Bicycle Brands

Bicycle brands we would recommend to our customers

Cyfac Spirit bicycle with steel frame

Unusually for a high-end road bike these days, the Cyfac Spirit is made from steel: Columbus Niobium Spirit steel, which is the derivation of the model name.

Columbus Niobium Spirit is a strong material so it can be made with thin tube walls – as little as 0.2mm thick in parts. The tubes are triple butted – so the wall thickness at one end of the tube is different from the other end, and it’s different again in the centre section. The idea is to keep all the strength where it’s needed most while trimming off unnecessary weight.

This steel construction makes for slender tubes compared to those you’ll see on most aluminium and carbon bikes – slim and elegant, we’re saying at Lifecycle UK.

Like the steel tubes, the fork comes from Columbus. It’s a new Carve made from high modulus carbon fibre throughout and it spins on an integrated headset. You can have the Spirit built to whatever geometry you like; it’s full custom so you can get the perfect fit. That allows you to dictate the character of the bike too.

The workmanship is impressive

The tubes are filet brazed by hand France, as it proclaims on the top tube. The filet brazing means you get a very strong joint and it’s a skilled, time-consuming process resulting in a high-quality product. Once painted, those joints are as smooth as if the frame had come out of a mould; they’re absolutely flawless. That’s the workmanship that we are impressed with and this is why we gladly offer Cyfac Spirit to you – our customer.

Customisable

With the Spirit, you can choose from various different design styles, then you get to pick the main colours, the accents, and the colour of the logo. You can even colour match the frame to a particular component, your club kit if that’s what you want.

Our impression

The dominant impression you get from this bike is a very smooth ride. Whether you’re out for an hour-long blast or an all-day adventure, it feels comfortable without any of the tooth-rattling vibration you can get from some bikes over bumpy roads.
It just rounds up all that shaking and sends it back where it came from; on your way, there’s nothing to worry about here. It’s certainly a comfortable ride.

Cicli Barco Pista custom build

Further details of this stunning Cicli Barco pista bicycle coming soon.

If you are at the Bespoked Bike show in Bristol this weekend it will be on display at our stand, where you can meet the makers and the team at Lifecycle UK.

This track frame is specific to its intended use, with emphasis on rigidity and lightness. It is optimised for racing at a velodrome or outdoor track. And it’s equally at home riding on the roads or streets as a fixie or single speed.

We have built the rear wheel with Paul flip flop hub so you can ride as a fixed wheel or single speed. And we can set up the gear ratios to suit your individual ride requirements.

Like all good track bikes, this promises to should handle well, giving you the confidence when chopping and changing direction at high speed, accelerate quickly and be strong enough to withstand the harsh forces track riding involves.

It is also designed to be stable at high speed – especially when going for a flat out sprint for the finish line (we don’t want to be giving anyone a dirty flick).

Comfort isn’t really a consideration as time spent on a track bike is relatively short but we can provide a professional bike fit which will afford the highest level of comfort and performance dynamics you would expect from this ride.

Felt FR Road Racing bicycles

The Felt FR is the stiffest, lightest and best-performing road racing bike that Felt has created to date.
All models in the FR range feature a refined version of Felt’s renowned racing geometry which provides confident and instinctive handling.
The Felt FR range is built around a precision-tuned frameset that ensures that minimum power is wasted and the rider is fresh for a finish line sprint after a long day in the saddle.
The FR range has several integration features that have been optimised for contemporary drivetrains and components, including an intuitive cable management system that maximizes efficiency and utility.
Available in both rim brake and disc brake versions, the Felt FR range offers riders every equipment choice available.

Felt FR FRD disc

The FR FRD Disc is the pinnacle of Felt’s decades of experience designing the world’s high-end racing machines. Manufactured with Felt’s UHC Ultimate + TeXtreme carbon fibre, the FR FRD Disc is the result of the Felt Racing Development (FRD) initiative to achieve the absolute greatest performance advantage.

Felt FR2 DISC ETAP

The FR2 Disc features all of the incredible technology found in the entire FR Series, as well as the additional benefits of disc brakes: greater stopping power, increased modulation, and more control.
It’s manufactured with Felt’s UHC Advanced + TeXtreme carbon fibre for a high stiffness-to-weight ratio that maximizes rider performance by ensuring that no power is wasted.
Built with a selection of advanced components like a SRAM eTap wireless electronic drivetrain, as well as Zipp 30 Course, tubeless-ready wheels, the FR2 Disc offers maximum performance in all riding conditions.

Enigma Excel Disc – with titanium alloy frame

We stock a range of Enigma bikes with the Enigma Excel being the most popular here at Lifecycle UK and with many of our customers.

The Enigma Excel is built with 6AL 4V titanium with the latest generation disc brakes and makes for a responsive bicycle with sharp handling and a beautifully compliant ride.

The Excel is Enigma bikes flagship model — handcrafted to perfection in their Sussex workshop by a team of skilled craftsman.

Many of you I’m sure are asking — what is 6AL 4V?
Well, here is the answer – 6Al-4V Titanium is an alpha-beta titanium alloy with a high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. It is one of the most commonly used titanium alloys and is applied in a wide range of applications where low density and excellent corrosion resistance are necessary such as the aerospace industry.


_Rob Morse

The Enigma Excel is available in a variety of finishes.

The Excel Disc is available in a shot blast beaded, anodized or painted finish as standard so you don’t have to pay more to personalise the bike to your taste. We can highly recommend Enigma finishes and we rate their paint works studio as second to none.

Highly recommended titanium bicycle frame

The Enigma Excel is certainly a tour de force in terms of materials and frame building expertise. A recent update includes a new 6AL 4V precision engineered 44mm down tube which enhances the capabilities and proficiency of the frame.
Adding high-quality finishing work, the Excel Disc has cemented its place as one of our highly recommended titanium frames.

Enigma Excel features:

Frame handcrafted in Great Britain under the Enigma ‘Signature’ program.
Grade 5 6AL 4V titanium alloy tube set with new precision engineered, heat treated 44mm down-tube.
Elegant ‘Ultra-Formed’ seat stays
44mm machined for inset headset types. Compatible with integrated or tapered steerer forks.
Chris King compatible 12mm thru-axle rear dropouts.
Paragon flat-mount disc brake mounting.
31.6mm seatpost for added stiffness.
Titanium machined seat clamp, CNC machined anodized alloy cable adjusters.
Clearance for up to 28c tyres.

Call the shop for details

All of the Enigma bicycles are highly configurable to the customer’s requirements and we don’t stock Enigma bikes ‘off the shelf’. However, we usually have an example in the shop or they may be a customer bike in the workshop for servicing.

We ask you to call the shop first to see which sample Enigma we have in the shop and to discuss details of what you are looking for from the range of Enigma models.

Cube Agree C:62 SLT Disc

The Cube Agree Road Disc bicycle is a popular choice for our customers which we often recommend to our customers. It’s an uncompromisingly light, stiff and surprisingly comfortable endurance race bike that will allow any rider to push their limits or enjoy a long day in the saddle.

The bicycle is built on the light, stiff, comfortable and ærodynamic Agree C:62 carbon frameset and fork – for excellent handling, explosive acceleration and mile-munching comfort.

There is a full complement of Newmen components and wheels, so you’ll always be in complete control. And Shimano Ultegra Di2 disc components give you slick shifting and ultimate stopping power.

The Cube Agree frameset

The centrepiece of the Agree C:62 SLT is one of the most advanced disc-compatible carbon race frames available. The Cube engineers and designers pulled out all the stops to make this chassis nimble, comfortable, efficient and ærodynamic. All at the same time.

Impossible? Not when you know how.

The front and rear wheels feature 12mm thru-axles for improved stiffness, while the complex profiled down tube and chainstays build into an incredibly efficient structure. Slender seat stays and the carbon fork blades combine with a narrow diameter seatpost for surprising comfort, while the integrated seat clamp is just one of the small touches that helps improve ærodynamics.

The tapered head tube and PressFit bottom bracket improve steering precision and pedaling efficiency, and the internally routed cables keep everything neat and tidy.

The looks may be understated… the performance is anything but.

The Lifecycle UK verdict:

Cube’s attention to detail and extensive in-house testing has given the Agree an exceptional ride quality.

Cube Agree typical ride use and application:

  • Road
  • Competition Road
  • Touring Endurance

Colnago C64 – perfection of made in Italy

We would recommend the Colnago C64 at Lifecycle UK because of the innovative design and technology and the historic legacy of Colnago.

The Colnago C64 frame is made in Italy and is the result of more than 2 years of research and development. It represents the continuity of the history of a company that has collected successes and innovations for more than 60 years.

This new frameset is released to celebrate 64 years of Colnago, the C64 is the product of one of the longest and most celebrated histories within modern frame-building.

Despite increasingly lightweight and highly technical frames from the big bicycle brands at present, a bicycle that is handmade in Italy is very appealing. Using a tube and lug construction with a tangible connection to historic racing bicycles.

Under the watchful eye of Ernesto Colnago, this Italian company has created some of the most desirable and highly advanced road bikes in the sport – and this C64 Disc is no different.

Integrated cable routing and efficient aerodynamics.

The Colnago C64 features integrated cable routing, housing shifter cables within the handlebars and internally through the frame. This gives the bike a clean aesthetic as well as improving the aerodynamics.

The downtube, similarly, offers a recessed bottle cage area that helps to shield your bottle from air flow, further improving aerodynamic performance.

Campagnolo Chorus groupset

Shifting is provided for by Campagnolo’s 11-speed Chorus groupset, ensuring crisp and reliable shifting mile after mile. The carbon fibre shifters are ergonomically shaped for comfortable long distance rides. The hydraulic disc brakes give you decent stopping power in dry and wet weather. And not to forget – the disc brakes save on braking loads on the carbon rims.

Colnago C64 – Key features:

  • Lightweight carbon frameset weighs 270 grams less than it’s predecessor
  • Campagnolo Chorus groupset ensures wonderfully intuitive shifting
  • Bora One wheelset is lightweight for efficient climbing
  • Hydraulic disc brakes lend powerful stopping power in all weathers

Our Verdict:

We recommend the C64 beacuse it is clearly the result of two years of research and development and by all accounts – the C64 is the result of a serious depth of engineering innovation. The C64 Disc frameset weighs a full 270 grams less than it’s predecessor, the C60.

Colnago’s trademark star-shaped frame tube and unique carbon lugs, meanwhile, ensure that the bike is incredibly stiff – so you can put the power down whenever you need to.