CANYON PATHLITE:ON 5

The perfect balance of value, fun and commuter practicality

It can take in highways, byways, bridleways and more, and it’s great for family rides too

Each of our four bikes could take the top spot for their ability to be commuter bikes and much more. The VanMoof X3 is a brilliantly integrated design with a superb app that makes it the Apple of the ebike world. It’s perfect for about town and the great riding experience is topped up with great security.

The GoCycle G4 is similarly well considered, just getting on with the business of assisting you while you pedal. Its fast fold makes it a good choice for mixed-mode commuters, reducing the stress of getting this off and on a train, yet it’s much more fun to ride than your average folding bike.

Genesis’s Smithfield wins out as the most stylish bike here. It comes fully equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and safe commute, and with a handy frame lock as standard. It’s the bike I ended up spending a lot of time on for its practicality, using it for commuting, shopping and leisure riding – and enjoying every minute of it. It obviously depends on your route to work plus your preferences and priorities when it comes things such as looks, accessories and battery life. But if I was forced to pick a winner, then it would be the Canyon for its balance of value, riding fun and its practicality as a commuter bike. It can take in highways, byways, bridleways and more, its big wheels, quality tyres and competent suspension fork even letting you get a bit lairy on the sort of tracks that are usually the preserve of mountain bikes. Its riding position makes it great for family rides, too, as it comes with approval for use by the market leader Croozer’s child trailers. And while I’d happily recommend any of these four for their e-commuting qualities, the Canyon’s practicality and versatility just about swing it for me.