10 of the best new bikes

Carrera Virago

£1000, halfords.com

Say what you like about the British government, but its Cycle To Work scheme is a wonderful thing – and Carrera's Virago road bike sneaks in under the magic £1000 limit.

Your £1000 nets you a good-looking carbon-fibre frame, too, rather than an aluminium one, along with high-quality Shimano 105 components and Mavic CXP-22 rims. OK, so Carrera lacks the cycling-club kudos of some rivals, but badge snobbery aside the Virago is a great bike at a fantastic price.