Top 10 Sigma Sports Cafe Ride bikes

The Sigma Sports Cafe Ride has seen Matt Stephens ride a wide range of bikes on a variety of different terrains, across over 30 episodes. Tackling windy Belgian bergs to sweltering Andorran mountain slopes, we take a look at 10 of our favourite bikes from the series, all of which you too can own and take on an epic all day adventure or simply a nice cafe ride.

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1. Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 Road Bike

Kicking off in the Auvergne-Rhine-Alpes region of France and a sizzling hot episode with an equally fiery bike. The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 was the road bike of choice for Matt Stephens and provided the perfect machine for tackling the undulating roads around Romain Bardet’s home of Clermont-Ferrand.

Equipped with top of the range Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and Roval CLX III wheels, this bike made light work of the steep climb up to Banne d'Ordanche to bring the short but punchy ride to a close.

Specialized

S-Works Tarmac SL9 Dura-Ace Di2 Road Bike

2. Trek Madone SLR Gen 8 Road Bike

How many mads can you feature in a Cafe Ride? Well, three to be exact. When Matt Stephens headed to the Cote d’Azur, with his Trek Madone to go for a spin with Mads Pedersen, there was only one climb to ride out to, the Col de la Madone.

Just like the fast Dane, the Trek Madone is a versatile and agile offering, as comfortable on steep ascents as it is racing towards the line on Grand Tour fast finishes.

Matt’s bike was particularly special as it boasted a Serpentine Project One paint scheme and was dressed with the finest SRAM RED AXS groupset and Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 carbon wheels, a Trek Aero RSL one-piece carbon bar/stem and RSL Aero Bottles and Cages.

3. Factor ONE Force AXS Road Bike

A state of the art bike and a real head turner, the Factor ONE Force AXS Road Bike was hand delivered by the guys at Factor, out in Girona, for Matt’s ride with former Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift winner, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.

Aero is the name of the game with the ONE and this made it the ideal choice for a fast training ride with the Canyon SRAM pro, looking to finesse her form ahead of the 2026 early season Classics. Equipped with SRAM Force AXS components and Black Inc wheels, Matt praised the lively ride and pin sharp handling, this really is bike for those wanting a fast ride.

4. CUBE LITENING AERO C:68X SLX Road Bike

Cutting through the famous Lanzarote winds, the CUBE LITENING AERO C:68X SLX Road Bike provided Matt Stephens with the platform he needed when it came to spending a day training with Lucy Charles-Barclay.

CUBE’s fastest road bike offering, this flagship LITENING featured a SRAM RED AXS groupset and a Newmen Streem Aero/Sprint 60/66 Vonoa wheelset. Responsive on the many climbs the island is littered with, the LITENING offered both a comfortable and assured ride.

5. Pinarello X7 Ultegra Di2 Road Bike

Pinarello and Geraint Thomas have enjoyed a long and successful partnership, so it made sense for Matt to rock up to this Monaco based Cafe Ride episode on one of the Italian brand’s most iconic bikes, the X7. Designed with all day riding in mind and looking the part with a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset and MOST Ultrafast Carbon wheels.

Tackling on the numerous climbs that populate the outskirts of the principality, Matt’s Pinarello X7 Ultegra Di2 Road Bike glimmered in the autumnal sun, with its distinctive silver and black paint scheme. Pirelli P7 Sport tyres finish the bike, adding much needed grip on the fast run back down to the beach bar.

6. Cervelo R5 Disc Road Bike

If you are riding with one of the best climbers in the professional peloton you need a bike that can propel you up the slopes. Thankfully Matt had just that bike, the Cervelo R5, to help him keep up with Grand Tour winner, Sepp Kuss. One of the lightest road bikes in the world, the R5 frameset comes in at less than 650 grams, in Matt’s 54cm size, and when paired with SRAM’s Rival groupset and Reserve 34TA carbon wheels.

Prologo’s Nago R4 saddle and Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed tyres offer comfort and confidence in equal measure, without adding excessive weight to this super light climbing steed.

7. Brompton C Line 12-Speed Folding Bike

A city escape with one of the most accomplished sports broadcasters in the game, Orla Chennaoui was the host for Matt’s tour of Amsterdam, with the pair unfolding their Brompton C Line 12-speed bikes for the day. Bromptons are incredibly versatile and the C-Line is no different.

The Brompton C Line 12-speed combines a durable steel frame and is handmade in London. Folding into a compact package in under 20 seconds for easy storage and travel, this was perfect for Orla and Matt’s tour and diving in and out of cafes.

8. ENVE Melee Road Bike

Coastal cruises with British music royalty, WHAM! Star, Andrew Ridgeley welcomed the Cafe Ride to his home on the Cornish coast and took Matt for one of the longest and most challenging rides the series has ever seen. A bike fit for such a day out, the ENVE Melee Road Bike was light enough for the steep climbs but also handled like a dream on the tight country lanes.

Equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and ENVE’s SES 4.5 wheelset, the premium finishing touches didn’t end there. An ENVE SES Aero Road Integrated handlebar and ENVE Aero Road stem kept the performance focused theme going. Matt was a fan and so were we!

9. Colnago C68 Road Bike

The relationship between Tadej Pogacar and Colnago has been one of the most successful partnerships in professional cycling history. There was therefore no hesitation on which bike to take when the call came in to say we were heading out to Monaco to spend the day with the Slovenian superstar. The Colnago C68 blends Italian craftsmanship with modern road bike performance, continuing the brand’s celebrated C-Series heritage. Its modular carbon frame is hand-assembled in Italy, with carefully finished joints creating a clean, refined profile.

The model sported a Campagnolo Super Record groupset, Campagnolo Bora wheels and kept Matt rolling smoothly with Pirelli tyres. A formidable bike for a ride with an equally special Cafe Ride guest.

10. Cannondale SuperX Gravel Bike

A Californian adventure and the first bikepacking experience for the Sigma Sports Cafe Ride. Matt Stephens joined Lachlan Morton for an unforgettable 48 hours on the trails around Sacramento. Lachlan is not one to hold back when it comes to memorable routes, so Cannondale’s SuperX Gravel Bike was the obvious choice. Keeping Matt shifting smoothly with a Shimano GRX groupset and some of the most rugged tyres on the market, Vittoria’s Terreno T50 tubeless ready tyres.

A bike more than capable of conquering any gravel route, the SuperX didn’t miss a beat and as such was the perfect companion for Matt’s epic ride.

Whether it is riding with pop legends to multiple Grand Tour winners, the bikes of the Sigma Sports Cafe Ride have transported Matt around the world. What’s your favourite bike from our list?

Watch the Sigma Sports Cafe Ride series