Best endurance road bike 2026: Road bikes that blend speed and comfort reviewed

The best endurance road bike being ridden on a climb over looking the coast
(Image credit: Getty Images: Justin Paget)

The best endurance road bikes will help you go far and fast in comfort, thanks to specs, geometry and features that aren't as aggressive as a full-blown race bike. All-road bikes also fall under the endurance road bike category and take that further, offering the capability to take on lighter off-road duties too.

Many of the best endurance bikes include some form of active comfort systems, such as Trek's IsoSpeed or Specialized's Future Shock. This helps smooth things out and reduces rider fatigue, often without an undue increase in weight, which means some of the tech may be shared with the best road bikes available.

Quick list: Best endurance road bikes

Recent updates

Last updated 26th January 2026

In the winter months, endurance road bikes are currently the bike of choice for the Cyclingnews Tech Team. This recent riding has influenced the most recent update to the guide, which now includes the latest Specialised Aethos 2 and Fairlight Strael 4.0 in our top picks. We have also added a how to choose section, based on some of the things we think about when reviewing an endurance road bike.

Best endurance road bikes and all-road bikes

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Best race bike feel

Pinarello Dogma X

(Image credit: Pinarello)
Best race bike feel

Specifications

Frame: Pinarello Carbon T1100 1K
Brakes: Disc
Weight: 7.4kg
Sizes: 430 - 620mm
Max tyre clearance: 35mm

Reasons to buy

+
Shared DNA from the Dogma F, but more relaxed
+
Top-spec wheels and components
+
Wide size range

Reasons to avoid

-
A little harsh over rougher ground
-
Pricey
BUY IT IF

You want a premium race bike, but with more comfort: The Dogma X shares much of the DNA of the race-winning Dogma F, but with a more comfortable, relaxed ride.

You like the Pinarello look: The Dogma X stands out, with Pinarello's distinctive asymmetry and curvy shape.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You're on a budget: Dogmas are Pinarello's premium bikes, with a price tag to match.

You want all-road capability: The Dogma X is not as capable as some alternatives if you want to mix light off-road in your rides.

The Dogma X borrows many of the design cues of the Dogma F, including its asymmetry and aero design, but with a more relaxed geometry. Its signature feature is the X-shaped cross-braces between the seat stays, which Pinarello says have allowed it to fine-tune the ride for more comfort. There's room for 35mm tyres and Pinarello sells the Dogma X in 12 sizes.

The Dogma X shares its fork with the Dogma F12 and is equipped with a Most Talon one-piece bar/stem, again with a wide range of dimensions available. It offers top-spec groupsets from all three major brands as well as some top-end wheelset options.

We rated the stiff, racy ride and the bike's handling, while Pinarello reckons that the geometry should be a better match for many riders than the Dogma F. On lumpier gravel, there's not as much damping as with some all-road-style bikes though.

As with all Dogmas, the Dogma X is an expensive proposition too.

Read our Pinarello Dogma X first ride review for more.

Best for comfort

Specialized Roubaix SL8

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
Best for front-end comfort

Specifications

Frame: FACT 11r carbon
Brakes: Disc
Weight: Not specified
Sizes: 49cm-61cm
Max tyre clearance: 40mm

Reasons to buy

+
Adjustable Future Shock suspension that can be locked out
+
Compliant seat post
+
Lightweight
+
Includes a power meter

Reasons to avoid

-
Quite high front-end stack
-
Maintenance complicated by Future Shock
BUY IT IF

You want the best ride comfort: Specialized's front and rear compliance zones offer great ride comfort.

You want low weight too: The Roubaix has one of the lowest weights for a design with added compliance features.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want cockpit integration: Modern high-spec bikes hide their cables, but the Roubaix's Future Shock design precludes this.

You want low maintenance: Despite improvements in the latest version, the Future Shock headset requires more maintenance than a standard design.

The Specialized Roubaix was one of the first endurance bikes and retains its comfortable edge, with front-end compliance coming from the Future Shock 3.0 suspension steerer insert, now in its third iteration. There are three levels of this, with increasing features and adjustability as you head up the model range.

The frame has also shed around 50g in weight and its aerodynamics have improved, according to Specialized, although the overall silhouette remains similar. The Hover bar, which rises from the stem, adds to the stack for a more relaxed, upright ride position than the frame geometry would suggest.

The Future Shock headset necessitates non-integrated cabling, not something that we were too concerned about. Specialized reckons that a swap to its more aero Roval Rapide handlebars can save you 10 watts if you want to improve aerodynamics.

There's now clearance for tyres up to 40mm wide, allowing you to increase off-road potential over the fitted 32mm S-Works Mondo tyres. In the Roubaix SL8, Specialized has, for the first time, included mudguard mounts to extend the year-round usability on the tarmac as well.

Read our Specialized Roubaix SL8 Expert first ride review for more.

Best women's bike

Liv Avail Advanced being ridden by a women on a road

(Image credit: Liv Cycling)
Great road feel, with plenty of tyre clearance

Specifications

Frame: Advanced-Grade Composite
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic
Weight: 7.6kg
Sizes: XS, S, M, L
Max tyre clearance: 38mm

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable fit
+
D-Fuse components add compliance
+
Tubeless-ready wheels and tyres from the factory

Reasons to avoid

-
May need to swap the tyres to something wider for allroad use 
BUY IT IF

You want a women's size and fit: Although the Avail overlaps with the Giant Defy, it offers smaller sizes to suit shorter riders.

You want a wide choice of specs and prices: The Avail range includes two carbon and an alloy frame grade, so there's a wide choice of bikes on offer.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want a top spec: Women riders looking for a premium spec might be better served by the Giant Defy SL range if the geometry works for them.

You want more off-road capability: As specced, the Avail is good for lighter off-road, but a gravel bike might be a better choice for adventures further off-road.

The Liv Avail Advanced is the women's version of the Giant Defy and, as you'd expect, the two bikes share the same tech, although the Avail is available in a range of smaller sizes than the Defy.

The latest generation Avail was launched at the same time as the Defy and, as with that bike, sheds weight and increases tyre clearance to the same 38mm, although Giant fits its 32mm tubeless tyres. There are mudguard fittings too, so you can add extra protection in poorer weather. There are also the same Giant D-Fuse seatpost and bars fitted.

We loved the stiff-but-comfortable ride feel and the geometry, which allows light off-road excursions as well as nimble handling on windy tarmac.

While the men's Defy has an SL tier frameset available, the women's Avail sticks with the Pro as the highest spec carbon though. Liv offers a standard Advanced carbon frameset and the alloy Avail AR to cater for lower budgets.

Read our Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0 review for more details.

Best lightweight endurance bike

A silvery green S-Works Aethos 2

(Image credit: Josh Croxton)
Best for low weight

Specifications

Frame: Aethos 2 Carbon
Brakes: Disc
Weight: Not specified
Sizes: XXXS - XL
Max tyre clearance: 40mm

Reasons to buy

+
Ultra-low weight in S-Works spec
+
Nimble and fun

Reasons to avoid

-
Specced with narrow tyres
-
Stock bar width and crank length
-
Not as versatile as the Crux
BUY IT IF

You want a lightweight endurance bike: In S-Works spec, the Aethos 2 weighs just over 6kg, making it a confident climber.

You want wide tyre clearance: Clearance is now 35mm, up from 32mm for the original Aethos.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want to choose your touchpoint sizes: Specialized chooses your bar width, stem length and crank length for you.

You want a lower priced bike: There are limited spec choices to lower the cost.

Specialized's refresh of the Aethos sees the featherweight bike gain a more relaxed geometry and internal cable routing. There's also increased tyre clearance of 35mm, although Specialized fails to take advantage of this, fitting 28mm tyres. You can't choose your preferred bar width, stem length or crank length either, which Josh found disappointing.

The 6kg-ish weight for the expensive S-Works bike remains, though there are just two lower specs available, both pricey. Needless to say, the Aethos 2 climbs really well; it's also more planted than its predecessor on descents and the less racy geometry will please more endurance-focused riders.

Josh had a great time on the Aethos 2, but he secretly yearned for the extra versatility of the similarly flyweight S-Works Crux.

Read our full S-Works Aethos 2 review for more details.

Best for adjustability

Canyon Endurace CFR

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
Best for adjusting fit

Specifications

Frame: Canyon CFR carbon
Brakes: Disc
Weight: 7.3kg
Sizes: 3XS - 2XL
Max tyre clearance: 35mm

Reasons to buy

+
Top value spec
+
Adjustable width aero bars
+
Includes internal tool roll 

Reasons to avoid

-
Tools not included
-
Some rattle from tool roll in the top tube  
BUY IT IF

You want to experiment with bar width: If you want to try a narrower bar width, experimenting is free with the Endurace.

You want frame storage: Canyon's internal storage allows you to keep your pockets free of tools.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want mudguards: Canyon doesn't provide mudguard mounting points on the Endurace.

You want more tyre clearance: The 35mm clearance isn't great for a modern endurance bike.

Canyon's latest update to the Endurace feels sporty, while still providing plenty of comfort, even off-road. This CFR variant is a new top-spec for Canyon's endurance road bike and offers 32mm tyre clearance, as well as shaving around 100g off the frame weight of the CF SLX spec.

The Endurace CFR shares the adjustable width handlebars with hidden hose routing of the Aeroad and Ultimate, allowing you to alter bar width by 40mm. Also new is the tool roll packed into a cavity in the top tube, so you don't have to fill your jersey pockets with gear to fix a flat or mechanical.

As with all Canyon bikes, you can expect a top-spec across the range, with the CFR Di2 equipped with the Dura-Ace variant of Shimano's electronic shifting with a power meter. Wheels are DT Swiss ERC 1100, fitted with 30/32mm Schwalbe tyres.

We rated the nimble handling and comfort on offer, without the ride position being overly upright, which makes for a fast ride, which we put to good use on the local chain gang. Alongside the top CFR model are various other Endurace models in a range of specs and price points, again with both carbon and alloy frameset options.

Read our Canyon Endurace CFR Di2 review for more.

Best for bikepacking

A close up of the Fara F/AR bike standing in a field

(Image credit: Josh Croxton)
Best for load carrying versatility

Specifications

Frame: Fara Carbon
Brakes: Disc
Weight: 8.5kg
Sizes: 49cm - 59cm
Max tyre clearance: 38mm

Reasons to buy

+
Quality ride on road and off
+
Beautifully finished
+
27 invisible mounting points for bags etc.
+
Can choose your spec

Reasons to avoid

-
A little on the heavy side
BUY IT IF

You want to load up: The multiple mounting points provide lots of options to carry extra stuff with you.

You want to choose your own spec: Fara offers plenty of customisation options to suit your preferences.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want to see before you buy: Build-to-order and rarity mean that there are limited opportunities to see the bike before ordering.

You want a lighter bike: The 8.5kg weight for the spec we reviewed is a little on the heavy side.

Fara sells directly via its online bike builder and, like Canyon, offers a lot of bike for your money.

The F/All-Road has a similar geometry to more road-focused bikes such as the Specialized Roubaix SL8 or the Trek Domane but in the configuration we rode was more ready to tackle gravel straight away. That's tempered by curved seat stays, while the array of 27 mounts offers plenty of long-distance load-carrying capability. Fara also sells its own range of strap-free bags to match.

An advantage of Fara's build-to-order model is that you can choose your spec, so you can have an integrated or non-integrated front end, for example. Our test bike came with 35mm tyres, but again you can choose to go wider with 38mm of available clearance. We swapped to road tyres and the F/All-Road was happy mile-munching on the tarmac.

Read our full Fara F/All-Road review for more details.

Best steel endurance bike

Fairlight Strael 4.0

(Image credit: Will Jones)
An exquisite steel endurance road bike

Specifications

Frame: Fairlight Strael 4.0
Brakes: Disc
Weight: 8.91kg
Sizes: 51-61cm (Regular and tall options)
Max tyre clearance: 39mm

Reasons to buy

+
Brilliant ride
+
Excellent spec
+
Easily tuneable to fit your body
+
Easy to live with

Reasons to avoid

-
A tad heavy compared to a carbon bike
-
Not aero
BUY IT IF

You want excellent handling: Sharp handling and confidence-inspiring ride feel make the Strael a joy to ride.

You want a versatile frameset: Fairlight sells both regular and tall frame options to dial in fit. Plenty of tyre clearance and customisable Bentley Mk3 dropouts mean you can build the Strael exactly how you want it.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You don't want to wait for a bike: Demand is high, so if you want one, you're going to have to put your name on the waiting list.

There are a lot of great bikes out there and as one of our tech reviewers, Will Jones gets to ride the cream of the crop. So it's high praise when someone who spends their time bouncing between the latest and greatest says the Fairlight Strael is a "true forever bike".

Since his review of the Strael 3.0, Fairlight has released the Strael 4.0, and Will has been clocking up the miles on the new bike. Geometry has stayed the same from the 3.0 to the 4.0, but Fairlight has been hard at work refining the frame details. The Reynolds 853 DZB tubing is now lighter, and ovalised sections of tubing increase compliance. Swappable Bentley Mk3 dropouts allow you to set the frame up specifically to use mechanical, Di2 or AXS , along with direct mount, T-Type or standard hanger configurations. Tyre clearance has also been increased to 39mm, which is more than enough for the odd foray off-road.

The Strael 4.0 comes in two different frame geometries, Fairlight calls this ‘proportional geometry’ with all the Strael sizes offered in either (R)egular or (T)all options. The (R)egular is a little racier with a longer reach and lower stack, while the (T)all has a higher front end and shorter reach for a more upright position.

We have a full five-star review of the Fairlight Strael 4.0 with details of the upgraded bike after 1,500km of riding.

Also consider

Trek Domane SLR 9 leaning against a stone wall

(Image credit: Josh Croxton)
Excellent performance and durability

Specifications

Frame: 500 Series OCLV Carbon
Brakes: Disc
Weight: 7.9kg
Sizes: 44cm-60cm
Max tyre clearance: 38mm

Reasons to buy

+
Enormous tyre clearance
+
Internal storage built into the down tube
+
The isoSpeed decoupler offers loads of bump absorption

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive in this spec 
BUY IT IF

You want big tyre clearance: At 38mm, the Domane's clearance is large for an endurance bike that's not specifically all-road oriented.

You want a wide range of spec choices: The Domane is offered in carbon or alloy, so there are bikes to suit most budgets.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want more bike for your money: Trek's prices tend to be a little higher than some competitors.

You want a plusher ride: We reckon that the ride isn't quite as soothing as the predecessor model.

The Trek Domane SLR9 retains the huge 38mm tyre clearance and tool stowage in the down tube that were hallmarks of the previous model, but it now only has a non-adjustable IsoSpeed comfort system built into the seatpost junction, not the headset.

The aerodynamics have been slightly refined as well and there's front-end integration that doesn't make adjustment difficult. You even get a third bottle cage mount under the down tube and top tube bag mounts to help you go long and the frame includes mudguard bosses, always a nice touch.

As you'd expect for a bike at this price, there's top-spec finishing kit including a SRAM Red AXS groupset and Bontrager carbon wheels, although we'd have liked to see top-spec tyres to go with them rather than the 32mm Bontrager R3 Hardcase tyres fitted.

The ride is comfortable, but not quite as plush as the previous Domane model. We liked this and the simplified, lighter setup. The Domane SLR feels more lively and efficient to ride. Take advantage of the 38mm tyre clearance and you could add extra comfort with larger volume tyres if you wanted to.

The Domane is another bike with a wide spread of prices, with SL grade carbon and AL alloy framesets also available, the latter lowering prices to around the £1,000 mark.

Read our full Trek Domane SLR 9 review for more.

Cervelo Caledonia 5 2025

(Image credit: Cervelo)
An aero influenced endurance road bike

Specifications

Frame: Cervelo Caledonia-5
Brakes: Disc
Weight: 8.5kg
Sizes: 48-61cm
Max tyre clearance: 34mm

Reasons to buy

+
Good spec level
+
Included power meter
+
Rugged capability
+
Mudguard mounts

Reasons to avoid

-
High price
-
On the heavy side
BUY IT IF

You want aero frame features: Cervelo carries over its aero frame features from its road race bikes to the Caledonia.

You want all-season versatility: Big tyre clearance and mudguard mounts allow set-up for winter riding and off-road excursions.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want low weight: The Caledonia is another bike that's a little heavy for its price.

You want a specialist machine: The Caledonia is good across a range of ride styles, without being a specialist at any one.

The Caledonia 5 is a jack of all trades. The tube shapes are aero optimised but Cervelo keeps the geometry suitable for one of the best endurance road bikes. Making it even more adaptable is the clearance for 36mm tyres and the ruggedness to handle gravel roads, making it a candidate for reclassification as an all-road bike.

The challenge with an all-around bike is that there's always the risk of being just okay at everything. There are more aerodynamic aero bikes, there are more comfortable endurance bikes, and there are more capable gravel bikes, but ask yourself if you really need the best in a particular category at the expense of versatility.

If you'd rather have one bike that can do a lot, the Caledonia 5 is a very capable bike in a variety of categories. There's very little it can't do, with the bike having a (slight) makeover for 2025. This is claimed to add extra compliance and increase downtube stiffness for a more responsive ride and it also adds in-frame storage.

We haven't reviewed the updated bike yet, but you can read our full review of the previous generation Cervelo Caledonia 5 for more.

Basso Venta R

(Image credit: Will Jones)
A taste of premium Italian superbike at an affordable price

Specifications

Frame: Basso Venta R
Brakes: Disc
Weight: 8.82kg
Sizes: 42-61cm
Max tyre clearance: 35mm

Reasons to buy

+
Looks gorgeous
+
Separate bar and stem
+
Good tyres
+
As good a cable groupset as you can get nowadays

Reasons to avoid

-
Creaky front end
-
A little heavy
-
Wheels a bit lacklustre
BUY IT IF

You want an Italian super bike feel: The Basso Venta R offers a taste of premium super bike in an affordable endurance package.

You want electronic shifting: Basso has specced Shimano's 105 groupset, which offers excellent performance for the money.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want a great stock wheelset: Although they are usable, we found the stock wheelset to be a bit lacklustre.

You want a light bike: Weighing in at 8.82kg, the Vento R isn't particularly light for a carbon bike.

If you have a soft spot for Italian bikes, then the Basso Venta R is a great way to experience the hyper-premium superbike in a more affordable and easy-to-live-with package.

When you think of the illustrious Italian race bikes, it conjures thoughts of aggressive geometry. Although the Venta R shares much of its geometry with the racier Diamante SV, a shorter top tube, paired with a taller stack, gives the Venta R a more upright position that will be a better fit for most riders. This doesn't come at the detriment of handling, and during testing, Will still found it offered confident corner control, making it a very enjoyable bike to ride.

The spec is decent as well, equipped with Shimano's dependable 105 mechanical 12sp groupset, although it is a little let down by the basic stock alloy wheels. It's not a particularly light bike either but if you plan on upgrading the wheelset in the future, this will help drop a few grams too.

For more details, check out Will's full Basso Venta R review.

Standert Pfadfinder

(Image credit: Will Jones)
A steel all-road bike thats very nice to look at

Specifications

Frame: Standert Pfadfinder
Brakes: Disc
Weight: N/A
Sizes: 48-60cm
Max tyre clearance: 38mm

Reasons to buy

+
Looks gorgeous
+
Great geometry
+
Stiff for a steel bike

Reasons to avoid

-
Slightly muted ride
-
Quite expensive for what it offers
BUY IT IF

You want a fast all-road bike: The Standert Pfadfinder feels at its best with a big set of tyres to tackle broken roads and light gravel.

You want a timeless aesthetic: It's a gorgeous-looking bike, and we expect it will only age like a fine wine.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want a well-specced bike for the money: It's quite expensive for the components and performance that it offers

You only ride on the road: The Standert Pfadfinder feels a bit dull and muted as a road bike

Browse Instagram long enough and you will surely come across a Standert that's receiving much praise in the comments. The classic steel tubing, simple graphics and soft, appealing colours make this a bike that will turn the heads of onlookers when you pull up at the group ride.

It rides well too, with geometry numbers that are very similar to the aforementioned Fairlight Strael. The tubing doesn't have the same twang, so it feels stiffer and although that translates to a direct ride feel, it does somewhat dull the magic that makes the Strael so special. Put some bigger tyres on though and the Pfadfinder comes alive, as the larger volume compensates for the stiff ride feel and it's excellent for taking in lanes, broken roads, smooth tarmac, and well-graded gravel.

Instagram tax comes into play here too, so it's not the best monetary value, especially when you consider there are more versatile propositions out there. We don't choose bikes by numbers, and if you're looking at the Standert, then it's probably because you value the aesthetic. It's very pleasing to look at, and will only age gracefully, something that's impossible to quantify when talking about the true value of a bike.

Find out more in our in-depth Standert Pfadfinder review.

How to choose the best endurance road bike

Here are the factors we'd prioritise when choosing the best endurance road bike for your own needs:

  • Does an endurance bike suit my ride style? If you want to go faster, a more race-focused bike might be better; if you want to go off-road more, consider a gravel bike.
  • What tyre clearance does it offer? Modern endurance road bikes usually offer at least 32mm clearance to help smooth the ride
  • How are the touchpoints for me? If you're going long, you'll want to make sure that the saddle and handlebars are comfortable.
  • What's the gearing? At the end of a long ride, it can be nice to have a low gear to spin up that last hill; on the other hand, you may want higher ratios to keep up speed without spinning out.
  • Can I fit mudguards? Most endurance bikes will allow you to fit bolt-on full mudguards, which will be welcome on wet rides. They will reduce tyre clearance though.
  • What mounts and storage are there? Many endurance bikes offer additional mounts above the standard two water bottles. That often includes top tube bag mounts, while in-frame storage will free up pockets and ensure you have the spares you need with you.
  • How much does it weigh? A lighter bike feels like an asset when you hit a hill.
  • How easily serviceable is it? Many endurance bikes are set up for easier servicing with features such as a threaded bottom bracket. On the road, repair is also important, so look for features to make this easier.
  • What does it cost? Finally, you'll want an endurance bike and spec that fits within your budget.

Everything you need to know about the best endurance road bikes

While traditional road bikes and endurance road bikes look nearly identical, they are different. The endurance design features add up across a whole bike and the sum is a real difference. An endurance road bike is a more capable all-around machine that offers clear differences when riding compared to most race-focused machines available or the best aero road bikes, which are often a lot more aggressive.

As we have seen throughout this list, endurance road bikes start with a more relaxed, and more user-friendly geometry. From there designers add endurance-focused details like wider tyre clearance. Also, while modern road bikes of all kinds have almost eliminated rim brakes, endurance road bikes were the first to start that trend. These are the bikes ready to take on long rides and even head well off the beaten path.

We've covered a wide range of options for everyone, but people are different. Everyone has different riding habits, tastes, budgets and requirements for their bike. The best endurance road bike for you is unlikely to be the same for the next person. Let's see if we can narrow down what is going to work best for you.

Do I need an endurance road bike?

This might seem like an odd question given how far we are into a guide to the best endurance road bikes. It's a valid question though. Maybe you read something somewhere that started you down the path, but is it the right choice for you?

The answer will depend on you and your riding habits. There are bikes that are the right tool for the job, covering whatever you want to do on two wheels. In most cases, there is more than one bike that would do the job but if you choose the specialised option, it will excel in a particular way.

It's also worth adding that for a long time, consumer bikes and geometry were influenced by what pro riders were using, who have different requirements to regular riders. Endurance and all-road bikes can provide geometry and a ride experience that is closer to what we need in the real world.

For example, if your riding is 90 per cent off-road and you enjoy tackling rougher terrain, then you'll probably find a more suitable steed among the best gravel bikes. Similarly, if you're only ever going to ride on tarmac, and you can comfortably do so in a more aggressive position, then you might find the best aero road bikes offer a better match.

The place where the best endurance road bikes excel though is as all-around bikes. Specialising means that there are some things a bike just won't do. It can be limiting and if your preferences change down the road, you might be shopping for a new bike. If you ride a mix of terrain, like to dabble in gravel, prefer a more relaxed position on the bike, or want a bike that can do a bit of everything, then the best endurance road bikes and best all-road bikes are a great option.

What's the difference between an endurance bike and an all-road bike?

There's a grey dividing line between road bikes and gravel bikes, where riders want to be able to ride fast on the road, but also want to be able to ride over unpaved surfaces, without the full-on off-road capability of a gravel bike.

Even gravel bikes have split into different camps, with gravel bikes for more gnarly conditions alongside gravel race bikes, as we have found during our testing.

An all-road bike shares many of the features of an endurance bike, but in general is designed to let you head further off-road. That means even greater tyre clearance and a geometry that's stable enough to be efficient off-road, without sacrificing on-road capability. There is a lot of crossover between these two categories; think fine lines rather than clear-cut categories here.

It's a fine distinction, with the best endurance bikes increasingly offering a spec and design that caters for the all-road rider. At the same time, more brands are launching bikes specifically labelled as all-road bikes.

How much tyre clearance does my endurance road bike need?

The answer is always going to be "It depends" but there's a clear trend in modern bikes of all kinds. Larger tyres are generally a good idea. In the past, braking performance was dependent on a stiff rim brake calliper. The larger the wheels and tyres a bike used the less responsive the braking performance would be. This engineering reality, paired with a belief that narrower, harder, tyres were faster, meant that road bikes had very narrow tyres.

Modern road bikes have introduced disc brakes and research into tyres and aerodynamics has disproved the narrow is fast theory. Realistically, a tyre in the 25-28mm range is plenty for pure road riding. Still, a 30mm or even a 32mm tyre means less pressure and a more comfortable ride on the road, so you can usually expect this range of widths on endurance and all-road bikes. Even bigger will add the capability for off-road and the option to fit some gravel bike tyres for more tread for greater grip.

Bigger tyres are often heavier tyres and that can make for a sluggish feel if you don't need the width. If you've got the clearance and don't like high-volume tyres you can always switch to a narrower tyre. On the other hand, if you don't have the clearance, then there's nothing you can do to add it.

It's also worth considering that the best road bike wheels now have increasingly wider rims. This means that a tyre nominally rated at 28mm, for example, is likely to measure around 30mm in width. That's a win-win, as you get the extra tyre width that allows you to lower tyre pressure and increase comfort, without a weight penalty.

So, to answer the original question, go for more clearance if there are two similar bikes. But it's not the only consideration. Look at the whole bike and make the choice that best fits you; if you can get extra clearance, it's a good thing.

How much do I need to spend on an endurance or all-road bike?

We've reviewed all the bike above, usually in premium specs. That can look a little daunting if your budget is more limited.

But the good news is that most bikes can be had in much more affordable guises, but still sharing the same design features. A lower spec bike may share the same frame geometry, just made in slightly heavier materials, while the bulk of the additional weight you usually find is accounted for by lower-priced components with higher weight that are bolted onto the frame.

My budget is limited, what should I not compromise on?

In this list alone, we’ve seen a huge range of prices. From afar, all of these endurance road bikes do basically the same thing. They have wide tyre clearance, disc brakes, and endurance-specific geometry. What you get on the more expensive options tends to come down to lighter-weight parts and more technology.

If, like most of us, you don't have unlimited pockets of cash to spend on an endurance road bike, you'll need to make compromises to save money. Knowing which compromises to make is always the trick. But don't despair; modern bikes of all kinds are incredibly capable. You probably aren't going to make a bad choice but we do have some suggestions.

Many people think about saving money in terms of what they can change later. That's a reasonable idea but make sure when you start riding your new bike you are happy with what you have. Later upgrades are a great way to continue enjoying your bike. We even have guides such as the best road bike wheels and the best road bike groupsets to help you make those upgrades. You want to make sure though, that you are happy with what you have from the beginning.

With that out of the way, we tend to tackle this with a list of 'needs', 'wants', and 'nice-to-haves', and then check those off when shopping. For example, if you're looking to ride the bike off-road, your 'needs' column might include wide tyre clearance and bump-absorption technology. Conversely, if you're a cycle commuter, your 'needs' column will probably have mounts for mudguards and perhaps even a pannier rack.

A carbon frame, electronic shifting and carbon wheels will fit into the 'wants' column for most of us. However, also consider future upgrades and whether that's something you're likely going to want to do. It's much easier to upgrade to carbon wheels down the line than it is to swap out a groupset.

What size endurance road bike do I need?

With the different geometries and sizing cut-offs offered by each brand, it's not always as simple as needing the same size regardless of the marque. However, the manufacturers of all of the best endurance road bikes will offer some sort of size guide or geometry chart on their website. These guides will help you decide the best size for that specific bike for your body's proportions.

To help you make sense of the geometry charts, check out our handy explainer, aptly entitled 'What size bike do I need?'. From there, to dial in the bike's fit, you might need to make some adjustments such as saddle height, and perhaps even swap out components to adjust the fit. Our bike fit guide explains how to do this and what to expect.

It's also a great idea to test ride a bike you are interested in, see if a local shop has a model in stock and have a conversation about it. You may even want to have a bike fit pre-purchase to help you be sure about sizing and achieving maximum comfort.

How do we test?

To arrive at our selection of the best endurance road bikes, we mapped what we think the various use cases are for someone looking in this segment. For example, some are looking for the best of the best and don't care what it costs, while others are looking for something functional, well-specced and affordable.

Armed with these different persona types, we hand-picked a selection of bikes that fitted into each and set to work comparing each bike against its peers, looking at specs, geometries, materials, build quality, brand reputation, warranties and more to arrive at what we decided were the best bikes within the endurance road category.

We are constantly monitoring the market for new additions, calling in bikes to test rides and applying the same criteria to the new models to see if they fit the bill for inclusion.

Paul has been on two wheels since he was in his teens and he's spent much of the time since writing about bikes and the associated tech. He's a road cyclist at heart but his adventurous curiosity means Paul has been riding gravel since well before it was cool, adapting his cyclo-cross bike to ride all-day off-road epics and putting road kit to the ultimate test along the way. Paul has contributed to Cyclingnews' tech coverage for a few years, helping to maintain the freshness of our buying guides and deals content, as well as writing a number of our voucher code pages.