Cube Peloton Claris (2015)

The £599 Cube Peloton Claris is proof that you don't need to spend a fortune to lay your hands on a high performance road bike. It's all the things a road bike should be; fun, fast and exciting.

With its lightweight and smart looking aluminium frame, a carbon fibre fork and slick shifting Shimano Claris groupset, the Peloton is an ideal road bike for anyone on a budget or looking to get in to road cycling. 

We like: Good value, great ride, wide ratio gears and smart looks

We dislike: No mudguard mounts and that two-tone bar tape (but you might like it)

Cube have a reputation for offering high value road bikes and nowhere is this more obvious than in its entry level Peloton lineup. This Claris-equipped model is the cheapest of the five bikes in the range, but it's the same frame used throughout the lineup. And what a corker of a frame it is. Double butted aluminium with internal cable routing, a feature that has been the preserve of expensive bikes until recently, and a carbon fork up front. The only blemish is the lack of mudguard mounts which would help it appeal to commuters - you should be able to fit clip-on guards though.

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As the model name suggests the frame is fitted with a Shimano Claris groupset. It's an 8-speed setup with a generous 12-32t cassette paired with a triple 50/39/30t chainset - with size-specific crank arm lengths. That's a wide spread of gear ratios right there and should ensure that any hill or mountain can be scaled no matter the level of fitness you possess. It's a setup that will probably mean you're not the first to the top of the hill, but you'll get there and you won't run out of gears on the way.

Shimano Claris is really pleasant to operate, and the levers are proper Dual Control, with the upshift lever behind the brake lever rather than a thumb button. That's the same as the higher end groupsets, and the shifting is extremely light, very little pressure is needed on the levers to change gear. It's been reliable as well and I've not had to make any adjustments to the bike in the time I've been riding it.

Cube has smartly fitted Shimano Claris brake calipers and they're a definite improvement over the often inadequate no-name brakes often found on bikes for this sort of money. The brakes are pleasingly firm with a very good lever feel, providing dependable braking performance all of the time.

It's no surprise to find mostly Cube branded components fitted elsewhere on the bike, this is typical of most manufacturers at the lower price points but then for some book manufacturers own brand kit is more than a simple badge and cost saving exercise. Cube is one such company it has made a great effort with its own-brand kit, it's top quality stuff and works well. The handlebars have a compact shape which reduces the reach when you want to ride in the drops, so it's a less aggressive, head-down, position. I'm not a fan of the two-tone bar tape but you might feel otherwise.

The Cube saddle has a comfortable shape and a generous amount of padding to provide good long ride comfort. The seatpost has a two-bolt head which makes adjusting the saddle position and angle very easy, but it can be a fiddle to adjust with some multi tools as the front bolt sits very close to the seatpost.

Wheels can really influence the performance of a road bike, good wheels can lift the performance, bad wheels blunt the ride. Cube's own RA 0.7 Aero wheels are smartly finished with decals colour matched to the frame, lifting the appearance of the Peloton, but more crucially then the appearance, is the performance: they are very good. Granted, they're not light, but they mask their weight well with a sharp feel when pushed hard and they are strong and sturdy.

The 25mm Continental Ultra Sport tyres are fast-rolling with decent durability and cope with a wide range of road conditions well, from dry to wet roads. The bike has a slight weakness in how well it copes with rougher road surfaces, but the 25mm tyres go a long way to helping dampen pesky vibrations from ruining the otherwise mostly smooth ride. The tyre pressures can be run a bit softer as well to deliver even more comfort over bumpy roads

Read our Buyers Guide to 10 of the Best £500 to £750 road bikes here

On paper the Peloton Claris looks like a bargain, and out on the road it delivers on that promise with fine performance.

At 9.9kg the weight does dent its sprightliness at lower speed, but once you get the Peloton going it nips along with plenty of pace and energy. Steep hills aren't the Cube's natural playground, but with the 30x32 lowest gear, scaling the steeper climbs wasn't the arduous experience you might imagine. The frame is plenty stiff enough for out of the saddle climbing, displaying no hint of energy-sapping flex.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the Cube's ride is how accomodating it is - the handling is neutral and the steering isn't too fast, in fact it's quite relaxed, so any new cyclist, or someone upgrading from a cheaper road bike, won't feel intimidated. I found it just the ticket for short blasts in my lunch break or after work, and equally for the longer weekend ride where it is a fine companion for a longer sportive. And with its super low gears, you don't need to fear the climbing of some of the tougher sportives.

A comfortable position is easily achieved. The Peloton comes in a wide range of sizes - it's good to see a company offering a 47 and 64cm size on its most affordablel bikes - and the geometry on the 56cm bike features a short 54.5cm top tube, meaning the reach to the handlebars is easier than a traditional race bike. The head tube measures 18cm so the bars are also a reasonable and back-friendly height too. The Peloton strikes a nice balance between being relaxed enough for people that want to take things easy and enjoy the view, and those that want to get their head down and blast along the roads as fast as their legs will propel them.

The frame is a real gem, both in its appearance and how well it rides. It's a responsive frame, eager when pressing hard on the pedals, and the relaxed steering makes steeper descents enjoyable rather than intimidating. The carbon fork is a good match for the frame, providing a direct feeling front-end and taming some of the ripples of the road better than a heavier aluminium or steel fork.

Conclusion

The Cube Peloton Claris is a fantastic bike. It offers a great value package with some really good attention to detail. It looks great, and the performance and handling will harness your enthusiasm to impressive capability. The Peloton is no afterthought by Cube, the company has nailed the details and that results in a very commendable road bike.

Verdict

Brilliant value for money, a gem of a frame, and excellent handling makes the Peloton Claris a great first buy or upgrade