This latest Carbon Pro is the sixth generation of a path that Pearson Cycles began in 2004. Sitting as its flagship 'own brand' bike, it's expectedly festooned with the latest frame quirks and top-end kit.

Shimano's Dura-Ace groupset provides the running gear while finishing kit like 4ZA's one-piece carbon bar/stem combo and Mavic's Cosmic Carbone wheelset are both desirable and 'job done' products. At this price you'd expect high standards and you won't be disappointed.

Pearson's design team has obviously learnt a great deal through its history with this bike and this particular Carbon Pro is a great success. Although visually it smacks of being a 'trend follower' with all the usual boxes ticked - oversized bottom bracket area, chainstays, head tube, and fork, plus an integrated seatpost - the ride quality says something more has been brought to the table.

Verdict

Pearson may have taken industry-wide thinking as a basis, but it's done a really good job with it, delivering something better than expected. There's a reassuring amount of stiffness in all the right areas to take care of putting a smile on your face when you want maximum performance, but you can still sit back and enjoy the ride.

Some may need to beware the head tubes are quite tall for size - a frame with 565mm top tube has an immense 195mm head tube - but for many that will be more pro than con.

Reviewer: Stu Bowers