Colnago

Strada SL 105 Complete Bike-2015

Too often, when people look for the perfect bike, they confuse "super stiff carbon race rocket" with "bike that actually fits a need". Honestly, most of us don't need a bike that could win a Grand Tour--what we need is something speedy, durable, and fun to ride. In other words, most of us should be riding something like the Colnago Strada SL 105 Complete Bike.

Colnago left the space-age design to the fancier bikes and focused on making the Strada a pleasure to ride. Instead of ultra-stiff carbon, the frame is made of hydroformed aluminum, which is designed to absorb vibration for a comfortable ride while remaining stiff enough to be ridden hard. The most important joints, like the bottom bracket and head tube, are the stiffest, and Colnaglo did, in fact, incorporate carbon into the fork to increase stiffness and comfort in the front end.

While it's not a race bike, the Strada's geometry is cribbed from the race-ready V1, so it will provide a comfortable cockpit, with plenty of power and control through turns. It's designed to hold steady lines and help you accelerate out of corners, and doesn't have any of the twitchiness of super-tuned carbon fiber bikes. The power is passed along through the ultra-durable Shimano 105 5800 11-speed drivetrain into the Formula wheels and Continental Ultra Sport II tires, and reliable and comfortable steering starts with the Deda Elementi handlebars and stem. Colnaglo topped the Strada off with an aluminum seatpost and Selle Italia X1 saddle, the same seat that's found on the racier V1.