Bike Reviews

A sleek roadster you won't find in shops COOPERATIVE: Novara is the cycling brand of outdoor gear co-op REI, so it's available only at select stores nationwide, or via mail order. This bike is the real deal, though, packed with parts that bike nuts drool over.

HOUSE BLEND: REI tapped American manufacturer SRAM, which introduced its road components last year, for the Squadra Team's drivetrain and brakes. SRAM's Force is on par with Shimano's vaunted Dura-Ace, so count on the crisp shifts and braking you'd expect from a three-grand bike, except with this one you might even get a year-end REI members' dividend for buying it.