High Gear—Luxury Bikes Are Making a Statement

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 C68 Gravel is the rare handbuilt, Italian-made gravel bike and the burliest of the brand’s flagship “C Series.” Colnago

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

This bike is an exact replica of what EF Pro Cycling used throughout the 2024 Tour de France.
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

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.
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.

Citizen Kanebridge, one of Australia’s premier private members’ clubs, will open a new chapter in Sydney’s fast-growing Norwest corridor, expanding its physical footprint to meet its property, finance and investment membership base where they live and work.

The club’s primary premises remains the Royal Automobile Club of Australia on Macquarie Street in the Sydney CBD — one of Australia’s most distinguished institutions — where Citizen Kanebridge members continue to enjoy full access to its storied facilities at the heart of the city.

The new Norwest chapter, to be known as Citizen Kanebridge Norwest, will be developed in partnership with Momento Hospitality, with the venue’s top floor facility serving as the primary location for key events.

Norwest has emerged as one of Sydney’s fastest-growing commercial and residential corridors, increasingly home to the developers, financiers and investors at the heart of the Citizen Kanebridge community. The move places the club at the centre of the growth story many of its members are most engaged in.

“Norwest is where the city is moving,” said Ruba Jaajaa, COO of Kanebridge Media. “For a club built around property, finance and investment conversations, it’s simply the right place to be.”

For Jaajaa, the expansion carries a personal resonance as much as a strategic one.

“There is also a wonderful sense of coming full circle in bringing Citizen Kanebridge to Norwest,” she said. “More than 20 years ago, this is where the foundations of the Kanebridge Group were first developed. Returning to the area is a warm opportunity to reconnect with the enduring relationships, trusted conversations and community that have been part of the Kanebridge story since 1999.”

Membership will be offered as a dedicated tier, the Citizen Kanebridge Norwest Individual Membership, including monthly dining credits at Momento Hospitality venues and access to the Sonato global reciprocal club network, spanning more than 250 private clubs worldwide. Members will also receive digital subscriptions to Kanebridge Quarterly, Robb Report Australia & New Zealand, and The Wall Street Journal.

Further details on the launch event calendar, membership applications and transition arrangements will be announced soon.

For further information, contact Ross Blainey at concierge@citizenkanebridge.com.au.

High Gear—Luxury Bikes Are Making a Statement

1. Trek Top Fuel 9.9 Gen 4, $US10,500

2. Colnago C68 Gravel, $US13,200

3. Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71 Team, $US14,000

4. No. 22 Bicycles 2024 Drifter X, Starting from $US14,800

Citizen Kanebridge expands into Sydney’s fast-growing Norwest corridor, bringing the club back to the region where the Kanebridge story was shaped more than two decades ago.