The Bikes We’re Testing Now

Welcome to another installment of Staff Picks from our Sports and Outdoors team. Every other week, we select our favorite pieces out of the gear we’re testing, mainstays in our kits, as well as items on our wish lists. It’s like a sneak peek at the gear we’re testing and what we’re stoked on. Have something you think we should check out? Or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at [email protected].

BMC Road Machine 01

When I first saw the Road Machine, I thought that it was one of the best-looking road bikes on the market (save for the orange bar tape). It’s comfortable, fast and has an impressive parts spec. Yes, it’s a bit of a pain to set up with all of its integrated parts (see: seat post clamp and stem), but once you get them set, the improved appearance is noticeable. Sure, there are more affordable road bikes out there, but the BMC offers supreme ride quality, Swiss engineering and great color schemes — what more could you want?

— AJ Powell, Assistant Editor

Specialized Sirrus Comp City

When I moved from the mountains to New York last year, it meant agreeing to some not-so-small lifestyle changes. It meant hanging up my Trek hardtail in my mom’s garage to gather dust and neglect. It was a defeating moment, but I’ve since managed to cope with the change, thanks to some willful short-term memory loss and a new ride. The Sirrus Comp City is perfect for the city — it comes with reflective paint and pre-installed fenders for commuting and an aluminum frame built with fitness geometry that’s equally suitable for longer, faster rides in the park and beyond. And it’s nimble enough to pass slowpoke CitiBike riders and delivery guys scattered throughout the bike lane.

— Tanner Bowden, Editorial Apprentice

Ghost Kato 7 27.5

I had been looking to get my own mountain bike for a long time and, after months of saving up and researching, I made the move on a Ghost Kato 7 — a hardtail sold exclusively through REI — where I even snagged last year’s model at an unbeatable price. It has an air-sprung Rock Shox fork, 2 x 10 Shimano drivetrain, and Shimano brakes. Long story short, it’s perfect for teaching me how to ride a bike through the woods, it won’t break the bank and it has high-quality components that will perform well while still taking some abuse.

— Jeremy Fischer, Editorial Intern

Behind the Scenes

Sightings from Instagram

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