For smooth, stealthy speed it’s tough to beat Coda and Coda Sport. At this price level, we buck the fashion towards big-tubed, plain gauge aluminum, which can be a bit harsh and unforgiving over bumps, and we stick with Reynolds double-butted steel, trading a few ounces for vastly improved comfort. It’s such a smart compromise, and one we know you’ll appreciate after your very first ride, that it shouldn’t even be labeled “compromise”.

A full brace of rack and fender mounts lets you outfit the Coda series to suit your needs—kit it out with a rack for running errands without the sweaty backside a backpack brings. Or add fenders to keep your work clothes spotless as the miles scroll by beneath those smooth-rolling Vittoria road tires.

And those miles will pass quickly. Trigger shifters put you in charge of a triple-chainring 24 or 27-speed drivetrain so you’ll have super-low, easy-to-spin gears for the uphill sections with plenty of tall, fast gearing to take advantage of tailwinds and downhill stretches.

Whether it’s a quick lunchtime dash for a latte or a weekend fitness ride – the Codas are an oil-free gas.