ALL-CITY NATURE BOY DISC | $1,250
BEST FOR: City dwellers who love dirt—and don't mind a bit of extra weight.
The Nature Boy has always been a do-it-all kind of machine, great for easier trails as well as the street. The 2015 model is the first to come with disc brakes, which improve stopping power in wet conditions. If you're a commuter, there's room to add fenders to keep that skunk stripe off your Lacoste. And though the all-steel frame is heavy, it makes for an extra-smooth ride.
BEST FOR: Aspiring off-road racers with an aversion to chain lube.
After years of creating custom single-speeds for sponsored cyclocross riders, Raleigh finally put one of these hybrids into general production. A carbon-fiber belt in place of a traditional chain will almost never need adjustment (or oiling), and the superlight aluminum frame has the rigidity that speed demons desire. But don't fear a harsh ride: The carbon fork absorbs bad-pavement chatter.
