Free of the ubiquitous Shimano components we're used to seeing, the Tifosi’s Campagnolo Veloce groupset gave the bike a Continental feel that performed just as well as anything Japanese on other bikes. Fast when you want it to be, but ready for anything the British winter can throw at it, this is truly a brilliant bike
Reasons to buy
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Comfortable
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Fast
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Ready for anything
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Amazing value for money
Reasons to avoid
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The tyres wouldn't be my first choice, but in truth there's little wrong with them
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Named after Italy’s most passionate racing fans, British brand Tifosi has earned a reputation for reliable, good quality bikes. Indeed, the CK7 Gran Fondo is a winter-ready machine that could keep you riding at race speed throughout the colder months.
Frame
A great winter ride
The CK Columbus double-butted 7005 alloy frame is top notch — on the sporty side of stiff. This directness is complemented by the aero profiling of the down tube.
The fork and rear stays have room for mudguards and can take tyres up to 28mm. The fork is made from Tifosi’s own carbon and increases the comfort at the front end, adding to the zippy speed afforded by the rest of the bike.
Specification
The Miche chainset complements the Campagnolo Veloce drivetrain
The Campagnolo Veloce groupset offers assured shifting and great-feeling brake levers though Shimano users may find the thumb shifter takes a little getting used to.
The brakes look like something out of a toy box, which does take away from the overall aesthetic of the bike, but they work impressively well in wet and dry conditions.
Ride
A fantastic bike for the winter months
This bike gave one of the best first ride impressions I’ve ever experienced (beaten only by a race machine costing over five times as much).
What’s more, it hasn’t lost any of its appeal as I’ve covered more miles. Rapid when you want it to be and sturdy on rougher surfaces, this is a bike I’d be happy to use throughout the worst of the winter and well into the faster rides of the early spring.
Versatile and speedy — what’s not to like?
Value
This is a quality build for the money
Sneaking in under a grand, this bike looks good for the money before you’ve turned a pedal.
Test-ride it for about 10 minutes and you’ll be throwing your credit card at the salesman behind the counter.
The quality components, excellent alloy frame, along with decent mudguards and clearance for do-anything tyres mean it’s money very well spent.
Get your bike ready for winter
In conclusion
A winter bike is a must-have, and as such a purchase that should not be approached lightly. Whatever you choose needs to be tough enough to withstand harsh riding conditions but comfortable enough to encourage you to go out for long rides, even in bad weather.
>>> Which type of winter cyclist are you? Find out here
The Tifosi CK7 Gran Fondo Campagnolo Veloce does just that with an incredible mix of practicality and performance that belies the fact that it comes in under £1000.
Then factor in a fairly large serving of Italian style to go with it and it’s easy to see why it’s the clear winner of this month’s winter bike grouptest.
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