Need to know
What should you demand in a ‘breakaway’ bike? Can a speed machine still provide comfort for all-day rides? And what about climbing prowess? Here’s our five-step guide to the bikes on test
WHETHER YOU’VE PINNED on a number or are just trying to beat your mates to the café, the breakaway is a staple of almost every race. If you feel you’ve little chance of winning in a straight shoot-out against the bunch, go all in at the casino instead. And why not? The breakaway might only rarely succeed, but if you don’t try, you can’t win, so what’s there to lose?
To turn the odds in your favour, you need a bike to suit the task. Something aerodynamic and efficient. Nothing too heavy, so you don’t waste energy on the climbs. Comfortable enough for a long day in the saddle, but with lightning quick reactions for searing attacks at the finish.
01 Aerodynamics
When you’re out on your own or in a small bunch, there’s no hiding from the wind. Aerodynamic tube shapes, components and wheels will help you slip through the air with less effort, saving precious energy for a glorious attack later on. This typically means wind-tunnel tested, aerodynamic shapes, deep-section wheels and aggressive geometries, designed to put you in an aerodynamic riding position.
02 Price points
If you want a bike that excels in all areas, it will rarely come cheap. To misquote the great Keith Bontrager, aero, light, cheap – pick two. For a breakaway bike, your best bet on a budget is to sacrifice a bit on the scales (though it has to be said that none of our bikes qualify as ‘cheap’). Any extra weight the bike carries from heavier components will slow you down a little when the road points up, but the difference is small away from the steepest pitches.
03 All-day comfort
Efficiency is everything when you’re striking out alone, and comfort plays a key role in that. When you’re straining every sinew to hold off the chasing bunch, the last thing you need is to be getting beaten up by an overly stiff bike. Manufacturers need to balance aerodynamic performance with real-world ride quality, to ensure the bike comes out on top where it matters most.
04 Handling
It would be easy to think a breakaway calls for a mild-mannered bike that excels in long-distance cruising, but, in reality, the attacking rider and their bike must be ready to respond at any time. Take too long to close the gap to a competitor and it could be game over. Perception matters and the right bike should make you feel fast, precisely matching your inputs while staying stable.
05 How we tested
Our testing involved longer rides on the rolling terrain of the Mendips. We took in lots of climbing and descending, as well as both good and bad roads, to see where each bike excelled and where they reached their limits. Putting each bike through its paces back-to-back enabled us to tease out the differences in ride quality and handling, while we also considered how easy each bike is to adapt to your preferred bike fit – an important detail too often overlooked in favour of small gains in the wind tunnel.