The highly anticipated road.cc Bike of the Year awards for 2024/25 have arrived, showcasing the very best in cycling across various categories. After a year of rigorous testing and reviews, road.cc has unveiled its top picks, from high-performance road bikes to versatile gravel bikes and innovative electric bikes. This guide delves into the winners, highlighting the standout features of each category champion and the overall Bike of the Year.
How the Bikes Were Chosen
To be eligible for the road.cc Bike of the Year awards, each bike had to meet specific criteria:
- Reviewed in 2024: The bike must have been reviewed on road.cc, off.road.cc (for gravel bikes), or ebiketips (for e-bikes) during 2024.
- Hands-on Testing: Only bikes that were sent to road.cc for testing were considered.
- Comprehensive Assessment: The selection process involved revisiting every review, consulting with the team of testers, and engaging in extensive discussions. This went beyond simply adding up scores from the initial reviews, with consideration given to how each bike has performed in a constantly changing market.
- Diverse Comparison: The team at road.cc recognizes the challenge of comparing vastly different types of bikes, such as a titanium gravel bike versus a professional-level road racing bike. The top 10 were chosen based on performance, handling, specification, and value for money.
Road.cc Recommends Bike of the Year 2024/25
After a meticulous evaluation, the overall road.cc Recommends Bike of the Year 2024/25 has been awarded to:
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 AXS
This bike is praised as an outstanding all-around race bike. It excels in speed, efficiency, and comfort, making it a top choice for various riding conditions. The Giant TCR has been continually improving since its introduction in 1997, and this tenth generation model continues the trend. Equipped with a wireless SRAM Force AXS groupset, including a Quarq power meter, it is considered very good value.
Category Winners
Before crowning the overall winner, road.cc revealed the top bikes in several key categories. Here’s a look at those category-leading bikes:
Money-No-Object Bikes
This category features high-end, cutting-edge machines with price tags to match. These bikes represent the pinnacle of cycling technology and performance. To qualify for this category, bikes had to cost a minimum of £9,000 and have been reviewed by road.cc in 2024. The winner in this category is:
- Canyon Aeroad CFR AXS (£9,749): This bike is the road.cc Recommends Money-No-Object Bike of the Year 2024/25, securing Canyon’s position at the top in this category. The Canyon Ultimate CFR AXS also made the list, highlighting the brand’s dominance in high-end road bikes.
Other notable bikes in this category include:- Enigma Eikon Frame (£3,999)
- Factor O2 VAM (£9,999)
- Orbea Orca Aero M10iLTD (£11,499)
- Pinarello Dogma X Dura Ace Di2 (£13,300)
- Pinarello Dogma F Dura Ace Di2 (£13,000)
Gravel Bike of the Year
Gravel bikes have gained significant popularity, and the road.cc award recognizes the best in this category. The winning gravel bike is:
- Vielo V+1 Race Edition: This bike is lauded for its agility, responsiveness, and exceptional performance on various terrains. Whether on dry trails or muddy paths, it provides a fun and capable ride. It features a striking orange-to-pink fade paint job, but its performance is what truly sets it apart. Although the reviewed bike with Zipp 303 wheels was more expensive, the V+1 Race Edition Force eTap XPLR 12-speed starts at £5,199.
Electric Bike of the Year
The e-bike category is rapidly evolving, with a focus on both practicality and performance. The road.cc winner in this category is:
- MiRiDER 24 GB3 (£2,995): This e-bike combines practicality with high quality, building on the success of earlier MiRiDER models. With its 24-inch wheels and three-speed G3ARED transmission system, the GB3 is stable, comfortable, and versatile, making it ideal for commuting and everyday use.
Other Notable Bikes
While the above bikes have been crowned as the best, road.cc reviewed many other impressive bikes throughout 2024. Some other notable bikes that received recognition include:
- Orro Venturi STC: This aero road bike has received updates making it lighter and cleaner in appearance, without compromising its smooth, fast and fun ride. This bike is available for pre-order with an expected delivery date before the end of January 2025.
- Specialized Allez: This bike is considered a near-perfect blend of performance, upgradability, and price consciousness. The most noticeable change for the Allez is that it is now disc brake only, which improves the bike’s overall versatility.
- Vitus Venon EVO-RS Force AXS All-Road: This bike was the road.cc Bike of the Year for 2023/24, praised for its capability and forgiving ride.
Other Road.cc Recommends Awards
In addition to the Bike of the Year awards, road.cc also recognizes outstanding products in other categories, including:
- Cycle Clothing of the Year: This award highlights top-performing clothing from brands like Castelli, Van Rysel, and Gorewear. The awards are broken down into “Bargain Buy” for exceptional value, “Money No Object” for pure performance and “Editor’s Choice” for the best combination of performance and value.
- Accessories of the Year: This category covers a wide range of products from tools and eyewear to helmets and bags. The awards highlight the best accessories that earned a place in road.cc Recommends in 2024.
Conclusion
The road.cc Recommends Bike of the Year awards for 2024/25 showcase the very best in cycling, highlighting innovation, performance, and value for money. From the outstanding Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 AXS, named the overall winner, to the top bikes in each category, these awards celebrate the very best in the cycling world. Whether you’re looking for a high-end superbike, a versatile gravel machine, or an efficient electric bike, the road.cc awards offer a comprehensive guide to the best bikes on the market today. The detailed reviews and rigorous testing process ensure that only the very best receive recognition. As the cycling world continues to evolve, road.cc remains at the forefront, providing cyclists with expert insights and recommendations.
