Twelve Bikes of 2021
Sigma Sports' Picks
Move over partridges, pear trees and pipers piping we have a whole load of carbon, deep-section wheels and general good bike loveliness for our twelve days of Christmas. Yes, we are looking back over the last year at some of our favourite bike builds. From WorldTour ready road bike rigs to trail happy full suspension electric mountain bikes, we have a wide range of machines to bring your 2021 to a close with a bang.
One - Colnago C64 Road Bike
Marvellous in Mapei Livery
As cycling legends go, the likes of Johan Museeuw, Michele Bartoli, Andrea Tafi and Franco Ballerini are cycling royalty. As well as a raft of impressive results, all have worn one iconic jersey during their career, that of a certain Italian team, Mapei.
Five time Paris-Roubaix winners, Mapei were a dominant force in the late nineties and early 2000s. Although the team has evolved and lost the Mapei name since then, taking on the Quick Step-Davitamon guise before most recently the Deceuninck - Quick-Step Team one, the familiar Mapei colours live on.
Paying homage to the head-turning Mapei colours, Colnago has brought the iconic multi-colour design right up to the 21st century and offer the stock, C64 in this rather fetching livery. Hot property indeed and one colourway Sigma Sports sales staff member Jonathan couldn't resist. Decking his C64 out with an array of the finest Italian components. Our first build in our Twelve Bikes of 2021 rundown features a Campagnolo Super Record groupset, Campagnolo Bora WTO 45 Dark Label Clincher Disc wheelset and a Deda Elementi finishing kit as well as a Bontrager Aeolus Pro Saddle.
Without doubt a fantastic spec, but how does the bike feel to ride? We caught up with Jonathan three months after taking ownership of this beautiful machine to find out.
"The paint job still puts a massive smile on my face and it's the smoothest, best-handling bike I've ever ridden. The first proper ride was a 100 miler down to Deal. It’s so incredibly comfortable for race geometry. I haven’t given it the power/speed metric assessment yet (I’m not all old school. I love my Favero pedals power data analysis). I am looking forward to 2022 in Mallorca, the Alps and maybe racing again.”
Two - Specialized Diverge Comp Disc Gravel Bike
Rough Stuff Ready
Diverge, conquer and go easy on the mince pies. Looking for some festive fun? If so, you are in for a treat with our second bike. The rather dashing Specialized Diverge Gravel Bike combines trail crushing capabilities with features that are guaranteed to equip even the most ambitious riders for day or week-long adventures. This 2021 Comp spec machine features a gloss ice blue colourway, Shimano GRX gravel-specific 11-speed groupset and DT Swiss G540 wheels. An out-of-the-box model, the Diverge has won many fans due to its versatile frame design.
This frame is made from FACT 9r carbon and combines practical design cues, such as SWAT™ Door integration with comfort-focused features including Specialized's innovative Future Shock suspension. Special attention should be paid to the Specialized Pathfinder Pro Tyres. Tubeless-ready and boasting a rather fetching tan wall sidewall, these 38mm wide knobblies are perfect for a variety of conditions.
Three - Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX Gravel Bike
Cyclocross meets Gravel
A double gift of gravel? Our pleasure. From the rugged, adventure dialled Diverge to something a little racier, we revisit Matt Stephens' foray off road and the Cannondale SuperSix EVO CX Cyclocross Bike.
A new model for the US brand in 2021 and expanding on the already popular SuperSix range, this cyclocross focused machine means business. Providing wider tyre clearances, an OutFront geometry that balances stability with manoeuvrability admirably and Speed Release thru-axles on the frame and fork to allow for easy and quick wheel changes, this is a SuperSix that laps up the singletrack.
This cross-crushing bike doesn't just tick boxes on paper. We spoke to Matt Stephens to get his first impressions riding the SuperSix EVO CX.
"They've done a great job on the geometry as it handles and takes tight, twisty, technical sections and riding at high speed without the bike feeling twitchy at all."
Watch the video of Matt's first ride on the bike.
Four - Orbea Rise M10 Electric Mountain Bike
Electrifying Off Road
All the fun in the mud, on the dusty trails or simply sending it down a stretch of singletrack, without the need to over-exert yourself. The electric mountain bike has revolutionised the sport and Orbea's Rise M10 Electric Mountain Bike is a fine example of just what can be achieved when you combine some of the best components, suspension systems and gearing with a market-leading battery and motor setup.
A full suspension, 29" machine, looking at the Rise's spec list you will see an array of some of the best brands and most capable mountain bike components on the market. With wheels supplied by Race Face, tyres by Maxxis and FOX delivering on suspension you are in for a treat. Assistance is on hand, with an Orbea RS Internal 360Wh battery and Shimano EP8-RS motor providing over four hours of range, which can be increased with the help of the 252wh range extender (available separately).
Five - Colnago C64 Road Bike
The MySixty4 Treatment
Two Colnagos in one list? Surely acceptable as it is the season for giving, right? What better gift then than another dose of C64 goodness with this MySixty4 custom colour number?
Fully embracing the premium brand's personalised design service, the customer of this dream build added a Tropicana twist to this bike with a contrasting orange and black frame. It isn't just the frame though that has been carefully considered, the SRAM RED eTap AXS groupset keeps the bike uncluttered, with the electronic and wireless system providing slick 12-speed shifting.
Where we really think this bike excels though is the wheel and tyre combination. ENVE SES 3.4 Clincher Disc wheels and Schwalbe One TLE tyres are a formidable pairing. ENVE has brought a sub 1,500 gram, Sapim CX-Ray spoked, tubeless-ready wheelset to the table and Schwalbe, a tubeless specific tyre that offers exceptional puncture protection, thanks to RaceGuard technology.
Six - Pinarello Bolide Time Trial Bike
Giro d'Italia Approved
Get set for a cracker of an entry into our Twelve Bikes of 2021 rundown (sorry, we couldn't resist). Not just a weapon of a race bike, this spectacular Pinarello Bolide Time Trial Bike is also a piece of history. It was no wonder then we were excited to welcome it into the Sigma Sports Oakham store back in October for our experience day.
Although not ridden by Egan Bernal on the final stage of his GC winning Giro d'Italia journey, this bike was produced by Pinarello to celebrate victory in their national tour in 2021 and what a way to celebrate. Sitting atop of the INEOS Grenadiers' team car for the final time trial, this 'spare' bike wears a metallic finish, akin to that of bikes his teammate Filippo Ganna raced.
Seven - Seven Axiom XX Road Bike
Tasty in Titanium
A top of Christmas tree worthy bike which is sure to add sparkle, the Seven Cycles Axiom XX is a custom titanium masterpiece, which uses only the finest Cirrus 3-2.5 tubesets and over twenty years of frame building expertise to create a machine that is for many owners a bike for life. Seven Cycles has long been a favourite bike brand here at Sigma Sports and over the years we have built a wide range of bikes to customers' exacting requirements.
This no expense spared example sees a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150 groupset paired with a Stages Cycling G3 Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 LR Dual-Sided power meter. Keeping the Stateside vibe going, ENVE add their SES 3.4 Clincher Disc wheelset, Compact Di2 Integrated Road handlebar, Road stem, Inline seatpost, bottle cage and 2.0 1 1/4 Tapered Road Disc Fork to the mix. The Bontrager Verse Elite saddle and Lizard Skins DSP V2 bar tape are fantastic finishing touches to what is a an engineering marvel.
Eight - Bianchi Oltre XR4 Road Bike
Resplendent in Celeste
The world's oldest bicycle manufacturing company maybe have an illustrious past but that is not to say the present is dull. Bianchi is at the forefront of road bicycle technology, with their Oltre XR4 leading the charge. One of the most winningest bikes in our rundown, Bianchi's top of the line road bike has been used to good effect for a number of years now by the likes of Primoz Roglic and Simon Yates.
A testament to just what can be achieved in the pursuit of an aerodynamic slick profile, without the hefty weight penalty, the Oltre XR4 has been created using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Comfort is addressed with the help of Countervail technology, which is designed to absorb vibrations and feedback when riding over rough surfaces. Although an out of the box spec, this build is an impressive one. Fully equipped with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, Vision 55 SC wheels, a Fizik Arione R1 saddle and a Vision Metron 5D integrated aero bar and stem, this is a fine choice for those partial to a weekend saunter or a full out race effort.
Nine - Trek Project One Emonda SLR 7 Road Bike
Project One Perfection
Looking to go for something unique without the premium price tag? If so, Trek's Project One service is a great option. Offering a whole heap of amazing colours and designs to choose from, whether you are a fan of loud and larger than life graphics or want something a little more subtle Project One allows you to dial in a road, mountain or triathlon bike to your exacting requirements. One of our favourite Project One examples from the last 12 months, Trek's versatile Emonda got the Matte Onyx Carbon treatment and left our workshop, dressed to impress, with a lovely collection of components to give this bike the wow factor.
SRAM's Force AXS electronic and wireless, 12-speed groupset is a real showstopper of a drivetrain and when paired with a set of deep-section Bontrager Aeolus XXX 4 TLR wheels and an Aeolus RSL VR-C Integrated bar/stem makes for a seriously impressive package. It is not just the headline components turning heads though, the finishing details on this build are what makes the bike really special. From tan wall Schwalbe Pro One TT Evo TLE tyres to the intergalactic Supacaz Super Sticky Kush Galaxy bar tape, every touchpoint has been carefully considered in the pursuit of perfection.
Ten - Festka One Road Bike
From Prague with Love
The Christmas pudding, oh so sweet parsnip of bike builds. A brand we share a close affinity with and have showcased in both our flagship Hampton Wick store as well as on our stand at the world-famous Rouleur Classic event in London, Festka is a Prague-based framebuilders who specialise in carbon and titanium road and gravel bikes. Over the years we have seen everything from classic Scalatore masterpieces to Rover gravel rigs and all have left us in awe when it comes to the level of detail and craftsmanship.
The One is a model that has proved and continues to be incredibly popular thanks to its balanced ride characteristics and clean design. One of the most creative examples we have seen, the delightful build has made our top twelve bikes of 2021 list is adorned with a Deda Elementi Superleggero RS Carbon seatpost, Specialized's Women's S-Works Carbon Shallow handlebar and a Knight Composites 50 Tubeless Carbon Clincher Disc DT Swiss 240 wheelset. Standout components come in the form of the Favero Assioma DUO Dual-Sided power meter pedals, the ultra-grippy Vittoria Corsa G Isotech Foldable Clincher tyres and Specialized Romin Evo Expert Gel saddle.
Eleven - Pinarello Dogma F12 Road Bike
An Italian Stallion
Although this is the second Pinarello to feature in our list, the Dogma F12 Disc is a very different beast when compared to the Bolide. A dream bike for many, this compact machine looks resplendent in an Osium White colourway. The cherry on top though is the addition of ENVE Foundation Collection 45 Carbon Tubeless Disc wheels, MOST finishing kit, the Silca Nastro Piloti bar tape and Arundel DTR-Mandible SideLoader bottle cages. Touches that push the bike for a nice build to perfectly curated steed. It gets the seal of approval from us.
The Dogma has been a formidable force in the amateur and pro cycling arena for over a decade, with the first edition, the Dogma 2, offering marginal gains for the Team Sky riders that rode it in everything from the Classics to Grand Tours. The seed was sown and since 2010 the Dogma has evolved, launching the F8, F10, F12 and most recently the F. 'Dogma' - A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. Who are we to argue with that?
Twelve - Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 Road Bike
Green Jersey Inspired
It's hard to look past Specialized's S-Works Tarmac when it comes to a cutting edge road bike. The go-to model for many who are serious when it comes to performance, the SL7 version has won many plaudits, including a certain Mr Matt Stephens who took a closer look at the bike when it launched back in the summer of 2020. This final bike in our list is not your everyday S-Works Tarmac SL7 though. Inspired by Sam Bennett's sensational 2020 Tour de France, the Celebration frameset is emblazoned with the words 'Together We Win', paying homage to the work his Deceuninck–Quick-Step teammates put in to help him claim the green jersey.
This incredibly limited-edition frameset (only 100 were produced) was a particularly memorable build for the Sigma Sports mechanics and was finished off with a selection of components that would be fit for a multiple Grand Tour stage winner. A SRAM RED eTap AXS groupset takes centre stage and is complemented by Roval Rapide CLX Disc wheels, a Specialized S-Works Power Carbon saddle, Quarq's DM RED AXS D1 2x power meter and a Specialized S-Works Carbon Shallow Bend Road handlebar. One of the rarest bikes in the world and one we think brings our Twelve Bikes of 2021 rundown to an end in style.
What is your favourite bike of 2021? Let us know in the comments section and make sure to follow us on the Sigma Sports Instagram channel to be the first to see what bikes pass through our workshop in 2022.
