Whether you’re a racer, a weekend warrior, or a casual cruiser, nothing beats tearing up the tarmac on a road bike that feels light, efficient, and fast. Carbon road bikes are the perennial favorite for cyclists looking for maximum performance. TPC carries plenty of these high-tech speedsters, and right now, many have been marked down as much as 45%! I’ve been busy browsing these discounted road bikes, hunting for cool bikes and the best deals. Here are some of my top picks.
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2022 Orbea Orca Aero M20iLTD - 53cm
Price: $5,599.99 4,929.99
Est. Retail: $6,899.99
To me, the Orca Aero looks like a bike from the future. It got totally revamped in 2022 with new tube cross-sections and smoother transitions that provide a massive reduction in drag (Orbea claims 15 watts at 40kph and 28 watts at 50kph). The blocky-looking fork has been sculpted to capture airflow coming off deep-section aero rims and the new down tube is cleverly shaped to be more aero with a bottle and cage installed. That funky-looking thing on the underside is an aero "toolbox" that’s integrated into the frame for spares and tools, so no more saddle bags! This Orca can also fit 30mm tires, making it surprisingly versatile for such an aero-focused machine.
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2020 Cannondale SuperSix Evo Disc Women’s - 51cm
Price: $6,299.99 5,379.99
Est. Retail: $6,700.00
The latest generation SuperSix Evo is one of my favorite bikes. I rode one all through 2020 and absolutely loved it. The classic SuperSix shape is gone, but in its place are tubes with aero profiles that improve the aerodynamic efficiency by a claimed 30%. It’s a World Tour-ready frame, but it’s also surprisingly comfy thanks to the compliance-focused design and Hollowgram seatpost. Since it can fit 30mm tires (32mm if you want to ignore the manufacturer), it also works great for quick jaunts onto dirt roads and smoother gravel. Heck, Alex Howes won the 2021 SBT GRVL race on a SuperSix Evo. This thing has range!
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2021 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1 - Large
Price: $5,899.99 4,919.99
Est. Retail: $6,500
I will never stop recommending Giant bikes to riders who want the perfect blend of performance, looks, and value. That’s what Giant excels at, and this Defy is a perfect example. It has a compliant and lightweight carbon frame with Giant’s fantastic metallic paint. Since it's an endurance bike, it uses more relaxed and upright geometry that is ideal for long-distance adventures, broken pavement, occasional dirt. I'd also suggest it for any rider looking for a bit of extra comfort. With electronic shifting and carbon wheels, I can find no faults with the build. It’s just a solid bike that will give you thousands upon thousands of glorious miles.
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2021 Giant TCR Advanced SL 1 Disc - Med/Large
Price: $7,299.99 6,429.99
Est. Retail: $9,100.00
Yeah, I have to rep Giant again. Maybe racing and KOM hunting is in your blood, so an endurance bike like the Defy feels a bit too laid back for you. If that’s the case, then turn to the TCR. This is the model that Team BikeExchange-Jayco races in the World Tour. They nabbed a pair of Tour de France stage wins last year, so clearly, the bike is up to snuff. There are no surprises with the TCR. It’s light, stiff, and fast. With wireless AXS shifting, a power meter, and carbon wheels, it has everything an aspiring racer needs with nothing that might slow them down. And again, the paint. Giant’s paint game has really been on point recently.
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2018 Trek Madone Project One - 52cm
Price: $5,999.99 5,399.99
Est. Retail: $11,999.00
There are a few Madones at TPC that have gotten good markdowns, but this one caught my eye because it’s clear that someone lovingly built this thing to be the ultimate aero weapon. First, it’s got custom paint from Trek’s Project One shop. Then, it's been built up with Campagnolo’s top-of-the-line Super Record mechanical group and a set of Zipp 454 NSW wheels which use the newer sawtooth rim profile. Plus, despite the aero tubes and deep wheels, it still manages to come in under 16 pounds. This is a very unique Madone and I doubt you’ll see any like it on the road.
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Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6 Disc - 61cm
Price: $4,399.99 3,959.99
Est. Retail: $7,200
This 61cm S-Works Tarmac will make a tall rider somewhere very, very happy. While it has been usurped by the latest Tarmac SL7, the Tarmac SL6 still has die-hard fans. Unlike the electronic-only SL7, the SL6 works with mechanical drivetrains. The SL6 is aero, but it doesn’t focus on aerodynamics as much as the SL7, so it’s lighter, and some say it even rides better too. This blue S-Works colorway is also one of my all-time favorites. If you look closely it has a subtle camo pattern to it that really pops in the sun. The Dura-Ace 9000 drivetrain is one of my favorites too, and it’s from a time when it was still silver (I miss silver components being common). Add some carbon wheels later and you’ll have a world-class climber.
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2022 Scott Addict 20 - Small
Price: $3,199.99 2,879.99
Est. Retail: $3,999.99
The Scott Addict is essentially the endurance version of the more race-oriented Addict RC. With a more upright riding position and relaxed geometry, it’s designed to be more comfortable for a long day in the saddle. As I said earlier about the Defy, I think laid-back endurance bikes like this are ideal for most riders, because most riders aren’t pro racers. The Addict has more compliance built in to smooth out the road so you’ll get less fatigued. This can actually help you ride faster and go farther. I’m secretly considering buying this bike for my wife who is putting in enough miles now to warrant a solid upgrade like this.
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2017 Colnago C60 - 54s
Price: $6,239.99 5,619.99
Est. Retail: $7,000.00
I love Italian bikes, and the Colnago C60 has long been one of my holy grails. It has beautiful lugged carbon construction, red paint accented with the il Tricolore, Campagnolo wheels, and a full Record gruppo. It’s Campy’s rarer Record EPS electronic groupset too, further setting this bike apart from the crowd. For me, this is how an Italian bike should be done — in an ostentatious color with all-Italian components. Sure, it’s not going to be as aero as the Tour de France-winning V3Rs, but it has style for days and a super refined ride. There’s no classier way to explore everything from rolling country roads to massive alpine climbs.
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2011 Cervelo R5CA - 58cm
Price: $5,999.99 4,189.99
Est. Retail: $9,800
I had to include this Cervelo R5CA because it was my college dream bike. Back then, I was broke, riding an old paint-chipped CAAD, and this superbike was showing up in all the bike publications because of the outrageous price of the frame: $9,800. That’s right. That was the price for just the frame and nothing else. The “California,” as it was also known, was not a normal production frame. It was more of an engineering exercise, and supposedly it was built in Cervelo’s research facility rather than the regular factory. It's super light and super rare. Not even Cervelo’s top pro riders got one! It was an unattainable dream back then. But here it is. It’s still expensive. But someone out there could make a decade-long dream a reality.
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2016 Trek Emonda SLR 8 - 52cm H1
Price: $3,099.99 2,729.99
Est. Retail: $7,499.00
To me, the feathery first-generation Emonda was peak Emonda. Just take a second and go look at the weight of this bike… 13 lbs 15 oz!? It doesn’t even have carbon wheels! Now before you get too excited, you should know that this frame has been carbon repaired (check the details if you want to see it). Repairs at TPC are performed by the experts at Broken Carbon so they come with a 5-year warranty and are guaranteed to not only be safe but to preserve the intended ride characteristics of the frame. For less than 3k, this could be the perfect platform for a crazy weight-weenie build. Just add some shallow carbon tubs and you’ll have a hill-climbing monster that you can thrash without fretting about the paint.
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