We Tested the Best Road Bikes of 2024 to Stack Up the Miles

You can ride any old bike you want to on the road, but to maximize your fun, it’s nice to have a bike that’s designed to roll quickly and easily down the road. The best road bikes of 2024 have disc brakes for efficient stopping, fast-rolling tires, and drag-reducing frames that propel you to wind-in-your-face speeds with minimal effort.

You don’t have to be a pro—or enter any races at all—to appreciate the efficiency of a modern road bike. While fast is always fun, we also tested bikes designed to keep you comfortable for long days in the saddle, and those that aren’t afraid to get a little rowdy if you decide to take the fun way home. So whether you’re an established (or aspiring) racer, a just-for-fun-er, or new to riding pavement, we’ve got the best road bikes that’ll get you out there.

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Our pick for the best bike overall is the new Canyon Aeroad. It’s stiff, light, fast going down the road, and, thanks to Canyon’s direct-to-consumer sales model, pretty nicely priced.

Road bikes have come a long way from the days when Lance Armstrong was winning races. So if you’re still rocking rim brakes and mechanical shifting, it’s time to consider upgrading your ride. Here are our top picks for 2024.

Best Road Bikes at a Glance

• Best Road Bike Overall: Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 Di2

• Best Road Bike for Riding Gravel and Road: Enve Fray

• Best Road Bike for Aspiring Riders: Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3

• Best Road Bike for Serious Racers: Pinarello Dogma F

• Best Road Bike for Self-Supported Racers: Trek Madone SL 7 Gen 8

• Best Budget Road Bike: Canyon Endurace 7

• Best Road Bike for Off-Roading: Salsa Warroad C 105

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Best Road Bikes of 2024

Best Road Bike Overall: Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 Di2

When Dutch pro rider Mathieu Van der Poel launched a huge attack with nearly 60 km to go on a slippery, tire-slashing cobbled sector at the Paris-Roubaix road race this year, I sat up and took notice. When he won the 121st edition of the infamous spring classic by nearly three minutes and with an absolutely ridiculous average speed of 29.7 mph—the fastest ever—I wanted his bike.

The new fourth-generation Canyon Aeroad won’t earn me a pro contract anytime soon. But its stiff, lightweight, and aero-optimized frame made me a faster, more capable rider, and Canyon’s direct-to-consumer pricing model means it’s one of the more affordable pro-level bikes you can buy.

Canyon was one of the first bike brands to embrace a direct-to-consumer sales model back in 2001, and it’s still one of the few that will direct-ship a bike in a box to your house, rather than to a bike shop. It’s possible that the folks at Canyon are eternal optimists who place outsized faith in wrench-wielding home mechanics, but whatever the reason, cutting out the middleman means you can get a top-tier bike for far less money, so long as you don’t mind assembling it in your garage. (Also know that you won’t get the level of service or the expert fitting recommendations you’d receive if buying a bike through your local bike shop.)

I don’t mind. And once you get this bike built (I think it took me 10 minutes), it stands head-and-shoulders above its similarly priced competitors.

While I don’t have a wind tunnel to test Canyon’s claim that the new Aeroad is “the fastest bike in the pro peloton,” there’s no denying that this bike is stiff, light, climbs effortlessly, and feels extremely fast. And I don’t care what anyone says about riding a bike “for fun;” I’m here to tell you that fun is fast, even if you’re not racing. And when fast and fun are available at direct-to-consumer prices, well, everyone wins.

Overall Impressions

Like the third-gen model, the new Canyon Aeroad is shaped like a fish, with a deep and narrow profile that helps it glide through the air with minimal drag. It’s stiffer, lighter, more aerodynamic, and more durable than its predecessor, with a racy geometry profile that’s even more aggressive than our other top-tested race bike, the Pinarello Dogma F.

But looks and geometry charts aren’t everything. So I tested the Aeroad using my favorite metric: by riding mind-numbingly familiar routes. (Bonus points if you can recruit your regular ride partner to provide additional data points.)

On an initial test ride, I netted a Strava top-10 cup on a loop I’ve ridden hundreds of times, and found myself right on the wheel of my demon-descender husband on every downhill. (Highlight of the ride: A random beef farmer yelling, “go Poga?ar!” from his barn as I flew past in my yellow jersey.) On my first weekly group ride on the Aeroad, I took 11 Strava cups and 12 PRs on roads I ride all the time, netting an average speed of 21.6 mph over a 35-mile route.

And while aero bikes aren’t typically lauded for their climbing prowess, I found myself seeking out climbs I usually try to avoid, just because they felt, if not exactly easy, then at least doable, due to the Aeroad’s excellent power transfer. While climbing up a particularly infamous local mountain gap (average grade 8.3 percent) on a random Sunday morning, I was struck by how comfortable I felt, even when the road ratcheted up to a 15 percent grade at the top.

Even better, the CF SLX 8 Di2 bike I tested isn’t even Canyon’s top-tier model. At $6,599 it’s a full step down from the CFR models that the pros ride, which start at $9,999. But shod with DT Swiss ARC 1400 carbon aero wheels, it accelerates quickly, corners nimbly, and, thanks to Continental GP 5000 S TR tires that came set up tubeless (that is, with sealant inside rather than an inner tube), I felt confident tackling sections of dirt, gravel, and even a brief singletrack shortcut. Plus, the Aeroad was the only bike in the test that came with a built-in power meter.

At the conclusion of this test, I’d racked up more than 1,800 miles—and my fastest times were on this bike. No wonder it was my favorite.

Final Verdict

If you take the “fun is fast” approach to road biking, the Canyon Aeroad is an incredibly attractive option, particularly if you love churning out big watts across flat or rolling terrain. Once you get the Aeroad up to speed, it wants to stay there, propelling you gleefully forward into the wind for as long as possible. The CF SLX 8 I tested weighs in at 16.7 pounds (with pedals and the included bottle cages and computer mount); the top-tier CFR model is about a pound lighter. That makes it fast on the flats, quick on the ups, and a demon on the descents. Even if you never sign up for a race, going farther and faster with less effort is always a win.

Key Features and Tech

The fourth-generation Aeroad officially launched in July 2024. Compared to the third-gen Aeroad, this one features shallower foil shaping through the downtube and chainstays while longer and slimmer in the fork/headtube than its predecessor.

That makes it more aero than the outgoing Aeroad, and 50 grams lighter. The other big change is the cockpit; while it’s still an integrated (and proprietary) setup, the new three-part PACE Bar system lets you easily swap out the classic drop handlebars for aero drops without bleeding brakes or messing up your bar tape. (Canyon claims the aero drops save you 14 watts, but I’m not a time-trial specialist and the aero bars don’t come included, so I have to take their word for it.) The new cockpit has 20 mm of stem height adjustment, but if you need a different stem length you’ll have to buy the entire T-bar system, which is kind of a pain.

However, I did appreciate a few of the nerdier tweaks to this model, including the small tab on the bottom of the fork that protects the paint job when you’re swapping wheels, and a new aero seatpost with independent setback and tilt adjustment. (Bonus points for the included taillight that wraps snugly around the sharp angles of the aero seatpost.) Plus, every adjustment bolt on the new Aeroad is a T25—and there’s a T25 wrench cleverly tucked inside the thru-axle lever, so you’ll never leave home without it.

Pros

• Fast, stiff, and lightweight frame

• Affordable

• Good customer support for at-home building and fixing

• Comes with tubeless tires

• Built-in power meter

Cons

• Modular/proprietary cockpit

• No in-frame storage options

• Included torque wrench is a little too lightweight for bolts requiring more than 8 Nm

Specs

• Weight: 16.7 pounds

• Frame: Carbon fiber

• Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 (CF SL8 Di2)

• Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1400 (CF SLX 8 Di2)

Best Road Bike for Riding Gravel and Road: Enve Fray

The most versatile, comfortable, and, frankly, fun bike in this year’s test is Enve Fray. Sometimes the best metric when testing gear is a simple popularity contest: When you have five bikes in your garage to choose from, what’s your ride? For me, it was the Fray.

And that’s because I like to do a little bit of everything. I live in Vermont, where the best road routes are peppered with gravel offshoots and ride-arounds that make a good ride great—if you have the bike for it.

The Fray is that bike. A longtime wheels and components manufacturer, Enve benefits from its access to infinite in-house molds and prototypes. The Fray’s geometry is modeled after the Melee (a UCI ProTour-winning race bike), but the Fray is optimized for wider 31 to 35mm tires, which makes it far more versatile. Depending on whether you go for a 2x drivetrain or a 1x (that is, a bike with just one front chainring rather than two), you can fit up to 40mm tires. My demo bike had plush, supple-feeling 35mm SES road tires on it—far plumper than your average road tire, but just right for stringing together a mixed-surface route.

The Fray is billed as an “endurance” or all-road bike, which means that its geometry is more laid-back than what you’d find on a true race bike like the Pinarello Dogma F or the Aeroad. Its bottom bracket is low and its chainstays are long, which makes it far less twitchy than a bike meant for navigating within a tightly packed peloton. That translates to a stable, forgiving ride that lends itself nicely to long days in the saddle. (There’s a reason it’s equipped with a plethora of threaded bosses to handle panniers, bags, racks, and other bikepacking accessories, as well as a handy downtube cargo bay that stashes tools, tubes, and a lightweight jacket.)

Yet, the Fray doesn’t sacrifice much speed for versatility, a theory I tested fairly thoroughly by jumping in the local gravel group ride while testing. At 17.1 pounds (without pedals but with included bottle cages and computer mount) the Fray neatly and nimbly handled the aftermath of flood damage here in Vermont—namely, ruts, washouts, and chunky gravel—and then absolutely slayed the few miles of paved rollers and town-line sprints on the way back to my car. With all of its wires, cables, and brake hoses tucked tidily inside its fully integrated and aero-optimized frame, the Fray not only looks fast; it is fast, both downhill and up.

However, the Fray isn’t available as a complete bike. Instead, you choose from one of seven frame sizes and then work with an Enve dealer to build out the rest. (Fray builds start at $5,500 and include the frame, fork, headset, handlebar, stem, and seatpost.) That’s a pain point for some but does ensure you get exactly what you want. For me, a perfectly spec’d Fray could easily replace both my road bike and my gravel bike. It’s a fast, dynamic bike that has the clearance to tackle chunky dirt and the speed to keep up on pavement. But most of all, it’s versatile enough to choose either—or both—without compromise.

Specs

• Weight: 17.1 pounds

• Frame: Carbon fiber

• Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2

• Wheels: SES 3.4

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Best Bike for Aspiring Racers: Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3

All Cannondale SuperSix EVO road bikes share the exact same frame molds, which means that although the SuperSix EVO 3 I tested has a different carbon layup than the top-tier LAB71 model, it has the same super-racy, aero lines as the Cannondales ridden in this year’s Tour de France.

And you can tell. While the EVO 3 is spec’d with a mid-level Shimano 105 Di2 electronic groupset and standard-issue aluminum DT Swiss R470 wheels, once you get this bike up to speed it slices through the wind with fervor.

The EVO 3 feels stable and planted on fast descents and in the pack, making it a good choice for someone who is still getting the hang of group riding dynamics, or who wants to give racing a try. It doesn’t exactly excel when you need short, punchy bursts of speed; at 18.2 pounds (without pedals, bottle cages, or computer mount) it’s one of the heavier bikes we tested, and the R470s require quite a few watts to come up to speed—but once you’re there, you can feel the aero gains kicking in.

And honestly, sluggish wheels are an easy fix. Which is a good thing, because the bones on this bike are good. Really good. It’d be perfect for the aspiring racer who is a little nervous riding in a peloton, but who wants a bike with potential. Sure, the carbon layup isn’t as stiff or as light as what’s on the $16,000 SuperSix EVO LAB71 model. But you get the same aero gains, responsive and reliable electronic shifting, disc brakes, thru-axles front and back, and a full carbon frame for almost $12,000 less. In short, this is a nice bike for anyone—and if you want to gain a little free speed by purchasing a set of carbon aero race wheels, it’s going to be a great bike.

Specs

• Weight: 18.2 pounds

• Frame: Carbon fiber

• Groupset: Shimano 105 Di2

• Wheels: DT-Swiss R470

Best Bike for Serious Racers: Pinarello Dogma F

The most expensive bike in the test (the Dura Ace Di2 model I tested is $15,500), the brand-new Dogma F is also the quickest, the lightest, and the most responsive. I’d hate to be my ride partner if an angry dog came flying out of a driveway, because this bike accelerates the second you put down the power—and once it gets up to speed, it’s not looking back (sorry, partner).

With a reputation as one of the fastest brands in the pro peloton, Pinarello has always chased speed. The new Dogma F features even more aero-optimization, including refinements to the top tube and downtube, a new integrated cockpit and headset, a smaller, lighter seatpost clamp designed to reduce weight and drag, and an even slimmer fork. Wrapped in the M40X carbon layup that Pinarello claims has improved lateral stiffness over its predecessors and paired with Princeton Peak 4550 DB wheels, this bike is designed to amplify your watts and rocket you forward at top speed. Interval workouts were—dare I say it—almost fun on this bike, as it responds to the slightest power input. But descending is where this bike really rips. I made the mistake of being mid-pack on a favorite local downhill on the group ride and found myself sitting up and riding the brakes to rein in the speed, as there was too much traffic to safely pass.

The Dogma F isn’t nearly as versatile as the Enve Fray, which gets bonus points for its devil-may-care attitude toward rougher roads. And it’s twice the price of our overall pick, Canyon Aeroad (I also didn’t think it climbed as effortlessly). But if you want a demon-descender bike that maximizes speed, aerodynamics, and wattage, Dogma F will do it in style.

Specs

• Weight: 15.4 pounds

• Frame: Carbon fiber

• Groupset: Shimano Dura Ace Di2, SRAM RED eTap AXS

• Wheels: Princeton Peak 4550 DB

Best Bike for Self-Supported Racers: Trek Madone SL 7 Gen 8

First launched in 2003, the Trek Madone has seen its share of WorldTour podiums. For years, the Madone was Trek’s signature aero bike, while the flyweight émonda was the specialty climbing bike.

This year, Trek overhauled the Madone to incorporate the best climbing and aerodynamic qualities from both bikes, dropping the émonda out of the line in the process. While we didn’t have access to a wind tunnel for this test, nor did we test the top-spec’d Madone (the top-tier SLR 9 starts at $13,500; we tested the $6,500 SL 7), we can confirm that it palpably carries speed on the flats and exhibits a snappiness on the climbs that puts it on par with any other bike in the test.

Even though this wasn’t the top-spec layup, SL 7 is incredibly stiff and sharp. It’s clearly designed for performance, with a race-oriented geometry that’s compounded by razor-sharp aero shapes that have been tweaked for even more free speed. If smoothness and compliance is your top priority, look to one of the endurance bikes in this test; the Madone is not that. But it is a great value for someone looking for an all-around race bike that’s fast on the flats and light enough to tackle the climbs.

Self-supported traveling racers and destination-oriented riders (or anyone who ever needs to fit their bike in a bike bag) will appreciate the two-piece handlebar and stem on the SL 7 model. Unlike the one-piece bar and stem combo found on the top-tier SLR 9, it’s easy to remove the bar and stem for packing, and simpler to dial in your fit with different stem lengths. (It’s also cheaper.) A threaded bottom bracket is another nice nod to the hands-on racer, as it’s more serviceable than press-fit bottom brackets and doesn’t require special tools that most home mechanics don’t have.

While the Madone SL 7 is heavier than the similarly spec’d Canyon Aeroad and not as comfortable on rough pavement, it’s a very nice bike that looks and feels fast. Bontrager Aeolus carbon wheels and the Madone’s signature IsoFlow cutout in the seatpost help slice through, divert, or expel wind, but anyone chasing marginal gains should also invest in Trek’s RSL Aero bottles and cages. At $100, they’re not cheap, but the system is directly integrated into the aerodynamic design of the Madone’s frame, and it contributed significantly to aero gains over previous models.

Specs

• Weight: 17.8 pounds

• Frame: Carbon fiber

• Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2

• Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51

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Best Budget Bike: Canyon Endurace CF 7

Built around the “smoother-is-faster” mentality, Canyon’s line of endurance bikes have been around for almost a decade. The new Endurace CF 7 benefits from the same geometry and recent tweaks made to the brand’s top-of-the-line CFR and CF SLX models—but at a far friendlier price.

A true workhorse, CF 7 swaps pricey wireless shifting for good old-fashioned mechanical shifting. Yes, that means you have to deal with shifter cables, and no, you won’t be able to dial in your derailleur using an app—but the Shimano 105 12-speed drivetrain on CF 7 is robust, reliable, and a fraction of the price of Di2. Paired with durable, lightweight aluminum DT Swiss Endurance LN wheels, CF 7 is a carbon-frame road bike that’ll get you where you need to go smoothly and efficiently without breaking the bank.

Designed to make long days in the saddle more comfortable and less fatiguing, the Endurace embraces a far more laid-back geometry than its racier companion, the Aeroad. Swap out the 30 and 32mm tires that come stock for up to 35 mm tires, bolt on a top-tube box for extra snacks, embrace the wide range of gears made possible by the 11-36 tooth cassette, and you’ve got a road bike that’s ready for anything you want to throw at it.

Specs

• Weight: 19.71 pounds

• Frame: Carbon fiber

• Groupset: Shimano 105

• Wheels: DT Swiss Endurance LN

Best Road Bike for Off-Roading: Salsa Warroad C 105

Focused more on fun and exploring than on speed and aerodynamics, Warroad C 105 is our pick for riders who seek out long, adventurous days on the bike.

Like the Enve Fray and the Canyon Endurace, Warroad is an endurance road bike that’s designed to help keep you comfortable on long rides and across a variety of road surfaces. Short chainstays make this bike feel zippy, nimble, and responsive. But it won’t lose its cool on broken pavement or when you hit a patch of sand or loose gravel, thanks to a slack head tube angle and a long offset fork that help it feel stable when you’re riding, even on rough ground.

Vibration-reducing curved seat stays and vertically compliant chainstays help reduce road vibrations, and you can spec the bike with either 700C wheels (for 35mm or narrower tires) or opt for 650B wheels with up to 47mm tires. Swap the wheelset, and Warroad goes from being a speedy pavement cruiser to an all-terrain tank. (Bonus points for the option to add a 27.2mm dropper post that lets lower your center of gravity for gnarly or high-speed descents.)

The frame is studded with an abundance of mounts for racks, panniers, and top-tube bags. It also has multiple bottle mounts and fender mounts to keep you dry just in case you decide to to turn your road bike into a multi-day touring machine.

Specs

• Weight: 20.75 pounds

• Frame: Carbon fiber

• Groupset: Shimano 105

• Wheels: Shimano RS470

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What to Look for in a Road Bike

Bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Nothing is preventing you from taking a knobby-tired, slack-geometry mountain bike with full suspension out on the roads around home. But road bikes are optimized for gobbling up pavement miles, and everything about them is tuned to help you ride smoothly and efficiently on paved surfaces. Here’s what to look for in a road bike in 2024:

Frame Material

Road bike frames come in a variety of materials, including steel, titanium, aluminum and carbon fiber. In 2024, you’ll probably be choosing between aluminum and carbon fiber. All of the higher-end bikes on our list are made of carbon fiber, which is stiff, light, comfortable to ride, and can be manipulated into complex aerodynamic shapes to help you achieve all possible aero gains. However, it’s usually more expensive, and it’s more fragile. If you’re tough on the equipment or on a budget, aluminum, steel, or titanium may be a better choice.

Gearing

If the cassette on your last road bike was the diameter of a bagel, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the range of gearing available on modern road bikes. While some have a single chainring and others have two, all of the bikes we tested had a wide enough range of gears to climb steep hills and to hammer along in a big gear on the rolling flats.

Geometry

If you care about going fast, you'll want a bike that’s aerodynamic, which means it has the lowest possible wind resistance. It's also good to opt for a frame with more aggressive geometry: When you’re riding, your torso will be close to the bike’s top tube. Although the bike can feel less stable when you’re descending or cornering, it’ll help you shave seconds off your time. And in recent years, brands have started designing road bikes that don’t sacrifice climbing prowess for aerodynamics, resulting in a more balanced bike that excels in more than one category.

If you’re planning on touring or doing long-distance rides, opt for a bike with more relaxed geometry for more comfortable body positioning and less fatigue after long hours in the saddle. You’ll also want to make sure it has the fittings for racks, bags, and bottles.

Pavement vs. Gravel

If you’re an adventurous spirit, consider a road bike designed to handle dirt and gravel roads as well as pavement. Look for road bikes that have space for wider tires—they’ll soak up bumps and make riding dirt roads or broken pavement a more pleasant experience. All the bikes we reviewed have disc brakes, which we highly recommend for safer and more efficient stopping power.

Tire Clearance and Tire Choice

Even the pros have moved away from the super-skinny 23mm tires that used to be standard throughout the peloton, opting for 28 or even 30mm tires. Wider tires are slightly heavier, but they provide better cornering grip and have less rolling resistance over rougher surfaces. Plus, they’re objectively more comfortable, as you can run them at lower pressure, which helps smooth out small bumps. If you do a lot of rough-surface riding, you might also look for a tire that is tubeless-ready. A tubeless tire replaces the standard inner tube with a special sealant that’s viscous enough to heal small punctures in your tire, making it more durable while shaving some weight.

Wireless vs. Mechanical Shifting

Wireless shifting technology, once a hallmark of high-end race bikes, has started trickling down into more price-point options. That’s both good and bad; wireless shifting is a fast and precise way to shift gears, and many people find using an app to tune in their derailleur to be easier and more intuitive than fiddling around with barrel adjusters and limit screws to adjust cable tension. But if you’re on a budget, electronic shifting can drive the price of an otherwise budget-minded bike way up—so if it’s a choice between electronic shifting and better wheels or a higher-end frame—we’d recommend going for mechanical.

Pricing

When it comes to price, road bikes run the gamut—but the most expensive isn’t always the best choice. It’s like the difference between owning a Porsche or a Chevrolet. Very high-end bikes are the fastest, but they can also be more fragile, and they often require more maintenance. The least expensive bikes are often spec’d with low-quality components that are typically heavier, less precise, and quicker to wear out. Consider your needs, budget, and the type of riding you want to do when choosing between models—and don’t rule out a bike that has good bones but heavy wheels, like the Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3 we tested.

Find the Right Fit

Whichever bike you buy, make sure it fits. Work with your local bike shop to get a bike that pairs well with your body and your typical riding style.

Why You Should Trust Me

I started racing bikes in 2007 on my dad’s old 1982 Schwinn, which was at least three sizes too big and was outfitted with an oversized gel-cushion seat and downtube shifters. I've upgraded my gear since then and now race cyclocross (casually) and rides road, mountain, gravel, and fat bikes for fun. I write about bikes and outdoor gear for publications including Wirecutter, Outside, Backpacker, REI, Dwell, National Geographic, and Peloton.

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