Some of the most sublime moments to be had on two wheels can be experienced on a lightweight road bike. Take a spin along an empty ridge road on a crisp spring day with the sunlight glinting on your wheels and only your shadow for company... push yourself a bit and you will come experience the flow: where you, your bike, the road and landscape – all the elements come together in one concentrated experience.

Such Zen moments are a rare thing, but once you have experienced it you will realise why some cyclists are driven to such extremes of endurance, discomfort and crimes against sartorial taste! How in fact, we have come to inhabit this stereotype and why so many of us continue to persist in such irrational and unnatural behaviours! Whilst much of this website protests that cycling is in fact a perfectly normal, and even fashionable everyday activity that anyone can do, this is the bit where we come clean.

No, many of us are a bit strange and that is because we suffer a lot in search of this moment. Cyclists have ridden out in search of this feeling for over a century and allways will. And much wisdom lies therein: like all the sweetest (and most fleeting) pleasures, you have to work at it.

In truth, you can get this feeling on any bike, but if this is primarily what you are after, then the pinnacle is the lightweight road bike. Extremely lightweight frames with thin, high pressure tyres to minimise rolling resistance. Stiff frames also ensure maximum power transfer so that all of your pedalling effort goes to the back wheel. These bikes are built to go!

Pros: Their lack of weight and their high speed.

Cons: Their lack of weight and their high speed.

Scott Speedster S60 £479.99
Aluminium frame; cromoly fork; integrated headset; Shimano 24 speed Dual Control shifters and derailleurs; Suntour Sport 52/42/30 chainset; 12-25 cassette; Scott Competition wheelset 32 spokes. 16 Speed also available. Also available in flat bar form at £419.99.

Scott Speedster S50 £549.99
Aluminium frame and fork; integrated headset; Shimano Sora 24 speed STI shifters and derailleurs; Suntour Superbe Comp 52/42/30 chainset; 12-25 cassette. 16 Speed also available.

To arrange a test ride, or for more information, email us on info@cycle-heaven.co.uk
or phone 01904 636578.

If you want something fast and light, but for urban use look at high performance city bikes in:

If you want to go fast but on something more robust that can carry luggage:

If you want something light and fast, but with some off-road capability: