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Gray skies and snow don’t have to signal the end of the cycling season. With the right mindset—and the right gear—you can brave the cold and have fun doing it. Of all the bikes we tested this year, these three stood out for their ability to motivate us to take on snow-packed trails, gusty gravel byways, and slushy streets.
Rad Power RadRunner 1 ($1,299)
Many e-cargo rigs, especially longtails, have lengthy wheelbases that make them hard to store and a handful to maneuver on tight streets. This scaled-down cargo bike has a shorter wheelbase, for nimble handling, but can still carry a week’s worth of groceries. Choose a combination of front and rear racks, fenders, a center console that also holds your phone and coffee cup, a child seat, and foldable foot pegs for an adult. The maximum assisted speed of 20 miles per hour means you won’t break a sweat.
Devinci Minus ($1,799)
Some fat bikes are designed for speed on groomed trails. Instead, the new Minus rolls on slower, more voluminous 26×4.8-inch tires to maximize traction and float on unpacked snow. Off-piste, airing those fat tires down to single-digit pressures yields traction where other bikes falter. But whether you’re riding on snow or packed singletrack, it’s updated frame geometry that truly makes the Minus a winner. A longer reach, slacker head angle, and steeper seat-tube angle simultaneously yield more capable climbing and more confident descending. We also liked the low standover height and long-stroke dropper seatpost, especially when getting on and off the bike in untracked snow.
Moots Routt RSL ($6,179 for the frameset, $11,024 complete)
Moots has perfected the recipe for titanium frames that are stiff under pedaling yet retain the velvety feel that makes Ti frames famous. The latest Routt RSL uses the brand’s lightweight butted tubing with improved tire clearance, and its revised frame geometry is stable enough for daylong rides without feeling sluggish. We appreciated the fact that we could run 700×45-millimeter tires with plenty of mud clearance, and we relished a sublime ride that few carbon frames can match. Customize yours (price varies) with etched graphics and anodized colors to stand out from the crowd of plain Jane gray titanium frames.