Specialized Transition A1 Elite — ($1,450)

Aside from the fact that the name makes us think of steak sauce, we’re big fans of Specialized’s new, very-beginner-friendly ride. The compact frame makes for an easy Transition (get it?) for those used to more stable bikes (like that 40-pound cruiser in your garage that never moves). Specialized serves up the best spec of any bike in this price range, tossing in a carbon fork and Profile T2+ S-Bend aerobars. Specialized.com