within the Oltre's carbon structure.

Bianchi tells us that by eliminating road buzz the Countervail maximises your control, reduces muscular fatigue, and allows you to hold your aero riding position at high speeds for longer.

Countervail technology might be new to the Oltre but Bianchi already uses it on the Specialissima, Infinito and Aquila (time trial) models.

You think it sounds like snake oil, right? I must say, my bullshit detectors flash red and the klaxons start blaring as soon as I hear any claims like this, despite Bianchi's demonstrations with table tennis balls on the frame (you might need to watch the video to find out what I mean).

It's not that I doubted the properties of Countervail, it's that there are a helluva lot of factors that influence how a bike performs and feels, and I wondered how much of a difference this one could make to the whole. I mean, things like the saddle, seatpost, handlebar and tape, wheels, tyre width and pressures, the shape and profile of the frame tubes and fork legs... they all affect vibration damping.

I still wonder how much of an influence the Countervail has outside the lab and on the road. I just can't say for sure because it's impossible to isolate that one element, but I can tell you that the Oltre offers a ride with a marked absence of vibration. Everyone who has ridden this review bike has said the same thing unprompted. There's just a bit less flutter than usual coming though to the contact points. Whether that's down to the Countervail I couldn't tell you for sure, but this is a super-smooth bike.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - riding 4.jpg

Don't get me wrong, it's subtle, and the Oltre XR4 feels exactly like any other road bike when you hit a big bump or your front wheel drops into an unseen pothole. It's the high frequency chatter that gets told to pipe down a bit.

Does the Countervail help you hold an aero riding position for longer, as Bianchi suggests? Maybe for some people although I didn't notice that I was able to maintain a tuck position for any longer than usual on the Oltre XR4. Although vibration enters into it, to me that's more about bike fit. It is, though, a very smooth experience at all speeds, and that adds to the composure of the ride.

Aerodynamics

The Oltre XR4 isn't a one-trick pony. Even if the Countervail technology doesn't impress you, there's plenty more going on here. This is an entirely new frame.

Bianchi has been busy updating the shape of the frame tubes as a result of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and flow visualisation, a technology that's used extensively by F1 teams.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - head tube badge.jpg

The aero head tube is said to have been inspired by Aquila CV time trial bike profiles. It is available with two different top cups, one for use with a conventional stem and the other for use with the Vision Metron 5D combo handlebar/stem that we have fitted to our review bike (more on that later). This handlebar and top cup give an integrated front end.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - bars 2.jpg

Bianchi has switched to direct mount brakes, the rear one completely shielded by the wishbone seatstays, and the seatpost clamp is now a wedge type design, the bolt tucked inside the top tube.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - rear brake.jpg

Bianchi says the changes have resulted in significant aerodynamic improvements over the XR2. Its wind tunnel data says the XR4 has a '20 watt power gain' over the XR2 at 50km/h (31mph). In other words, the power needed to hold 50km/h on the XR4 is said to be 20 watts lower than the power needed to hold 50km/h on the XR2. Five watts of that is down to the new handlebar (see below) while the frame is said to be worth 15 watts.

Even the pro peloton doesn't average 50km/h so we're not sure how relevant that statistic is. Air resistance increases exponentially with speed so the savings you could make in the real world would be considerably lower. We're not in a position to verify wind tunnel data so you can decide for yourself whether you're convinced by Bianchi's claims.

Handling

One area where the Oltre XR4 really scores is in its frame stiffness. There's virtually no flex through the centre of the bike, even when you get out of the saddle and sprint. Select a stupidly high gear and throw it from side to side in an exaggerated manner and the bottom bracket stays exactly where the bottom bracket should be. The whole frame just feels very efficient.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - bottom bracket.jpg

Some high-end aero bikes can flex quite a bit as manufacturers shed grams but Bianchi hasn't made that mistake here, and this is a lightweight bike. Our complete 57cm model hit the road.cc Scales of Truth at 6.53kg (14.4lb). Once you've added pedals, that puts it round about the UCI's minimum weight limit for racing.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - UCI sticker.jpg

Bianchi claims a frame weight of 980g (55cm frame, +/-5% black) and a fork weight of 370g. If you want lighter, Bianchi's Specialissima has a claimed frame weight of 780g, but that's not a bike with any aerodynamic features. Read our Bianchi Specialissima review here. 

Anyway, the point is that the Oltre XR4 feels superbly efficient around the bottom bracket despite its low weight. It's a similar story up front where the steering is excellent, giving you the courage to slam the bike hard into corners and jump about in a group of riders knowing that you'll end up exactly where you want to be. No sketchy reactions, no dicey moments, just fantastic handling whatever the situation.

The build

The Oltre XR4 is available in various different builds. These are they:

Campagnolo

• Super Record EPS (£9,500)

• Super Record mechanical (£7,500)

• Chorus mechanical (£4,700)

Shimano

• Dura-Ace Di2 (£8,600)

• Dura-Ace mechanical (£6,800)

• Ultegra Di2 (£5,000)

SRAM

• Red eTap (£7,500)

In addition, some of the builds have different wheel and chainset options, so there are actually 26 choices in total, all built around the same Oltre XR4 CV frame. You can have Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels on the Shimano models, for example, with the price adjusted accordingly. The frameset price is £3,100.

We have the Campagnolo Super Record mechanical build but with Campagnolo Bora Ultra 50 Dark tubular wheels. That bumps the price up to £9,500. Wow!

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - drivetrain.jpg

I won't go into depth on the groupset because I'm guessing that most people buying a bike like this will already have a preference, but it is superb. I've not had a single issue with any component during testing. If there's a weakness, braking on the carbon fibre rims isn't the best in wet conditions, although the direct mount brakes do pack a punch. Oh, and I found the Vittoria Corsa tubs needed topping up every single ride. If I rode in the evening, they'd need pumping up again the following morning, which was a bit of a pain.

> Your complete guide to Campagnolo 2016 groupsets

One other component that's worth mentioning is the Vision Metron 5D integrated handlebar/stem. It's made using a continuous carbon composite construction and is notable for the fact that the aero-section tops arc forward 10° from the centre. Vision reckons that this 'accommodates the natural position of your arms for more comfort and easier breathing'.

Bianchi Oltre XR4 - bars.jpg

I must say that this took some getting used to. I found that if my hands were on the tops, the sweep of the bar made my elbows point out in a Chris Froome style. Still, I guess it's done him no harm. On the plus side, this is probably the stiffest aero handlebar I've ever used and the compact shape (80mm reach, 125mm drop) is bound to be popular.

Conclusion

The Bianchi Oltre XR4 really is a superb bike, picking up where its predecessors have left off. It's lightweight, reactive and very smooth, and if Bianchi's claims are to be believed, it's highly aerodynamically efficient too. If you have money in your pockets and racing on your mind, this is one of the very best.

Verdict

Lightweight, quick to react and very, very smooth, this is a superb pro-level race bike

The Allroad is Italian company Bianchi's all-new entry into the widely popular adventure bike market. It has built a bike that is aimed at being right at home on and off-road, with hydraulic disc brakes, wide tyre clearance, a solid Shimano 105 groupset and, most controversially, a dropper post, one of the very few road bikes we've yet seen with an instant height adjustable seatpost.

Road bikes are rapidly evolving. Endurance bikes are getting increasingly capable and able to tackle a wider range of terrain than ever before, while adventure bikes are tapping into a growing desire among cyclists to plan multi-day cycle tours, with panniers swapped for bikepacking bags, and a focus on getting away from congested roads.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The Allroad fits into the latter category. It isn't a cyclo-cross bike – Bianchi has that market covered with its Zurigo Disc, which we tested last year. The Allroad is aimed squarely at the adventure road bike market, dominated by the likes of the GT Grade and Specialized Diverge. 

Frame and equipment

Bianchi has constructed a frame from 6061 aluminium with a hydroformed down tube, sloping top tube for increased standover height, a tapered head tube and external cable routing. The fork is carbon fibre and Bianchi has stuck with conventional quick release axles rather than adopting thru-axles, which would certainly be expected by some potential customers. There was no detriment to frame and fork stiffness and the front end tracked sharply with no detectable brake rub.

Bianchi Allroad - riding 2.jpg

While most new disc-equipped road bikes are going the flat mount route for attaching the callipers to the frame and fork, the Allroad uses the older post mount standard. There's nothing wrong with it from a functional point of view, with adjustments easy to make compared with flat mount; it just doesn't look as smart as the smaller flat mount callipers.

Bianchi Allroad - rear disc brake.jpg

Most adventure bikes are designed with half an eye on the commuting, touring and audax customer, and so Bianchi has given the Allroad a full complement of rack and mudguard mounts.

The bike is specced with a Shimano 105 groupset and an R500 chainset in compact 50/34 configuration, paired with an 11-32t cassette. A compact is fine on the road, but even with the 32t sprocket the bike was still sometimes over-geared on a few of my steepest off-road climbs. That aside, the drivetrain produced clean shifting throughout the test.

Bianchi Allroad - drivetrain.jpg

Shimano's RS785 brake callipers are operated by the new RS505 brake levers. Say what you like about their appearance, what matters most are the ergonomics and here they score very highly. Your hands fall very naturally in the curve between the handlebar and brake lever and they're very comfortable to grasp, with the brake levers easy to reach. With 160mm disc rotors front and rear, braking power is plentiful with all the modulation needed to prevent accidentally locking a wheel, even on very fast and loose terrain.

Bianchi Allroad - shifter.jpg

There's clearance in the frame and fork for up to 35mm tyres (probably wider still) and Bianchi has fitted Kenda Happy Medium tyres in 35mm width. Tyre choice dictates the sort of riding an adventure bike is capable of, and the Happy Medium tyres strike a good balance that suits predominantly road use and occasional off-road cycling. It is a cyclo-cross tyre, but the low-profile centre tread ensures they're nippy on the road, and in dry off-road conditions they grip well. The aggressive shoulder knobs provide something to lean on in the corners, and you can get away with using these tyres in looser conditions, but they are not designed for mud. Your top speed will be clipped compared with a slick tyre, but there's nothing to stop you fitting slicks if you're looking at the Allroad as a commuting option.

Bianchi Allroad - fork clearance.jpg

The tyres are fitted to Reparto Course aluminium rims with Formula 32-spoke hubs and regular quick release axles. They proved to be tough and durable wheels for the sort of mixed terrain riding the Allroad is designed for and didn't need any attention during the test period. They're strong, too, withstanding some heavy impacts with rocks and roots in the off-road segment of my test route.

In the flared drop handlebar and dropper seatpost you can tell Bianchi has specced the bike for someone who really wants to make the most of the off-road ability of the Allroad.

Bianchi Allroad - bars.jpg

Handlebars with flared drops are a good thing on this sort of bike. Get it onto a steep and fast descent with lots of corners and get your hands onto the drops and you find the extra effective width provides more control and extra stability at higher speeds; it's less twitchy than a regular handlebar. You can still work the gears and brake levers from the drops. I'm a fan.

So. Dropper post. On a road bike. Bianchi isn't the first to do that, Specialized offers its top-end Diverge with a dropper post, and there are bound to be a few people who have tried homebrew setups. Bianchi has opted for a KS E-Ten seatpost and it provides 100mm of 'infinite' adjustment (which means you can lower it the whole way if you want – some dropper posts have stepped adjustment).

Bianchi Allroad - saddle.jpg

A dropper post essentially allows you to lower the height of the saddle by pulling the lever under the nose and using your body weight to push the saddle as low as you need. They're hugely popular – almost standard – on mountain bikes, because they let you negotiate very steep descents with the saddle pushed out of the way, so you can make better progress. But does the idea work on an adventure road bike?

Bianchi Allroad - dropper post.jpg

For some people, they will be an undoubted bonus, but I was left in doubt as to its usefulness on the Allroad. On smoother descents, there's really no benefit to having the saddle lowered, and on the sort of steep and technical trails where you really can make use of a dropper post on a mountain bike, the stiffness of the Allroad and the small volume tyres were bigger limiting factors than the height of the saddle. Get onto any terrain where you can drop the saddle and the Allroad will bounce and ricochet from rock to root and have your eyeballs pinballing in your eye sockets. To make the most of the dropper post, what this bike needs is a suspension fork, but if you're regularly riding that sort of terrain you might be better off on a lightweight 29er mountain bike.

The inclusion of the dropper post also adds substantial weight (723g) and cost compared with a regular seatpost.

The rest of the finishing kit is all Bianchi branded, including the stem and comfortable saddle and bar tape.

Performance and handling

The geometry of the Allroad is different to a cyclo-cross race bike and is based on Bianchi's Volpe Disc, which leans more towards a touring bike with a slacker head angle (71.5 degrees) and longer chainstays (430mm). This produces steering that is relaxed and neutral, not fast and whippy like a race bike, and improves confidence on loose surfaces like gravel tracks and fast road descents, where it feels right at home. Stable and surefooted are words that best sum up the Allroad.

Bianchi Allroad - riding 3.jpg

As a road bike, the Allroad is very competent and surprisingly nippy: you can get up to some decent speeds if you want to. You do have to put in more effort to maintain high average speeds on the road, though, and on the climbs the 10.6kg weight and semi-slicks work against you a bit. You won't be joining your local club run, but that would be to miss the point of the Allroad. For leisurely rides, exploring and commutes, the bike is right at home.

> What's the difference between cyclo-cross and adventure bikes?

The Allroad is at its best when you throw in some off-road terrain. The Maxxis tyres effortlessly cope with everything from tarmac to dirt, gravel and grass tracks, and you can go where no road bikes dare to venture, constantly swapping from road to dirt track during a ride. It might not be as nippy as a cyclo-cross race bike but that's not what you want when adventuring unfamiliar paths and tracks.

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The position maximises comfort for longer rides, with a reach and stack (the vertical and horizontal measurements from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube) that will suit a wide range of cyclists well with a nice upright position – 382mm and 568mm respectively. On short blasts, it's a lot of fun and it's right at home on longer rides as well, though the weight does show its presence when your legs are tired and heavy and you're facing yet another 20 per cent hill to climb.

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The aluminium frame and carbon fork give the Allroad a noticeably high level of stiffness, which results in a responsive and very direct handling bike. On the flip-side, it is a firm ride so you have to pay careful attention to tyre pressures. Basically, run them soft to get some much needed cushioning or you'll be nursing a very sore body the next day.

Conclusion

For a bike that can turn its hand to a wide range of uses, from road and off-road to touring and commuting, there's a lot to like about the Allroad, and the geometry and stiff frame provide a characterful ride. I'm not convinced by the dropper post, which also adds weight and cost over a regular seatpost, but that aside the spec is well chosen and everything works well.

Verdict

Decent handling with on and off-road capability but I'm not convinced about the dropper post

If you have £1,000 to £1,500 to spend on a road bike, you really do get a lot for you money. A benefit of spending this sort of money is that the bikes start to get much lighter than those costing half as much, which will have a significant impact on the ride quality and performance, and your times up your local hills.

Shimano 105 and Tiagra are the dominant groupsets in this price range. While there is a lot of own-brand kit for parts like wheels, handlebars and saddles, which is no bad thing (manufacturers have really raised their game with own label components), there is a lot more branded kit from the likes of Mavic and Fizik.

At the time of writing (October 2016) we're in the transition between 2016 and 2017 models, so our selection reflects that. There are some 2016 bargains here, as well as some of the best 2017 bikes in the category.​

Fuji Roubaix 1.3 — £1,149

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Fuji characterises its Roubaix as a race bike and has completely reworked the frame for 2017, putting it firmly in the category of Very Light Aluminium at a claimed weight of 1,100g.

The fork is all-carbon, as befits a lightweight bike, and there are Shiano 105 gears and brakes to make it stop and go. The Oval Concepts finishing kit includes a chainset with Praxis rings. It looks like an excellent package for the money if you're in the marker for a fast, light traditional road race bike.

Boardman Road Pro Carbon — £1,199.20

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Boardman is making some great bikes this year – both in terms of performance and value – and the Road Pro Carbon is no exception. If you're after a disc brake road bike that's engaging to ride, you should certainly take a look at this. If you're looking for a more versatile all-rounder, it's not such a good fit.

Given that this bike comes from an endurance mould you might expect the ride to be more forgiving than it actually is. The Boardman doesn't have the surface-taming characteristics of something like a Cannondale Synapse or a Trek Domane, it's much more of a road bike feel. It's not uncomfortable, but it is firm. It's well balanced in that the front and the back give about the same level of feedback from the road.

Certainly the frame and fork are a package that's worthy of some upgrades here: it's a very well-balanced bike that responds well to pretty much every kind of road riding. The steering is very predictable and never nervous, and I had no issues with any wobbles, vagueness or lift-off descending at speed.

Find a Boardman dealer

Read our review of the Boardman Road Pro Carbon

Cannondale CAAD12 105 — £1,299

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Last year, the CAAD12 set a new benchmark for all-aluminium frames; it still puts a lot of carbon bikes to shame. With a frame weight under 1,100g for the disc brake and regular versions, it's not much heavier than carbon either. Cannondale package the frame with a full Shimano 105 groupset, carbon fibre fork with tapered steerer tube, 52/36 crank. Mavic Aksium wheels and a Selle Royal Seta S1 saddle. You can also have it with disc brakes for an extra £300.

Read our report from the CAAD12 launch
Find a Cannondale dealer

Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7.0 — £1,349

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German company Canyon has made quite an impression in the UK with its direct-to-consumer business model meaning big savings for those prepared to bypass the bike shop for their next bike purchase. The Ultimate CF SL is produced using the same mould as that the Ultimate CF SLX we tested a while ago, it's just using a cheaper carbon fibre. That keeps the price lower. Although the weight does go up a bit, it's still light at a claimed 940g. This is the entry-level model built with a full Shimano 105 groupset, Mavic Aksium wheels, Continental GP 4000 25mm tyres, Canyon's own bars and stem and a Fizik Antares saddle. It's nominally a 2016 bike, but Canyon is still listing it at this price.

Focus Cayo Tiagra — £1,399

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The Focus Cayo Tiagra uses a race-proven carbon fibre frame and fork with a more relaxed fit and geometry than the German company's racier offerings. The frame is fitted with Shimano Tiagra brakes, gears and semi-compact crankset, along Continental Grand Sport tyres. Focus uses its own-brand Concept components for the wheels, handlebars, stem, and saddle.

Find a Focus dealer

Trek Émonda S 5 — £1,400

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With a lightweight carbon fibre frame and Shimano 105 group, this speedster from Trek's racing range is a good deal.

The Emonda line is Trek's take on making the lightest road bikes it can produce for a given price, which means the frame here is worth upgrading as the parts wear out; it wouldn't be shamed by a Shimano Ultegra group.

Find a Trek dealer

Bianchi Intrepida — £1,400

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We bet most people will want a Bianchi on any new bike shortlist. Bianchi classifies the Intrepida as part of its endurance racing line-up which places an emphasis on comfort over long distances. That means a slightly more relaxed geometry and more upright position than a traditional race bike. Bolted to the frame is Campagnolo's Veloce groupset with an FSA Omega chainset and Bianchi's own label Reparto Corse for the wheels and all finishing kit.

Find a Bianchi dealer

Vitus Bikes Zenium SL Pro Disc - Superlight Ultegra — £1,449

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Recent price increases mean getting a full Shimano Ultegra group with disc brakes on any bike under £1,500 is unusual, making the offering from Chain Reaction's house brad excellent value with it spec on an aluminium frame. It comes with Michelin's fast Pro 4 tyres in 25mm width and there's room in the frame to go up to 28mm for versatility.

The frame is the same as the 2016 Zenium SL Disc, which our Stu Kerton really liked when he reviewed it. The SL tames the previous Zenium's harshness a bit, but this is still a fast bike. "I like it,"Stu wrote. "It feels purposeful, a kind of 'this is what I am, deal with it' type of thing. With a lot of bikes these days trying to be a bit of an 'everything' option, it's good to get on board something that can just be smashed about a bit and ridden hard."

Read our review of the Vitus Zenium SL

Giant Defy Advanced 3 — £1,499

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Giant’s Defy has long been a benchmark for bikes that combine comfort, endurance and value. Over the years the model range has developed from being purely a mid-price aluminium bike to where we are now with a range of carbon fibre-framed Defy Advanced bikes from £1,500 to £6,000; the previous aluminium Defy range is now badged Contend.

The range starts with three Defy Advanced models, of which the Defy Advanced 3 is the cheapest. It has Shimano's excellent-value Shimano Tiagra 10-speed transmission, including hydraulic brakes.

If the carbon fibre frame pushes the Defy Advanced 3 out of your price range, the Contend SL 1 has an aluminium frame, Shimano 105 components and hydraulic disc brakes for £1,149.

Find a Giant dealer

Specialized Tarmac Sport — £1,500

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If your tastes run to fast and sharp-handing road bikes, but your budget won't stretch to the astounding Specialized S-Works Tarmac Disc, this everyman race bike will provide a big chunk of the thrills without holing your bank account below the waterline. It has Specialized's light, nimble FACT 9r carbon frame with a Shimano 105 groupset providing the stop and go bits.

Find a Specialized dealer

The DealCatcher's relentless river of deals is continuing its flow today with a selection of big brands from top retailers like Hargroves Cycles, Radial Cycles and Tweeks Cycles.

Bianchi's Intenso Athena Road Bike kicks things off over at Hargroves Cycles with a 30% discount. If you fancy a Bianchi but not the Celeste green, the black Intenso could be right up your street.

A jacket that featured in our top 8 yellow cycling jacket is next up. Altura's Night Vision Evo jacket is perfect for those late night/early morning rides, and for wet #mycyclingweekend rides too!

Finally, keep yourself seen and safe out there with Radial Cycles' Blaze rear light. It's 25% off over on Radial Cycles's website, plus it got a 9/10 when we reviewed it.

Hargroves Cycles

30% off Bianchi's Intenso Athena Road Bike
WAS £2150.00 | NOW £1500.00

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If you're looking to upgrade to a full carbon experience the Intenso's reasonably relaxed and comfortable geometry could give you the perfect 'in'.

The Intenso runs Campagnolo's most affordable 11-speed groupset in the Athena, the wheels are Fulcrum's durable and sturdy Racing 7 wheelset, topped off with a San Marco Era Startup Power saddle.

- Read more: road.cc's Bianchi Vertigo review

Tweeks Cycles

45% off Altura's Night Vision Evo Waterproof Women's Jacket
WAS £100.00 | NOW £55.00

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Altura's Night Vision Evo Jacket recently featured in our guide to the 8 best yellow winter cycling jackets.

Our tech editor Dave Arthur had this to say about the jacket:

"Altura uses its own Shield Evo fabric to provide a fully waterproof with 360-degree reflectivity to ensure you stand out at all times. The 2 layer fabric has a soft touch and it’s breathable so you shouldn’t overheat. There are put and yoke draft vents to help remove any excess heat buildup. As is increasingly common on commuting jackets, there’s an integrated i-Lume flashing LED rear light."

-  Read more: road.cc's 8 best yellow winter cycling jackets

Radial Cycles

25% off Radial's Blaze 0.5 Watt Rear Bike Light
WAS £5.99 | NOW £7.99

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Finally, Radial's Blaze light, which scored a fantastic 9/10 when it came for its road.cc review, is currently available over at Radial Cycles for a hefty 25% off.

Our man Dave Atkinson said the price is great (at full price) and called it "simple to use, waterproof, durable and can be mounted to bags, clothing, or bikes. 

- Read more: road.cc's Radial Blaze review