Field Test To determine which new bikes pass muster, Ben Hewitt, a former elite-level racer and state champion, rode a dozen models on the hilly rural roads surrounding his Vermont home. "The differences between the bikes were astounding, much greater than I'd expected," says Hewitt. "Even bikes of similar materials rode differently, and the performance of the less expensive models, with supposedly inferior components, was phenomenal." The MJ Rating System Excellent: Very good: Pretty good: Don't bother: No chance:

The lure of the open road has never been stronger than it is this summer. Road bike sales, which have been growing steadily ever since a certain Texan began storming the roads of France, surged 41 percent last year. Although Lancemania is playing its part, the true appeal lies in the hardware. The widespread use of carbon fiber (the material Armstrong has ridden to each of his six Tour victories), prized for its ability to dampen road vibrations without sapping pedaling energy, has allowed manufacturers to create bikes that are light, efficient, and comfortable. But the real attraction is that you no longer need to spend thousands of dollars--or boast Tour-size thighs--to realize carbon's benefits. Each of the bikes we tested features the material in one form or another: in the frame, forks, headset, or even the crank. We rated them based on ride attributes, quality of components, and value based on price, and every one proved that any cyclist can benefit from more fiber. -- Ben Hewitt

Specialized | Tarmac Pro The swoopy lines of the Tarmac Pro are the result of carbon-fiber monocoque construction: the mainframe is a single piece of carbon fiber, with no bonded joints (potential weak spots). Specialized also outfitted the rear frame with high-tech dampers, resulting in a ride that's almost freakishly muted. The Tarmac is so silky, it feels slow. It's not: In fact, it helped me knock two minutes off my best time for my favorite 23-mile loop. Of course, the Shimano Dura-Ace components and flyweight Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels also helped. [$3,500; specialized.com] RATING:
Independent Fabrication | Crown Jewel S.E.C. Custom-made bikes are for riders looking for the ultimate in comfort and performance. Indy Fab's American-made steel and carbon Crown Jewel fit perfectly (thanks to an exhaustive six-page questionnaire) and felt superagile. Gone were the niggling aches I'd accepted as a normal part of every ride. Expensive? You bet. Worth it? Hell, yeah. [frame only, $2,200; ifbikes.com] RATING:
Jamis | Comet With its no-frills aluminum/carbon frame, Shimano Ultegra components, and fast-rolling Easton-Velomax wheels, the Comet is the Subaru WRX of the cycling set, providing race-ready speed and handling at a sane price. Value-oriented speed freaks take note: The Ultegra is almost the functional equivalent of its far pricier Dura-Ace brethren. [$1,900; jamisbikes.com] RATING:
Giant | TCR-C1 Featuring carbon-fiber everything--frame, seatpost, cranks, stem, and forks--the C1 is smooth and fast. Out-of-the-saddle sprints turned the Ultegra-shod rig into a rolling slingshot. The quickest-handling bike of the bunch, the C1 demands a light touch on the handlebars on curvy descents, and is not a bike for daydreaming tourers. [$3,050; www.giantbicycles.com] RATING:
Cannondale | R700 Based on the company's Tour­proven CAAD7 design, the aluminum-frame R700 has a carbon-fiber fork. Although it let through more road vibration than the carbon bikes I tested, it was smoother and more responsive than other aluminums I've ridden. A great pick for aspiring racers or anyone who favors short, fast rides. [$1,200; cannondale.com] RATING:
Marin | Venezia Most bike-makers charge upward of two grand for the pairing of carbon fiber and aluminum; not Marin, with its affordable Venezia. There are concessions: The budget Shimano Sora shifters felt fragile, and no-name brakes made stop signs an exercise in cramped fingers, but it's more refined than bikes costing twice as much. [$860; marinbikes.com] RATING:
Trek | 1000 Though more famous for the high-end carbon frames Lance demands, Trek is no stranger to budget bikes. The 1000 has a carbon fork and an aluminum frame, which has a frisky feel that's marred only by excessive vibration on rough roads. Like most entry-level bikes, the 1000 is fitted with a triple front crank, a relief to anyone unashamed to use the granny gear to grind up steep hills. [$630; trekbikes.com] RATING:

Photographs by: Michael Pirrocco
(July 2005)