00:00Climbing bikes, by their very nature, are built to do one thing.
00:04Go uphill fast.
00:06That means they need to be stiff, agile, and most importantly, lightweight.
00:11However, it's that last quality which means that climbing bikes will also be rather expensive.
00:17So while I'm sure most of us won't be looking to buy one anytime soon,
00:22we don't think there's anything wrong with gawking and enjoying the sight of seven of the best climbing bikes we believe are currently available.
00:29So, let's get into them.
00:35First on the list, our new kid on the block is the Scott Addict.
00:40The Addict has a reputation for being a lightweight climbing bike,
00:43and now, in its fourth generation, Scott has looked to cement this title by releasing what it claims to be the lightest production road bike in the world.
00:52Coming in at a claimed 5.9 kilos for the Addict RC Ultimate build, this bike really is feathery light out of the box.
01:02Scott achieved this by stripping as much weight out of the frameset components as possible.
01:07This meant designing an all-new, super-efficient carbon layup and redesigning components to ditch weight wherever possible.
01:15Scott even had its in-house component brand Syncros design a new set of wheels to keep weight as low as possible.
01:21However, the Addict RC Ultimate carries a trick up its sleeve to help shed weight, and that's the tyres the bike is shod with.
01:28New Schwalb Aerithan tyres have been fitted to really help drop weight.
01:32These tyres are yet to officially hit the market, but I've no doubt they'll be a popular choice amongst hill climbers.
01:38A lightweight bike is all well and good, but if it doesn't handle well, then it'll leave you feeling nervous on descents.
01:46But, we can happily say that the new Scott Addict does not disappoint here.
01:51Its planted, confidence-inspiring handling, and ability to change direction quickly without feeling skittish makes going downhill even more fun than going up it.
02:02Priced just shy of £12,800 here in the UK, it's certainly mixing with some of the most expensive models on the market.
02:10But, that should be of no surprise to anyone when it carries such a big claim.
02:14Next up, we have a bike that was launched just ahead of the 2024 Tour de France, the Villiers Verticale SLR.
02:27As the name suggests, this bike is designed to operate on one axis, either up or down.
02:33The Verticale replaced Villiers Zero SLR and is claimed to have a 10% lighter frame, a new integrated handlebar, 32mm tyre clearance, and a slightly updated geometry, which has seen reach be reduced on the smallest sizes and increased on the biggest sizes.
02:51One of the biggest features Villiers was shouting about is the new V-Bar, which has flared drops.
02:56The extra 30mm of width will likely aid more stable and controlled handling when descending, while still allowing riders to stay aerodynamic when in the hoods.
03:07It's clear that this bike is going to suit those that want a slightly more controlled and stable ride on the descents, thanks to its slacker-than-most head angle.
03:16But, if that confidence and bike control ultimately helps you ride faster, or just feel more safe, then the result is a positive one.
03:25We love the eye-catching bright green colourway that can be seen on its top-end Dura-Ace build.
03:31If you're after something a little bit different and will be easier to ride than other bikes on this list, then the Verticale SLR could be worth taking a look at.
03:46Sticking with another Italian brand, we have the Bianchi Specialissima.
03:50Still, in its early product lifecycle, the Specialissima boasts a UCI illegal claimed weight of 6.6kg for a size 55cm.
04:00What makes that weight even more impressive is that this bike does feature an assortment of aerodynamic features.
04:07This isn't just an out-and-out climbing bike.
04:10Bianchi hasn't gone quite so far as to lead with a one-bike-to-rule-them-all policy.
04:15Of course, it still offers the very aero, ultra model.
04:19So, while the Specialissima has always been the brand's climbing bike and still very much is,
04:24the slightly deeper tubes, sculpted shapes and drop-seat stays do at least mean this bike should also perform well on shallower gradients,
04:32or, dare I say it, even in a sprint.
04:35The looks of this bike might be slightly more polarising than others, as it plays with tube shapes in a way not often seen.
04:42And, the Rapato Course logo on the non-drive side downtube may really turn some people off.
04:49But, we do think it holds your eye a little longer than others, and it clearly doesn't fit into the cookie-cutter road bike shape.
04:56As expected, the Dura-Ace Di2 model is unashamedly punchy in its pricing, coming in at €12,749,
05:05but you may find yourself wanting to change the slightly sketchy Pirelli TT tyres that come as stock for something a little more grippy,
05:14like a pair of Continental GP5000s.
05:17All considered, the Specialissima will be as fast in the mountains as it will be off them,
05:22so, would suit the kind of rider who enjoys a lot of variety in their riding.
05:32A stalwart of the climbing category, the Specialised Athos is a bike which is garnered somewhat of a cult following.
05:39With a super-light sub-600g frame, rounded tubes and a classic double diamond shape,
05:45the Athos can be found at the heart of some truly awe-inspiring custom builds.
05:50That said, even the stock builds that Specialised offers still impress.
05:55We would love to see Specialised update this now iconic bike,
05:59but it's hard to know where it could actually make drastic improvements.
06:03We love how the bike rides, how easy it is to handle, and even the externally routed cables at the cockpit.
06:10It's as though Specialised created a modern-day version of a classic road bike, taking a,
06:15if it ain't broke, don't fix mentality to the project.
06:18The ease of maintenance and lightweight are both strong reasons to love the Athos,
06:23but do not underestimate how versatile it is too.
06:27Long distances, short climbs, fast chain gang loops and town sign sprints are all well within the capabilities of the Athos.
06:35It brings understated fun to the market and stands as a challenge to what we expect bike manufacturers to make.
06:41The entire range of Athos stock builds rank very well for specification versus weight,
06:46meaning they're often the lightest bike you can get in most price bands.
06:51But if you're a true weight weenie, it will be hard to look past the S-Works model with the SRAM RED groupset,
06:58since this comes in at a claimed 6.34 kilos.
07:02Just make sure your pockets are deep enough, as it will cost £12,000.
07:07Launched back in March, the world's biggest bike manufacturer, Giant, released the update to its much-loved TCR.
07:19Of course, it landed with all the expected claims of being lighter, stiffer and the fastest TCR yet,
07:26but we have little reason to doubt these claims.
07:29When we tested the bike earlier this year, we dubbed it the best climbing bike of 2024.
07:35We loved the exceptional frameset quality, the razor-sharp race bike handling
07:40and thought the small aero improvements helped the bike keep pace when being ridden on a range of different terrains.
07:47The new bike was slightly stiffer.
07:49It was also 10% lighter than the outgoing model, and the short rear end makes the bike handle with the utmost intent.
07:56For a bike that's in its 10th generation, nobody should be surprised that Giant has got it so right.
08:02It's clear that the brand has been honing in on the secret sauce recipe for some time now, and the latest version of the TCR is clear evidence of that.
08:11We will be the first to say that this bike does feature an integrated seatpost, so a bike fit really is a must.
08:18Of course, this may make some people hesitant about buying into a platform which may be slightly harder to sell on than others,
08:25but Giant has done its best to make this as easy as possible by providing buyers a small amount of adaptability to add height back in if needed.
08:34While still sitting right in the premium echelons of bike pricing, the nearly £12,000 price tag won't sting quite as much when considering the sheer amount of performance you'll be able to enjoy.
08:51Another bike to feature an integrated seatpost with the aim of shedding unnecessary grams is the Factor O2 van.
08:59This bike looks almost skeletal in appearance, with its surgically thin seat stays and almost non-existent top tube.
09:06Coming in at a claimed 6.3kg, it certainly is very light, and it's able to achieve such a remarkably low weight thanks to Factor's in-house component brand, Black Ink.
09:17With use of its wheels and cockpit, the British brand is able to have complete control over the final product.
09:24The wheels stand up on their own merits, though.
09:27With a 28mm deep front wheel and a 33mm deep rear wheel, Factor is able to balance aerodynamics with light weight, resulting in a wheelset coming in at a claimed 1,146g.
09:41The frame has clearance for 32mm tyres, so if you do want to fit something a little wider for more grip and comfort, then you're certainly able to.
09:50When we rode the bike, we loved the stiffer head tube, which gave the bike a confident feeling when climbing and descending.
09:57However, since this bike is so clearly tailored for going either up or down, we found it did suffer on the flats.
10:05But, in a video about the best climbing bikes, that's not something we're going to complain about here.
10:12Last, but certainly not least, is the Canyon Ultimate.
10:20It's the only bike on this list to be offered in its full-fap CFR SRAM Red spec and come in under £10,000.
10:28And the German brand isn't cutting any corners.
10:32Thanks to its direct-to-consumer business model, Canyon is able to save middleman costs and pass those savings on to the customer.
10:40That results in its top-spec build coming in at £9,749 while tipping the scales at a fairly competitive and just about UCI illegal claimed weight of 6.74kg.
10:54When launched, the Ultimate was given a number of small improvements.
10:58One being the adoption of a new geometry, which matches that of its aero brother, the Aeroad.
11:04This means the Ultimate feels racy, dynamic, fast handling and agile on all sorts of terrains.
11:11The much-loved CP18 cockpit means it's easy to play around with bike setup and allows for riders to get more aero by reducing handlebar width.
11:20There really is a lot to love with this bike and it somewhat provides a breath of fresh air with its four-figure price tag.
11:27But let us know, if money were no object, then what would you love to have at your disposal?
Comments