15 Bicycles You Need To Check Out For Summer

Msrp: $770

When someone says "track bike" or "fixed gear," this is probably the bike they're thinking of. There are models with more gewgaws and doohickeys, but the basic Pista in Bianchi's classic Celeste green is essentially the perfect bike. Accept no substitutes. (Well, look at them if you must, but it doesn't get better than this.)

Msrp: $430

It doesn't get much simpler than this. Steel frame, coaster brake, big tires. Skid your face off, smile, repeat.

Msrp: $1,975

A relative bargain at less than two grand, the Giant TCR Composite 2 is the kind of bike that would have been a Tour de France marvel just a few short years ago. The composite frame is race-tested, the Shimano 105 gruppo a beneficiary of trickle-down tech from the higher-priced Ultegra and Dura-Ace. From races to centuries, this is all the bike you really need.

Msrp: $670

Mike Aitken is a BMX living legend, and his black and gold signature level bike from Fit is a timeless beaut. If you ride it the way you're supposed to, it won't stay that way for long, but that's just the way it goes.

Msrp: $1,250

Do you really need reasons to consider a Cinelli? This one is all flat black and isn't as flashy as a Vigorelli or as hypebeastly as a MASH, but it's also right around a G for a complete bike. Plus, the name is outstanding. No-brainer.

Msrp: $730

The looptail PK Ripper and its Floval Flyer big brother are amongst the most iconic BMX frames ever made. This is not open to debate. So this candy red update, complete with white Skyway mags, is simply one of the coolest 24-inch cruisers you'll ever find. You could hang it on the wall, but it would be much more fun to ride it.

Msrp: $1,750

#veryrare The Globe Roll 8 Rare is just a city bike in the same way a Tellasons are just a pair of blue jeans. The raw Reynolds steel frameset is lovely, the belt drive clean and quiet, the eight-speed internal hub tested and true. This is the kind of bike you pass down to the kids.

Msrp: $850

This might very well be the perfect commuter bike. Disc brakes, swept-back bars, nine speeds (controlled by a single thumb shifter), Kevlar-belted tires, fender and rack mounts - the Weekender has everything you need and nothing you don't, all for less than a grand. Plus, the all-green version has an undeniably cool John Deere steez.

Msrp: $2,775

The only thing better than a 29er is a full-suspension 29er. The Giant Trance was a great trail bike with 26-inch wheels and is even better with the larger hoops. The ability to roll over anything and everything might be offset by the sheer amount of space it takes up, but love will find a way. Do you REALLY need a couch?

Msrp: $800

Sunday Bikes has been doing the "bonus bikes" thing for a while, which is basically the equivalent of a sneaker quickstrike. The Aaron Ross "Vapor Flip" is simply a reverse image of his standard Pro model, which is a fresh bike in its own right. And like all Sunday Pro bikes, it comes with a full complement of Odyssey parts. No upgrades necessary.

Msrp: $5,200

Assuming you don't plan on racing the Tour de France any time soon (and even if you do), the Bianchi Infinito is all the road bike you'll ever need. The electronic Ultegra Di2 shifting is phenomenal (you'll never want to go back to "standard" shifting ever again), the "Coast to Coast" geometry is sublime. Bianchi's been in the bike business for a long, long time - they know what they're doing.

Msrp: $920

Sure, bouncy bikes with lots of gears are nice, but there's a lot to be said for rolling the local trails on an unsprung 29er with a single gear. The Cannondale Trail SL 29er 3 SS (phew) equips a pro-level hardtail frame with mechanical discs and a bunch of parts you'll probably upgrade anyway to get you on the road (or even better, off of it) for less than a G.

Msrp: $8,800

OK, fine, there's no real reason to have a $9,000 downhill bike unless you're a professional racer. But bike lust is a funny thing - and while you can't go to your local Chevy dealer and buy whatever Jeff Gordon's racing this weekend, you can get this Atherton replica wherever GTs are sold. And what a bike it is. Full-on carbon construction, Fox shocks front and rear providing eight inches of travel, and Shimano Saint everything. Go racing.

Msrp: $800

When it comes to pure bicycle beauty, not much beats a classic track bike. Charge doesn't have the Italian pedigree of a Cinelli or Bianchi, but that only matters on fixedgeargallery. The Plug Prestige comes with a lovely Tange chromoly frameset, fat 32c tires to soak up the bumps, and a full complement of Charge componentry. Forget the name, just look at the bike. (Our only gripe is that high-flange hubs would have been nice.)

Msrp: $4,000

Disc brakes on road bikes? Yup, they're here - SRAM is even making hydraulic rim brakes now - and they're well worth checking out. The Roubaix is a mainstay in Specialized's road line, more forgiving than the Tarmac or Venge, and the Expert Disc C2 is the more affordable of the two disc-equipped options. It's a road bike for all seasons.