This Tifosi Rostra road bike, equipped with a mid-range Campagnolo Centaur 11-speed groupset, has a chunky 52 per cent off, bringing the price down to £599.
That price, in combination with the rim brakes, rarely seen groupset and boxy alloy wheels, lends this bike a circa-2008 sensible road bike vibe that's got us feeling nostalgic.
The bike is designed as an all-season whip, with room for 35c tyres and mudguards – although not at the same time.
While it’s not going to win any awards for speed, the 6061-T6 aluminium frame looks to offer great versatility, with rack and mudguard mounts making this a potential lightweight touring bike or commuter bike.
Tifosi says the bike has an endurance-oriented geometry, and the carbon fibre fork should add a touch of extra comfort.
Carrying on the Italian theme, the bike comes with a Selle Italia Model X saddle and Miche Reflex DX wheels.
At the time of writing, the bike is available in M and L sizes.
Other options
There are other bikes of this ilk available at around this price, such as the Cannondale CAAD Optimo 2 for £690, down from £1,150. It features a similar spec, although it’s rare to find bikes at this price point with a Campagnolo groupset.
The CAAD Optimo 2 ticks the boxes of beginners and those looking for a hack bike.
It goes to show that if you can forgo disc brakes, there are some bargains to be picked up.
While I’m a fan of all things disc brake, I never feel under-braked on my rim-brake equipped touring bike, even when descending in the Pyrenees with full panniers.
There are also plenty of high-end wheelsets from the rim-brake era that can be picked up for fractions of their original price – whether that’s new or second-hand.
