BEACON BF_100 SUPER RECORD £3899

Set up by bike builder and triathlete Darrin Robinson, Beacon Bikes provides a custom bike-configuration service as well as off-the-peg models from its headquarters near the beauty spot of Beacon Fell in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire. (Full disclosure: Rob Hayles is its professional advisor and test rider.) The BF_100 is the company’s flagship carbon road model and was British pro James Shaw’s steed of choice when he won the junior versions of KuurneBrussels-Kuurne and Het Nieuwsblad in 2014 (riding for Team Haribo-Beacon).

The basic model – featuring SRAM’s Force groupset and Fulcrum Racing Zero wheels – sells for £2799. The model we rode – Rob’s old bike, in fact – was specced with a Campagnolo Super Record groupset. I’d only previously ridden Shimano-equipped bikes, and found the Campag’s heavy downshifting took a bit of getting used to. Before I’d mastered it, I actually ground to a halt halfway up the first climb, convinced that I had ran out of gears, when in fact I still had half the cassette left.

The BF_100 frame was consistently comfortable and compliant, despite an aggressive, racing geometry and superstiff carbon lay-up. This would make a great bike for a racer or serious sportive rider. And to diehard ‘Campy’ fans, the Super Record groupset would be the icing on the cake. beaconfell.com