Van Dessel Hella Faster Ultegra SL

Consider the Hellafaster if you’re thinking of entering your first criterium. This stiff aluminum frame is built for pure speed. It’s not ideal if you put in big mileage on bad roads—”On chip-sealed pavement this bike would nearly go into spasms,” said one tester—but on the smooth stuff the Hellafaster lives up to its name. Stand up to sprint, and the stiff, compact rear triangle and burly Easton EA50 SL wheels practically leave rubber on the ground. Without a doubt one of this year’s most affordable race-ready machines. $2,749; 17.9 lbs (56cm); vandesselsports.com