The new race chassis from Rose is a complete departure from the old X-LIte. Out go the massively oversized round tubes and in comes a selection of squared-off profiles developed on from the CGF endurance bike, which debuted in 2014.
The frame has seen the design team focus on lower weight and increased stiffness where needed, and for the flagship âTeamâ frames that translates into 800g for the frame and a scant 315g for the fork.
- Highs: Lightweight, with an unbelievable specification for not much money
- Lows: Very race orientated is good or bad depending on your perspective â but it is a bit harsh on bad surfaces
- Buy if: Youâre an aspiring racer looking for whatâs arguably 2015âs best value bike
This more standard version weighs in at 910g for the frame, with the same fork being used on both. The latter was developed in partnership with materials experts at Bocholt University and is constructed from 140 unique carbon plies. Rose claims this makes for not only one of the lightest production forks around, but also one that boasts the highest lateral rigidity of all currently available forks it tested.
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Ultegra Di2 on a lightweight carbon frame at this price is preposterous
Improving stiffness and reducing weight are all good, but to counter the risk of creating a too-stiff bike Rose has employed slender, minimalist seatstays and fitted a similarly slimline FlexLogic carbon 27.2 seatpost to help with rear end smoothness.
You can read more at BikeRadar.com