Video Just In: Estrella Camino Liso from Paralympian Darren Kenny OBE

​Darren Kenny OBE is a hugely successful Paralympian, winning Olympic gold medals on the road and track. In 2009 Darren, in collaboration with an old teammate and now engineer, he started producing one-off bikes but in 2015 they decided to make a proper go of it, and launch a complete bike brand called Estrella Bikes.

What we’ve got here is the top of the range Camino Liso. It’s a race bike, with a full carbon fibre frame using high-quality T1000 fibre, and all the details you’d expect on a bike designed to be raced.

“Being a thoroughbred race bike its race geometry offers a more aggressive riding position that adds improved aerodynamics reducing the frontal area and drag,” says the company.

- Nine of the best £2,000 to £2,900 road bikes

There’s a tapered head tube, oversized down tube and chainstays, and internal cable routing.  To provide some ride comfort, the seat stays have been flattened, the idea being to allow a small degree of flex. That nod to comfort ensures the bike is also suitable for use away from the race circuit if a fast sportive bike is what you’re after.

A four-year crash replacement policy is provided with the frame, the company offering a replacement for 50% less than the retail price. That’s a good thing to have for a bike designed primarily for racing, where accidents can and do occur.

The frame has a distinctive finish and this red and green colour combination is one of three colour choices available. There are six frame sizes on offer, and the numbers are pretty racy, as you’d hope of a race bike. A medium has a 387.9mm reach and 410mm stack, with a 145mm head tube and 985mm wheelbase. 

The frame is available on its own or a number of builds, starting with Shimano 105 at £1,795. We’ve actually got a Campagnolo Potenza build with matching Zonda wheels, and a raft of Estrella branded finishing kit. On the scales, it comes in at 7.8kg (17.1lb). 

The bike is priced at £2,295 but the company has a pre-order discount at the moment, dropping the price to £1,995. Order now and delivery will be in February.

Stu Kerton will be reviewing the bike and he’ll be interested to see how it compares to more mainstream race bikes in this class.

Those mainstream choices, especially in this price bracket, are numerous. You can, for example, get a Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2 (£2,199) with a Shimano 105 groupset, or Canyon's Ultimate CF SL 9.0 DI2 (£2,349) with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset. 

- Nine of the best £2,000 to £2,900 road bikes