The bikes
BMC Timemachine Road 01 Three - £6,200
Cube Litening C:68X SL - £8,099
Factor Ostro VAM - £9,450
Need to know
What should you demand in a 'breakaway' bike? Can a speed machine still provide comfort for all-day rides? And what about climbing prowess? Here's our five-step guide to the bikes on test
WHETHER YOU'VE PINNED on a number or are just trying to beat your mates to the café, the breakaway is a staple of almost every race. If you feel you've little chance of winning in a straight shoot-out against the bunch, go all in at the casino instead. And why not? The breakaway might only rarely succeed, but if you don't try, you can't win, so what's there to lose?
To turn the odds in your favour, you need a bike to suit the task. Something aerodynamic and efficient. Nothing too heavy, so you don't waste energy on the climbs. Comfortable enough for a long day in the saddle, but with lightning-quick reactions for searing attacks at the finish.
01 Aerodynamics
When you're out on your own or in a small bunch, there's no hiding from the wind. Aerodynamic tube shapes, components and wheels will help you slip through the air with less effort, saving precious energy for a glorious attack later on. This typically means wind-tunnel tested, aerodynamic shapes, deep-section wheels and aggressive geometries, designed to put you in an aerodynamic riding position.
02 Price points
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Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...
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