Bike Reviews

At its best, a road ride feels like flying—fast, effortless and fluid. In this regard, Javelin's Cortina is more like a set of wings than a wheeled vehicle. We were impressed by the bike's ability to nearly levitate over choppy pavement and provide instant, powerful drivetrain response. The Cortina, designed in the United States and made in Italy, handled intuitively, with almost no gap between the rider's intent and the bike's movement. Last year's winner, the Crumpton SL Road, made by Nick Crumpton, in Texas, shined again with its speedy, luxurious feel—as if it were the love child of a Ferrari and a Lexus. And the Cyfac Absolu felt ultralight, ultrasmooth and ultrafast, a modern classic from a storied French racing brand.