The head-tube is tall and the heavily tapered top-tube is shortened to reduce reach by around 20mm compared to a regular road bike, but with the stem slammed it still gave us our usual drop. The down-tube and seat-tube are constant round shapes, but the chainstays are very deep for the first third of their length, before flattening and
widening to meet the curved spindly seatstays, aiming for power transfer and vibration control. The extended wheelbase allows for 28mm tyres – and heaps of clearance – with the 27.2mm seatpost further softening the ride. Our large frame has a claimed weight of 1050g, showing the added strength necessary to fulfil pro riders’ cobbled race requirements, and built with Shimano Ultegra and RS31 wheels the overall weight is acceptable.
From the comfortable own-brand Aliante-like saddle, it feels like a race bike. The bump-defeating features haven’t dulled performance, with the stiffness and response up there with many top road machines. Sprinting shows great solidity between the bar, PF30 bottom bracket, chainstays and back wheel, which is capably managed by a
planted front end. And though acceleration is hurt by rotational mass, it is still a very tidy performer.