220 OVERALL VERDICT

If we’ve only learnt one thing during this test,

it’s that steel frames of this value are crafted with a skill that’s more tangible than an equivalent carbon frame. Deciding on the winner changed daily, depending on where we rode. All have great attributes, with Reilly’s incisive handling and craftsmanship abundantly apparent.

The top two just have more to offer, however, and Ritchey’s Logic shows what decades of experience and innovation feel like, with a complete Ritchey package whose whole seems greater than the apparent sum of its parts. Its lively ride is sharp, fast and refined.

But, with one of the shiniest frames we’ve ever seen, celebrating the beauty of British stainless steel, the Holdsworth Strada is our winner. With credit due to designer Mark Reilly, this exciting frame makes the most of the component spec it deserves, and is a blast to ride at any speed, with timeless looks and simply incredible value.