The Quickest Street Bike I’ve Ever Ridden

When the BMC Teammachine R 0-1 LTD hit my door, I didn’t expect to feel substantial speed gains compared to other modern premium-level bicycles. But soon, I would be proven wrong. Very wrong.

The BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD was certainly stunning: deep-section and complex frame tubes, an incredible-looking fork, integrated aero bottle cages, a one-piece carbon handlebar and stem combination, deep wheels, and category-topping SRAM eTap Red AXS with a Quarq power meter.

And it was the most expensive bike I’d tested to date, with a whopping MSRP of $14,999. However, I was determined not to let any predetermined opinions based on the high spec or cost influence my opinions. In fact, I would say the BMC had a disadvantage. Being a curmudgeon, I was inclined to say that the price wasn’t justified or part of being a status symbol.

But my first ride on smooth asphalt on a calm day left my mouth agape. The BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD was incredibly fast. It wasn’t just marginal, nor did I have to pay attention intently.

It was fast, and I did not need a wind tunnel to realize that I had never ridden a bike so slippery in the air. After 5 months of riding in Austin and the surrounding Hill Country, I was still shocked.

But it wasn’t all fist pumps, as the laws of physics and material sciences demanded compromise. And, BMC gains much of the aero gain through decidedly narrow handlebars, something WorldTour pros might have to do, but not me.

In short: The BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD is the fastest road bike I’ve ever ridden. But it comes with caveats that non-racing cyclists might not appreciate. BMC admittedly designed a no-compromises racing machine, even hiring Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT) to leverage its Formula 1 expertise. If you feel the need for speed (only) and have a thick enough wallet, the BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD could be your rocket.

Red Bull Gives You … Aero

BMC left the entirety of the aerodynamic development of the Teammachine R platform to RBAT, a no-brainer move given the obscene amount of aero engineering that goes into Red Bull’s currently unbeatable F1 efforts. Looking at the frame and fork, the F1 aero influence was visible when compared to other road racing frames.

BMC Halo Fork

Right away, the fork caught my eye. Instead of closely hugging the wheel, which seems logical for aerodynamics, the BMC Halo fork has ultra-wide parallel legs. The inside edges of these legs are nowhere near the front rim.

BMC claims this allows the turbulent air the rotating wheel produces to clear away, reducing aero stall. The air leaving the area is claimed to be cleaner and hugs the frame for longer. This is the name of the game. The longer the air can stick to anything, the lower the drag.

The non-drive side of the Halo fork also has a fairing to guide air around the front brake caliper. BMC designed it to work with a caliper positioned for a 160mm rotor, making it the only size that works. Also noted was that the threaded side of the dropout is covered. The same applies to the rear dropout (which isn’t compatible with a Universal Derailleur Hanger).

Finally, a little wing extends rearward on the back of the fork crown, and a similar one grows out of the back of the bottom bracket shell. If you weren’t looking for them, you would miss both. BMC also claims these minute details improve airflow moving rearward. These marginal gains are still gains. We are talking Red Bull Racing here.

Other BMC Teammachine R Frame Aero Features

Another visibly obvious feature was the gigantic surface area around the bottom bracket. The shell is massive in all dimensions. Although this seemed aimed at torsional stiffness, RBAT claims it smooths the airflow transition onto the rear rim, keeping the air stuck to the tire for longer.

Keeping the frontal area low is a no-brainer for being slippery through the air, and RBAT drilled that into the ground. The bulk of the head tube leading edge is narrow, and the seat tube, seat post, and set stays are remarkably thin. The head tube is also deep, but that’s almost a given these days on modern race bikes.

Additionally, small bridges at the junctions between seat stays, chain stays, and seat tubes are said to improve airflow and stiffness. The integrated stem and handlebar are also shaped to cut through the air, with a deep top section but vertically svelte.

BMC carries its Aerocore integrated water bottle cages over from other frames. The Swiss brand claims these make the bike faster with standard round bottles than without. Of course, cable and house routing are all internal.

Red Bull’s End Result

All this RBAT Formula 1-inspired wizardry resulted in a claimed 3.5% gain in aerodynamic efficiency over the Teammachine SLR climbing bike and a 1.9% gain over the outgoing Timemachine R aero bike at 28 mph. This equates to about 1 mph faster than the Teammachine SLR at the same wattage output at 28 mph.

This might seem minuscule, but BMC quickly points out that the bike only contributes 20% to the total drag. Hence, the narrow handlebars.

A curious note: BMC repeatedly stated that the Teammachine platform is not an aero bike. This is despite the brand simultaneously deleting the Timemachine R frame, which they did call an aero bike.

But What About the Handlebars?

The single available handlebar width was the one striking physical attribute that prioritized aerodynamics over all else. BMC offers seven different stem lengths (from 80 to 140 mm) on the one-piece front cockpit but only one bar width. Most aerodynamic drag comes from the body, and BMC cuts to the chase by forcing everyone to a narrow 36 cm at the hoods and 42 cm in the drops.

In today’s professional peloton, this may be an accepted norm. However, recreational and even seriously competitive cyclists might want the freedom to choose a bar width better suited to their dimensions to improve comfort and enjoyment. But again, RBAT’s need for speed trumps the need for anything else.

If your income depends on watts per kg, I get it. But at the consumer level, this was a head-scratcher for me. More on this later.

BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD Components

An MSRP of $15K demands the most exquisite component selection. And BMC didn’t scrimp anywhere.

A SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset handled shifting and braking duties while a pair of 62mm-deep DT Swiss ARC 1100 wheels spun on ceramic bearings rolled underneath. Premium Pirelli P-Zero Race SL TLR in 26c tubeless tires provided the adhesion, and a Fizik Argo Vento R1 saddle rounded out the full-out build.

My size 56 sample weighed a verified 16 pounds without pedals. BMC only offers carbon black and cool white color scheme in this version of the Teammachine R.

Ride Impressions

Damn, It Was Fast

As stated before, I was shocked at how fast this bike was on flat, smooth pavement in calm conditions. This belies the small percentage points of gain in aerodynamic efficiency compared to other BMC bikes.

But it spoke loudly about how fast it was compared to other premium road race bikes I was riding concurrently. The difference was astounding, and I didn’t need the included power meter or a wind tunnel to absolutely know.

I’ve been riding the same roads in Austin since 1986. I am acutely aware of my average speeds and the wattage and heart rates required to maintain those speeds on all of my common training routes. And the BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD reset all my metrics.

To put it in a non-data-driven way, I was one or two cogs smaller on any given stretch when it was calm at the same wattages and heart rates. I’m not kidding.

I didn’t believe it for a few weeks, so I brought another premium road race bike to town. On a calm day, I picked a flat section and rode the bikes back to back. And the BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD was so much faster.

I couldn’t attribute the source of the unbelievable speed to the frame, the deep wheels (the deepest I had at the time), or the reduced frontal area of my body forced by the narrow bars. It was most likely the combination of all of those and the utter rigidity of the frame and wheels. These transferred my efforts more directly to the rear tire. But whatever it was, I was astonished. And thinking back now, I’m still stupefied.

The bike absolutely ripped on the descents. it felt super stable, and both wheels were planted. The front wasn’t as responsive as other premium race bikes, but I preferred the stability at the speeds this bike wanted to hit. After riding this bike, I actually felt the other bikes were too quick up front.

Climbing produced a similar feeling. Stomping on the pedals on steep pitches didn’t phase the bike. It simply put the power down without any torsional or lateral shenanigans. I didn’t feel any loss of power or have to employ any forced body English to keep the rear tire clawing its way up. Quite literally, it was the Formula 1 bike of road bikes.

But Here’s the Rub

The straight-line speed in almost ideal conditions was surprising and super fun. But all that aero magic and deep carbon profiles did have distinct disadvantages for someone like me.

I’m far from a WorldTour competitor, but I still adore going fast. And I think most consumers looking at a bike with a price tag this high would be the same. However, for anyone who isn’t singularly focused on speed, the BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD has characteristics that might take the shine off.

The Handlebars

First, the handlebar. For a one-piece aero front cockpit, the handlebar’s shape was comfortable. No matter where my hands were, BMC got the shapes and dimensions correct for them.

Usually, the tops of aero bars are really deep, too deep for my medium-sized paws to grab comfortably or securely. But not so on the BMC. Also, the brake hood position and angles were correct for me, something that has also been an issue with the non-adjustability of one-piece cockpits.

But the 36cm width at the hoods never felt comfortable, or even close to it. I’m 5’11”, 160 pounds, and I normally run 42cm bars, 40 cm at the narrowest. But, 36 cm was just too big a difference, and even after 5 months, I still wasn’t comfortable.

To compound the situation, whenever there was a crosswind or when large vehicles passed me at high speed, the tall wheels caused shimmy like they always do. On bars at my usual widths, I don’t even blink. But with the 36cm bars, I tightened up to the point that my forearms were sore after some rides. I’ve never gotten sore arms from riding a road bike.

Forcing a consumer to a 36cm width seemed overbearing to me.

Damping, or Lack Thereof

Those slippery but deep-section wheels and the aerodynamically efficient and stiff-by-design frame were crazy fast when the Austin roads were flat and smooth and the winds were calm. On the chip seal pavement country roads closer to my home, the bike was still super fast. But this speed came at a huge cost. I’m not going to pull any punches. The bike was just plain jarring.

Not only did the frame design and 62mm deep rims undoubtedly add to the rough ride, but so did the 26c tires. This is skinny by today’s standards, and narrower tires require higher pressures.

On the other not-as-aero road bikes I was testing, I was aware of the chip seal road texture. But on the BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD, the bike wasn’t telling me the road was rough; it was yelling.

Instead of a low-amplitude and completely tolerable rumble, it was an undeniable rattle. And any square edge sent harsh shock waves through my arms and legs. The bike demanded unloading my hands and arms often to remain comfortable over long hauls on poorly maintained country roads.

I realized that this is a pure race bike, and the pros don’t care because the bike is so fast. But again, for consumers and myself, it was an attribute that warranted consideration.

Finals Words on the BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD

The BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD is a bike that belongs in the uppermost echelons of road racing, and it rode like it. It was super aerodynamically efficient, and it transferred every available watt of work into the rear wheel. It was plain fast, the fastest I’ve ridden. And this is what BMC and RBAT were after. Everything else was secondary.

If the pursuit of speed is all you want, and the $15K price tag is in your grasp, then this is one of the few bikes that will satisfy that need without compromise.

However, that is likely a small portion of the consumer bicycle market. For the bulk of even competitive consumers, there are things that might not jive regardless of price.

The singular bar width and the harshness of the wheels and frame are a few. BMC offers a two-piece bar and stem solution that comes on lower-spec Teammachine bikes. But at that point, you’ve already spent an extraordinary amount on the bike.

And yes, you could put shallower wheels and higher-volume tires on it, but that will only mitigate these issues so much. (Despite the wide stance on the Halo fork, the bike only accepts tires up to 30c.) But again, that’s a lot more money.

Also notable is the press-fit bottom bracket, which complicates maintenance and replacement compared to threaded units.

But again, in the pure pursuit of blazing speed, I have not had a faster bike for a long while, and I do not predict one in the near future. I haven’t toed a race start line for a long time. The BMC Teammachine R 01 LTD is the first bike I’ve tested as a cycling editor that made me want to do it again.