Beautiful Bicycle of 2025

Beautiful Bicycle of 2025

Written by Nick Sowards, on December 05, 2025


Another year, another incredible collection of beautiful, custom built bikes.

Among the zillion things we do here at Contender Bicycles, custom builds just might be our favorite. Inspired by a compelling customer vision, and made possible through the curation and technical prowess of our sales and service teams, each build results in a two-wheeled dream come true, where head-turning aesthetics meet purpose-built performance, speed, and flat-out fun.

This past year, we customized countless bikes for cyclists near and far, across all categories–road, gravel, and mountain bikes. And while each bike is unique, we’ve analyzed, debated, and ultimately agreed on the 12 bikes that stand apart, driven by their truly exceptional vision and aesthetics, build and craftsmanship.

Now it's your turn, Journal reader: help us decide which bike is the most badass of them all by casting your vote for “The Most Beautiful Bicycle of 2025.”

Cast Your Vote: Here's How It Works


This year, we’ve organized voting into three categories—Road, Gravel, and Mountain—with four custom builds per category.

Simply scroll down to each section below, have a gander at the visuals and build details, and then let ‘er rip, ranking your favorite bikes per category, from 1st to 4th.

And if time is on your side and you really want to geek out, feel free to click into the Journal on each bike, to get the full story.

- Road -

Custom TIME Scylon


TIME Scylon

A classic white gloss frame, built out with Lightweight Fernweg EVO wheels, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, CeramicSpeed Oversized Pulley Wheel and Ceramic Bottom Bracket, ENVE SES one-piece carbon cockpit, TIME 3k aero seat post, and Continental Grand Prix 5000 tires. A rolling work of art that will stop you in your tracks, with a “best of the best” build, top to bottom, front to back.
Read the Journal here.


Colnago Y1RS

Featuring Colnago’s aero platform, Shimano Dura Ace drivetrain, BikeAhead aero carbon wheels, Colnago CC.01’s carbon cockpit, Pirelli Cinturato Velo TLR Tubeless tires, and a custom Colnago finishing kit. Blazing fast, and the bike that Tadej rode to victory at this year’s Tour de France.
Read the Journal here.

Custom Colnago Y1RS

Custom Pinarello Dogma F


Pinarello Dogma F

Equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Princeton CarbonWorks Peak 4550 wheels, a MOST Talon Ultra cockpit, Continental Grand Prix 5000 tires, and a custom, two-toned paint job, in white and blue. Pro Tour pedigree meets personalized polish, like only Pinarello can offer.
Read the Journal here.


BMC Teamachine SLR01 VAR0

Configured with SRAM Red AXS, Reserve 42/49 Turbulent Aero carbon wheels, BMC’s ICS Carbon one-piece cockpit, Vittoria Corsa tires, and BMC’s integrated seatpost. A top-tier, rare build, made even rarer by tariff uncertainty.
Read the Journal here.


- Gravel -



Parlee taos

Built with SRAM Force AXS, Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, an FSA K-Force AGX cockpit, Panaracer Gravelking 45c tires, and Parlee’s precision-laid carbon frame. Between the boutique frame and custom build, this bike delivers gravel nirvana. Read the Journal here.


santa cruz stigmata htsqd

Extremely limited edition htSQD paint job (just 50 globally), Shimano mullet drivetrain (GRX and XT), Reserve 40/44 gravel wheels and Maxxis Receptor tires. Just like the htSQD, this bike is poised to crush gravel–and the competition.
Read the Journal here.




open upper 2.0

Built with SRAM Force XPLR AXS, Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels, Panaracer GravelKing SK tires, and a sleek, integrated aesthetic. A raw-carbon, SRAM-powered stealth machine that embodies everything OPEN stands for—light, clean, understated, and ruthlessly capable.
Read the Journal here.


ENVE MOG

Configured with a SRAM mullet drivetrain (Force and XX), a full ENVE cockpit, road and gravel wheelsets from Reserve and Rene Herse tires, and ENVE G Series Dropper Post (40mm travel). A split personality gravel rig, ready to rip on tarmac or gravel alike, with ENVE craftsmanship and stylings. Read the Journal here.


- Mountain -

Custom Specialized Epic


Specialized s-works epic world cup

Drop-bar meets XC, featuring a SRAM GX drivetrain and XO cranks, Ritchey Superlogic Venturemax drop bar handlebars, RockShox Sid fork, and Reserve wheels and Vittoria Barzo 29 x 2.35 tires. The ultimate endurance mountain biking platform–highly aero and fast, yet highly capable for when the trail turns technical. Read the Journal here.


scott spark rc sl

Top-tier build with SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS, RockShox SID SL Ultimate with Flight Attendant, Syncros Silverton SL one-piece carbon wheels, Syncros Fraser integrated carbon cockpit, and Cane Creek eeWings titanium cranks. An ice-cold, glacial paint job, with a stone cold killer pedigree to match. Read the Journal here.

Custom Scott Spark RC SL

Custom Mondraker Raze


MOndraker raze

Showcases RockShow Flight Attendant suspension (Lyrik Fork, 150mm; Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant rear shock), SRAM XX drivetrain, Cane Creek eeWings titanium cranks, ENVE M6 carbon wheelset, Schwalbe tires, RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post, and SRAM Maven Ultimate brakes. A tantalizing mashup of brawn and brains, enduro muscle and XC precision. Read the Journal here.


orbea oiz

Equipped with RockShox Flight Attendant (SID SL + Deluxe), SRAM XX Eagle AXS, OQUO MP30LTD wheels, an OC integrated carbon cockpit, and a two-tone, purple and white custom paint job. A next-level Oiz, just as intelligent and eye-catching as it is light and stiff. Read the Journal here.

Custom Orbea Oiz

- Vote Overall Beautiful Bicycle of the Year -

Each category has its stars, but one bike will rise above them all. Vote now for your pick for the overall Most Beautiful Bicycle of 2025 and let your favorite take the crown.

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