Dave’s all-road bike

Dave is a local rider and so was able to visit to review his fit before we started on his bike design. The brief was for a capable road bike that would fit 40mm tires, with a regular 2x groupset and integrated brake hoses. The frame features a custom taper-ovalised toptube, specially shaped chainstays and seatstays, and is paired to an Enve In-Route fork via a Chris King Aeroset.

Crisp, clean white paint is by Colorworks and the bike weighs in at 16.9lbs.

 

I have been riding a long while and for the past few decades, I don’t think I have had a connection with any road bike that I have owned or ridden…until, now. Firstly, the bike is just beautiful, not only in the clean lines, impeccable paint, and immaculate build, but it is perfectly proportioned and seems to capture the essence of balance. Even at first glance, the bike’s elegance captures you esthetically. Secondly, I have never just jumped on a bike without tweaking (seatpost height, bar angle, hood position, saddle tilt, etc). However, on this bike, I did absolutely nothing as I trusted you and your process implicitly. NO disappointment there. The fit felt perfect—no stops on the road side with an allen wrench to make adjustments. I think I am a bit more behind the BB, but with 160 crank arms, I always felt on top of the power stroke. I may have to rethink the position on my other bikes. Thirdly, I am inherently a discerning individual and I am particularly skeptical about how the cycling media describes bikes. Often, what they write/print is completely antithetical to reality. BUT I can comprehend how a bike feels, and this bike feels like the business. Solid and planted. No problems getting up to speed. I purposely wanted to climb a couple of short/steep climbs which completely loaded the bottom bracket and again, the bike handled it with aplomb. I would have as much confidence racing this bike on a technical criterium as I would on a gravel race.

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