High Gear—Luxury Bikes Are Making a Statement
4 min
At the highest end of the spectrum, bikes are becoming a statement piece. Colourful, vibrant frames stand as pieces of art, made from the most efficient materials and using the latest in innovative technology and engineering.
These bikes, often produced in limited quantities, aren’t just for show. They’re built for long touring days, conquering exceptionally tough climbs, and traversing the nearest rock garden.
It’s also a corner of the market that’s seeing steady growth even as the overall bike market experiences some post-pandemic correction. Technavio estimates that the high-end bike segment will grow by another $5 billion by 2028, fuelled by a pack of affluent riders looking for the latest and greatest they can get on two wheels.
There are also more customization options available than ever before. Bike companies can go over every little detail of the build, from customizing a model in stock to creating a truly bespoke bicycle from scratch. Even the most discerning cyclist can find themselves satisfied by the endless choices in a bike made specifically for them.
Today’s cycling trends cater to two extremes. On one end, there are the racing enthusiasts who want aggressive geometry, the lightest-weight construction, and aerodynamics wherever possible. On the other, there are those who want a more comfortable ride, but still with the best possible components and durability.
These bikes represent some of the best the industry currently has to offer, from off-the-shelf to a weeks-long bespoke process.
1. Trek Top Fuel 9.9 Gen 4, $US10,500
The biggest names in the business are getting in on the high-end game. This option from Trek features the customisation options that mountain bikers need, while also having the support of a national brick-and-mortar network for service and maintenance. The Top Fuel is also an example of the growing trend of in-frame tool storage to keep things out of the way, with the bonus of maintaining the aerodynamic engineering that helps riders go fast and get up steep climbs. This bike also has enduring flexibility, with more room for a larger shock and broader suspension range.
2. Colnago C68 Gravel, $US13,200
The Italians have a rich cycling history, and Colnago is no exception, with roots dating to 1954. Like most other bike brands, Colnago has adapted with the times and begun to build gravel-specific bikes meant to go off-road with ease, but maintain a step below full mountain biking. The C68 Gravel is the rare handbuilt, Italian-made gravel bike and the burliest of the brand’s flagship “C Series.” It is a full carbon fibre setup, with Colnago’s own handlebar layout, with two available colour options for the frame and three wheel choices.
3. Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71 Team, $US14,000
Cannondale
If you’ve ever wanted a chance to ride like the pros, this is it. Although several bike brands are offering a version of their Tour de France–competing models, there are few as striking as Cannondale’s offering. This bike is an exact replica of what EF Pro Cycling used throughout the 2024 Tour de France, securing the polka-dot jersey (best mountain climber) for one of its riders. LAB71 is part engineering experiment and part performance development for Cannondale, as the lineup has the brand’s lightest and most aggressive frames. As shown, the team edition features every possible upgrade, including a top-end drivetrain and a fully-integrated cockpit co-developed with MOMODesign.
4. No. 22 Bicycles 2024 Drifter X, Starting from $US14,800
No. 22 Bicycles
Titanium is more of an enthusiast’s choice for bike-frame construction as it offers a different ride quality compared to carbon fibre, but it also offers more options for total customisation. New York–based No. 22 Bicycles launched the Drifter X as a racier version of the Drifter model, with more flexibility to go further and faster on choppier terrain. Tire clearance between 28mm and 40mm puts this bike in a sweet spot for both pavement and gravel, with options to make cable routing semi- or fully integrated. Riders can also take advantage of several paint-finish options, including Cerakote, anodised, or keeping the frame finish “raw” in its purest state.No. 22 Bicycles also has a full bespoke program, where the company can tailor frames to the exact measurements of a specific rider.
This article originally appeared in the Fall Issue of Mansion Global Experience Luxury.
Copyright 2020, Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. LEARN MORE
Brickworks has enlisted acclaimed architecture studio Kennedy Nolan to explore how homes could become more adaptable, energy-efficient and connected to community.
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
A McLaren Vale Shiraz has beaten more than 100 global rivals to be crowned the world’s best at one of the wine industry’s most respected competitions.
2 min
A $25 bottle of Shiraz from South Australia has achieved something few wines ever do: it has claimed the top spot in a prestigious international competition and outperformed rivals many times its price.
The 2023 Classic Shiraz from Beresford Estate in McLaren Vale was awarded the International Syrah Trophy at the 2026 International Wine Challenge, one of the wine industry’s most respected judging events.
The wine also received 97 points, a Gold Medal and four major trophies, making it the highest-scoring Australian trophy winner in this year’s competition.
The result placed the wine first among 111 Shiraz entries from around the world and ahead of several highly regarded Australian trophy-winning wines.
For wine lovers, the award is notable not only for the competition’s standing but also for the price. At a recommended retail price of just $25, the Beresford Classic Shiraz sits firmly in the everyday-drinking category rather than the rarefied world of collector wines.
Head winemaker Natalie Cleghorn said the result reflected the quality of fruit produced in McLaren Vale.
“This result is a genuine reflection of what McLaren Vale is capable of. When you let the fruit and the site do the talking, the quality speaks for itself.”
According to the tasting notes, the wine opens with blueberry and plum aromas alongside floral notes and spice, while the palate delivers red cherry, plum, dried fruit, eucalyptus, and savoury spice, supported by bright acidity and fine-grained tannins.
The accolade adds to the growing reputation of Beresford Estate, which was founded in 1985 and has accumulated more than 2,000 medals and 200 trophies globally. The estate is located on a 70-acre vineyard in McLaren Vale and produces a range of wines including Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
While luxury wine collectors often chase bottles costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars, Beresford’s latest success is a reminder that world-class wine does not always come with a world-class price tag.
A survey of people with at least $1 million in investable assets found women in their 30s and 40s look nothing like older generations in terms of assets and priorities
BMW has unveiled the Neue Klasse in Munich, marking its biggest investment to date and a new era of electrification, digitalisation and sustainable design.
