What are the back stories?

‘A touring bike designed with long adventures in mind… helping you cover the miles with ease.’ The Flat White comes from the same company that distributes Shimano and features a classic-looking 4130 chromoly frame with lugs. And we love lugs. The skinny steel fork promises comfort, but can a budget tourer really deliver adventures? ‘Designed in a workshop in Hertfordshire’ on a bike ‘which is ideal for UK conditions’, this has an understated, largely matt-black 6061 aluminium frame and a carbon fork with aluminium steerer. This makes it one of the least expensive ‘proper’ road bikes you can buy, but it still has internal cable routing and a largely Shimano drivetrain.