Top 5 | 2021 Climbing Bikes

This is our pick of the top lightweight road climbing bikes for 2021 🏔 If you didn't already know, we at BikeRadar love our hill climbing. That being the bikes, the tech and the racing! So we have looked into some of 2021's best climbing road bikes and chosen some of the most inspiring models for you to see!

Despite 2020 being a strange old year, it hasn’t stopped brands releasing some mighty fine bikes. So in no particular order, here are our top 5 climbing bikes of 2021.

What do you think of our choices? Did we miss anything? Let us know your Top 5 in the comments!

Loads more reading and watching on each of the bikes:
Specialized Aethos
Bianchi Specialissima
Trek Emonda
Factor O2 VAM
Canyon Ultimate CFR

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#2021roadbikes #bikeradartop5 #roadbiketech

[bikeradar]

What do you think of our choices? Please let us know in the comments what you'd pick for the mountains! 🦵🏔

[ianrichardson]

And this is why I've got a Supersix evo Himod

[jameswitte]

I’d like to see a comparison test of how these bikes ride and handle. Also, do this list with a $3, 000 limit.

[ukestjohn]

Given the demographic of the Aethos buyers, its only a matter of time until Specialized offers it in an e-bike version.

[tabla]

Would like to see bikes in £2000-3000 range. These are the kind of bikes that many of us might dream about but aspire to buy too. And do a road test. The bikes you have shown are totally out of scope, for, many of us.

[rudyr]

After year of riding disc brakes I bought another bike with rim brake. This was before Chris Froom dropped the bomb. I’m just surprised some manufacturers went with the route disc brakes only.
Some smarter ones still decided to keep the rim brakes version in offer and I’m glad for that.

[pwjames]

Always amazed that Ridley Helium SLX never gets a mention.

[MrBJPitt]

NO BIKE is too light for a UCI race. Put 80mm deep carbon wheels on the Aethos with aero bars, and get the best of both worlds, a 6.8kg bike with deep dish wheels.

[cookiepuss]

Great video ! I’m loving my Scott addict RC 15 . Great overall bike . Maybe not the lightest but does everything else great and is still not that heavy !

[KoenMiseur]

The Rose X-Lite should be in this list, very light, affordable and available in both rim and discbrake option.

[JogBird]

lower tiered Emondas now weigh as much as gravel bikes at the same price... it shouldnt be considered a climbing bike anymore (2016 emonda owner here.. which i run w 28mm tyres btw)

[mediocrecyclist]

Car enthusiasts see a new super car released and marvel at its engineering even if they can’t afford it...

Cyclist see a new bike released and either complain they can’t afford it or complain that it doesn’t come with rim brakes. Who cares if you can’t afford the bike and your dentist can. If you can climb just as strong on a bike laced with 105 and rim brakes that’s better on you.

Just respect companies still care enough to push the envelope.

[marijnsnijders]

toptip, the emonda will fit 32 tires easily

[blazpetric]

My 2016 Scott Foil di2 with 40 mm rims aero bike is around the same weight like some of these super climbing bikes. Just saying. Buy what you want and ride what you want. Anyway Thx for the video.

[steinfossgard]

I would rather have a Cannondale SuperSix EVO!

[debelifratar]

Aethos is a perfect climbing bike for pro peleton. Add pedals, water cages, cycling computer mount + other sponsor correct components and you'll get to around 6, 8kg....

[wolvertoncentresidings]

How about a video for AFFORDABLE climbing bikes bearing in mind the cost Covid has taken on the AVERAGE bike buyer.

[tonymcnally]

Giant tcr??? especially for price/climbing perfomance

[nicholasmasciaga]

I’m about to get for my eighteenth birthday a 2012 Cervélo R5 VWD with a claimed size 56 frame weight of 760g. Magnificent bike, you can literally find the cream of climbing bikes in the second hand market for a fraction of the price you’d spend for one of these beauties😜

[oneninetyseven]

2020 Giant TCR Advanced Pro Frameset size XL built with SRAM Force 22 (rim brakes)/Dura Ace cranks (180 mm length), Ritchey WCS cockpit (aluminum handlar and stem), Fizik Antares (size large) saddle, Look Keo pedals, and Spinergy Z Lite wheels (I prefer these) at about 15 lbs or the UCI 6.8 kg limit. No thank you to the list in the video. I'm happy with what I built and it cost significantly less than anything on this list.

Frame weights mentioned aren't for the largest size frames. Add those extra grams in there and see the weight start to balloon up.