CUBE NUROAD PRO £1,299

The Nuroad’s brand new aluminium frame is built for comfort, confidence-inspiring handling and all-round versatility. That means it’s a bike which can take on towpaths and gravel tracks as well as wet winter tarmac.

That flexibility is enhanced by the very wide, treaded 36mm Clément X’plor MSO tyres, with their smoothrolling centre knobs and more aggressive shoulder lugs for traction in the wet or dry. As you’d expect, there’s loads of clearance built into the Nuroad’s alloy frame to accommodate those wider tyres — enough to fit 40mm tyres with mudguards and a rack too, with built-in mounts for both.

Geometry is borrowed from the Cube’s Attain endurance road bikes but the sizing is based on Cross Race range and features a long wheelbase and slack angles — ideal for bumpy gravel tracks, but also providing plenty of stability when riding on damp, slippery back lanes.

Cube has designed its frame and its new carbon-bladed fork to lap up road vibration. The resulting comfort is enhanced by the tapered, sloping top tube that allows plenty of seatpost extension to dissipate bumps, while the upward slant to the stem alleviates pressure on the shoulders, hands and wrists.

Shifting comes courtesy of Shimano 105 with all internal cables to help gear changes remain slick, with flat-mount RS505 hydraulic disc brakes for confident stopping. The Nuroad’s combination of a 50/34 compact chainset and an 11-32t cassette is a popular choice in bikes designed for damp roads and rougher, steeper terrain. Handling is enhanced by the wide Gravel Race flared alloy bars too.

Cube fits its own RA 0.8 CX alloy wheelset, designed for wet, dirty conditions.