{"id":41322,"date":"2022-09-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=41322"},"modified":"2022-10-04T17:35:30","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T15:35:30","slug":"carbon-neutral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/2022\/09\/30\/carbon-neutral\/","title":{"rendered":"Carbon neutral"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

Carbon neutral<\/h2>\n\n

Carbon-light bikes<\/span><\/h6>\n\n

Carbon fibre dominates modern bike design, but can alternative frame materials offer performance with a difference? We test a material mix to find out<\/p>\n\n

Words <\/strong>Warren Rossiter | Photography<\/strong> Russell Burton<\/p>\n\n

\n\n

Need to know<\/h4>\n\n

Carbon fibre may be the go-to frame material these days, but have you looked into the other options? Some metals have seriously impressive credentials that may make you think twice when buying your next bike\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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CARBON FIBRE BIKES <\/strong>arrived in the early 1980s, featuring carbon tubes bonded into aluminium lugs. These were followed in 1986 by the Kestrel 4000, the first all-carbon production bike. Since then, carbon production has steadily become the <\/em>material of choice for modern performance bikes. But great things can be done with metals too\u2026 <\/p>\n\n

01<\/span> Steel life <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The most venerable of materials for making bikes is steel. It\u2019s represented here by Cotic\u2019s Escapade, which boasts an asymmetrically butted down-tube. The Ovalform top-tube is double-butted, the seat-tube is bulgebutted and there are custom butted and curved tubes for the chainstays and the brand\u2019s signature wishbone seatstays. <\/p>\n\n

Next year there\u2019ll be a limited-edition version made from premium Reynolds 853 steel, which has the strength-to-weight ratio of titanium and gets stronger when it cools after welding. This means frames can offer race-ready stiffness with a high strength while retaining a bit of the \u2018give\u2019 and \u2018life\u2019 that steel frames are known for. <\/p>\n\n

02<\/span> Alloy ahoy! <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Aluminium surpassed steel as the racer\u2019s choice for a few years in the 1980s and 1990s before carbon fibre swept it away. Nowadays aluminium is found mainly on entry-level bikes. There are, however, a few exceptions such as Cannondale\u2019s stunning CAAD13 and Specialized\u2019s Allez Sprint. The Italian bike builder Basso also believes in aluminium alloys as a performance material. Basso\u2019s striking Tera has an aluminium front triangle that\u2019s built to be stiff and light, which is attached to a rear triangle made from carbon fibre. Crucially, the front and back are connected to each other via a pivot, creating a soft-tail rear end for comfort. <\/p>\n\n

03<\/span> Tough ti <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Titanium\u2019s toughness and resistance to corrosion are its plus points. It\u2019s represented here by Liverpool\u2019s Dolan Cycles\u2019 ADX endurance bike. The frame is made from 3Al\/2.5V titanium alloyed with aluminium and vanadium, which was originally used for aerospace applications. The first titanium bikes were made by Speedwell in the UK and Germany\u2019s Flema in the early 1970s. Since then, brands such as Moots, Seven, Lynskey and Reilly have pushed the material to greater heights.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

04<\/span> Magnificent magnesium <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Magnesium alloy first appeared on bikes such as Kirk\u2019s Precision in the late 1980s, and Italian marque Pinarello also dabbled with the metal, releasing a Dogma with a magnesium alloy frame in 2004. The latest \u2018Super-Magnesium\u2019 alloy used on Vaast\u2019s R\/1 was developed for the aerospace industry. Vaast claims it\u2019s lighter than aluminium, steel and titanium; stronger than steel and aluminium and more resistant to corrosion. The mag-alloys also use 40% less energy to create than an aluminium or steel frame and, unlike carbon, the alloy is 100% recyclable. <\/p>\n\n

\n\n

Warren Rossiter <\/strong>
Senior Technical Editor <\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

During Warren\u2019s more than <\/em>20 years of bike testing, he\u2019s seen carbon evolve into what it is today. However he still has a fondness for alloy, titanium and steel. In fact he still owns, and regularly enjoys riding, bikes made mostly from metal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

Bike tech explained <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your quickfire guide to bike jargon <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
Butted tubing<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Butted tubes have a constant outside diameter but the wall thickness varies within that. On a double-butted tube the ends of the tube are thicker \u2013 usually 0.8mm compared to 0.5mm in the middle of the tube. This helps make stronger joints while reducing weight in the centre. Bulge butted means the tube\u2019s reinforced on the outside.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4130 Cr-Mo steel<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf 4130 Cr-Mo \u2013 or chromoly \u2013 is a steel alloy of chromium, iron, molybdenum, carbon, silicon, manganese and sulphur. It\u2019s part of a whole category of 41xx alloys and the one most commonly used for bicycle frames. 4130 steels form the basis of tubing such as Reynolds\u2019 501, 520, 525 and 725, and even highly regarded steels such as 853 have base recipes derived from 4130 steel. Columbus and Tange\u2019s tubing ranges also feature plenty of 4130-derived tubesets.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stack <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The vertical distance between the top of the head-tube and the centre of the bottom bracket. A taller stack means a more upright ride position; a lower stack, a racier one. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Reach <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The horizontal distance between the centre of the bottom bracket and the centre of the head tube. A longer reach lowers your ride position, a shorter reach means you sit more upright. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIG-welded<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf TIG, or tungsten inert gas, welding offers precision control over the welding process and can allow you to weld in tighter spots than you might with other processes, making it ideal for thin-walled tubes and small areas present in a bicycle frame. TIG welds can be found on steel, aluminium and titanium frames as well as on some magnesium alloy frames.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shimano Di2<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Di2 stands for \u2018digitally integrated intelligence\u2019 and this is found on Shimano\u2019s top-end groupsets, which forgo cables in favour of electronic derailleurs powered by a battery wired to the shift levers and mechs, usually mounted inside the bike\u2019s seatpost.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

Bikes on test…<\/h4>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
Bikes on test…<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Basso Tera Gravel Apex
\u00a32,399<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vaast R\/1 Ultegra
\u00a33,199<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dolan ADX Titanium 105 Di2
\u00a33,099.98<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cotic Escapade Ekar
\u00a33,799<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Basso Tera Gravel Apex<\/h4>\n\n

\u00a32,399<\/span> Soft-tail alloy gravel machine with a pivoting carbon rear end <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Weight <\/strong>10.7kg (L) Frame <\/strong>Aluminium\/carbon Fork <\/strong>Carbon Gears <\/strong>SRAM Apex 1 x11 (42, 11-42) Brakes <\/strong>SRAM Apex hydraulic disc Wheels Microtech MX25 Finishing kit <\/strong>Microtech XL Gravel bar, Basso stem and seatpost, Selle San Marco GND saddle, Maxxis Rambler TR 45c tyres <\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

The Good<\/strong>
Compliant; comfortable; quick and forgiving handling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bad<\/strong>
Heavy wheels slow its climbing<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

BASSO BIKES DOESN\u2019T HAVE <\/strong>the brand recognition in the UK of fellow Italian brands Pinarello, Colnago, Bianchi and Wilier. But the 45-year-old company has always taken pride in its made-in-Italy foundations, from the time Alcide Basso started making steel bikes in the 1970s to today\u2019s handmade-in-Italy carbon creations. <\/p>\n\n

The Tera features a beautifully finished aluminium front triangle that uses manipulated tube shapes, from a slender, round seat-tube to a tapering hexagonal-to-ovalised down-tube and a kinked, flattening top-tube, which is finished off with an oversized machined head-tube. <\/p>\n\n

This metal front end is paired with a carbon rear triangle. This has a solid connection with the bottom-bracket shell, while the skinny carbon seatstays are pivoted where they join the seat-tube, about half-way down. These stays can flex, soaking up bumps and vibrations to keep the rear end smooth without the need for a flexible or suspension seatpost, and the distance between your saddle and pedals remains constant. Basso says this delivers more efficient pedalling. <\/p>\n\n

The Tera comes with 45mm of clearance for 700c tyres, and its 45c Maxxis Ramblers still leave plenty of space. The Ramblers\u2019 studded treads were the perfect match for my test period\u2019s dusty trails, but they also roll reasonably swiftly on tarmac. Basso\u2019s component brand Microtech\u2019s MX25 gravel wheels have a broad, 25mm internal width and are solidly built around smooth cartridgebearing hubs and Sapim stainless spokes. They felt taut over coarse surfaces while still reducing jarring vibrations. The downside is their 2,120g weight, which contributes to the Tera\u2019s overall 10.7kg bulk. This didn\u2019t impact on its handling and it descends confidently, but it does feel a little sluggish on ascents, which is when you can really appreciate the SRAM\u2019s 1×1 bottom gear. <\/p>\n\n

Apex 1x is SRAM\u2019s first-tier gravel group, but the performance is anything but budget. The single right-hand Double- Tap shifting \u2013 one click to shift down, double-click to shift up \u2013 is quick and easy to use, and the wide-spaced, 11-speed, 11-42 cassette offers ample range for fast road rides to the steepest slopes. Apex\u2019s shifting may not be the quietest, thanks to the mix of mechanical click and sprung tension release. But the clutch-equipped rear mech helps to keep the chain controlled, even over drops and jumps. <\/p>\n\n

The braking is power-laden and has a good feel through the levers. The tall hoods may look a little inelegant, but I like how they give you a sense of security when going over bumpy terrain.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe Terra features a beautifully finished aluminium front triangle that uses several manipulated tube shapes\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

In addition to the wheels, Microtech also provides the alloy XL gravel bar \u2013 and it\u2019s a winner. The ovalised tops sweep back from the centre and transition into the drops, providing a good platform for the heels of your hands when you\u2019re on the hoods. The flare is moderate, but the midheight drop makes them ideal for riding in the drops. Another advantage of the less extreme flare is that the lever position is nearly vertical. <\/p>\n\n

  • \"\"
    01 The tall hoods help stop your hands bouncing off <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    02 The 1x SRAM Apex 11-speed setup works well <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    03 Skinny carbon seatstays can flex to soak up bumps <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n

    The well-thought-out geometry pairs a slack 70\u00b0 head and steep 73.5\u00b0 seat angle for a bike that\u2019s easy to pedal hard, yet with a front end relaxed enough to track on line when things get bumpy. The sporty ride position features a low 592mm stack and mid-length 384mm reach. The 46cm bar and 100mm stem elongate the reach a little and give a reasonably low and fast ride position in the drops, though when you\u2019re on the hoods, the swept-back bar can make it feel a little like a mountain bike when navigating twisty singletrack. <\/p>\n\n

    \"\"
    You\u2019ll have a sporty ride position when on the drops<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

    The Tera is a very capable gravel machine, with a smooth and stable ride that\u2019s low on fatigue-inducing vibrations. The frame is well appointed with mudguard mounts, top-tube mounts, multiple bottle fittings and even provision for a front mech. With a little less weight, ideally with lighter wheels, the Tera would be a real alternative to a lightweight carbon gravel bike. But even as it stands, it\u2019s still a very good option at a great price.<\/p>\n\n

    Verdict <\/span><\/strong>A great-value gravel machine with balanced handling and a smooth ride<\/p>\n\n

    Also consider… <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n\n

    A little more…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

    Basso Tera Gravel GRX600 <\/strong><\/strong>
    \u00a32,499<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

    <\/strong><\/em>Do <\/em>you like the soft-tail design of the Tera but prefer Shimano to SRAM? Well, Basso also makes this Shimano GRX 600-equipped edition, so your luck\u2019s in. <\/p>\n\n

    A lot more..<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

    Basso Palta disc GRX <\/strong>
    \u00a33,599<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

    The <\/strong><\/em>Palta Gravel is the Italian brand\u2019s take on a race gravel bike. Made from carbon, this lightweight model has a racing ride position and promises some fast handling. <\/p>\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n

    \n\n

    Vaast R\/1 Ultegra<\/h4>\n\n

    \u00a33,199<\/span> Magnesium-framed, aero-styled road machine <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    Weight <\/strong>8.37kg (XL) Frame <\/strong>Super-Magnesium Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra (50\/34 Praxis Zyante, 11-30) Brakes <\/strong>Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc Wheels Vaast Aero 30mm alloy tubeless ready Finishing kit <\/strong>VAAST Aero carbon bar and seatpost, Vaast Pro 3D forged stem, ProLogo Scratch M5 PAS saddle, Vittoria Rubino Pro 25mm tyres <\/p>\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
    <\/div>
    \n

    The Good<\/strong>
    Rapid handling; low weight; great kit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Bad<\/strong>
    Skinny tyres; stem paint flaking; slight frame rub<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

    EVEN THOUGH US BRAND VAAST <\/strong>has only been around since 2019, it has produced a wide range of bikes. It aims to make its products environmentally friendlier by shipping them in plastic-free packaging and by making its frames from magnesium. The \u2018Super-Magnesium\u2019 alloy it uses, originally designed for the defence and aviation industries, comes from the US company Alite. <\/p>\n\n

    Vaast and Alite claim Super-Magnesium is lighter than aluminium, steel and titanium, as well as being stronger than steel and aluminium and more resistant to corrosion. It also requires 40% less energy than steel and aluminium to manufacture and it\u2019s 100% recyclable. The 1,250g claimed frame weight would be respectable for an aluminium alloy frame, and the complete bike weight is by far the lightest here. Our Ultegra-equipped model sits in the middle of the three-bike R\/1 range, between a 105 and a SRAM wireless Force AXS (see right). The R\/1 frame\u2019s curved, flattening toptube gently arches back to the aero-shaped seat-tube, the wheelbase is tightened with a cutaway for the rear wheel, while the triangulated down-tube adds plenty of torsional stiffness. The back end is more slender and the seatstays slightly dropped, nicely balancing the bike\u2019s looks between modern and classic. <\/p>\n\n

    The frame has sensible details, including a threaded T47 bottom bracket and mounts for a rear guard, though neither the fork legs nor bridge have fittings. This is a shame as the R\/1 is a potential fast commuter-cum-winter trainer. Plus the single central entry port for the internal cable routing means two cables and the rear brake hose are routed a little untidily around the head-tube.<\/p>\n\n

    The geometry is built for speed, with my XL test bike pairing steep parallel 73\u00b0 head-tube and seat-tube angles with a very short 1,009mm wheelbase, a low 590mm stack and long 400mm reach. All this gives the R\/1 an unashamedly oldschool race-bike feel about it. <\/p>\n\n

    Vaast\u2019s kit choices are excellent. The aeroshaped carbon seatpost is topped with ProLogo\u2019s quality Scratch M5, a compliant, supportive and compact saddle that encourages you to go down in the drops. <\/p>\n\n

    The slender stem is colour-matched to the frame and clamps to a well-shaped carbon Vaast bar that has a deep teardrop-profile top section, slight backsweep and deep ergo drops. Sadly, the paint on the stem\u2019s faceplate is flaking a little. It won\u2019t hamper performance, but doesn\u2019t look great. <\/p>\n\n

    • \"\"
      01 The carbon Vaast bar boasts deep ergo drops <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
    • \"\"
      02 Steep headtube and seat-tube angles make it racy <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
    • \"\"
      03 There’s a good spread of gears to choose from <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n

      Vaast\u2019s own wheels have been made in collaboration with Alex Rims. The 30mm-deep, aero-shaped alloy rims are tubeless-ready and weigh just 1,500g a pair, helping to keep the bike\u2019s weight down.<\/p>\n\n

      \u201cVaast claims Super- Magnesium is lighter than aluminium, steel and titanium; and stronger than steel and aluminium\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

      Shimano\u2019s mechanical Ultegra offers a great all-round gear range, pairing an 11-30 cassette with Praxis\u2019s highly rated carbon Zyante 50\/34 chainset. Shifting is swift, though the chainset\/front mech combo wasn\u2019t quite as slick as an all-Shimano setup, and there was a little annoying chain rub when the chain was crossing from big ring to larger cogs at the rear. <\/p>\n\n

      The frame and fork are stiff but don\u2019t transmit much road buzz, which is impressive considering the bike has slender 25c tyres and a rim that\u2019s narrow by modern standards, giving you much less cushioning than you\u2019d get from a bike such as the Dolan with its wider 28mm tyres sitting on broader rims. <\/p>\n\n

      The result, though, is a bike with handling so crisp and direct you can\u2019t help but have fun threading it downhill or weaving through traffic. The firmness of the ride isn\u2019t wearing on smooth surfaces but can get a little jumpy on rutted roads where the slim tyres don\u2019t offer much compliance. Since the R\/1 can take tyres up to 30mm, I\u2019d switch to 28mm tubeless tyres. <\/p>\n\n

      \"\"
      The bike blends modern and classic looks well<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

      Overall, Vaast\u2019s R\/1 personifies everything that\u2019s good about alloy \u2013 whether it\u2019s aluminium or magnesium. It\u2019s light enough, fast enough and inexpensive enough, and with its near-classic race shape, it\u2019s a blast to ride. And thanks to its stiff frame, lowish overall weight, light wheels and responsive ride, the R\/1 is also the quickest climber here. With more compliant tyres and a couple of detail updates truly outstanding alternative to carbon.<\/p>\n\n

      Verdict<\/span> With rapid handling, this is a lightweight, racy ride that oozes old-school charm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

      Also consider… <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n\n

      A little less.<\/strong><\/em>..

      VaastR\/1 105
      \u00a32,299.99<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

      This uses the same lightweight Super-Magnesium frame but this time it\u2019s completed with Shimano\u2019s mechanical 105 groupset and Vaast aluminium tubeless ready wheels. it would be be a ride that oozes <\/p>\n\n

      A little more…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

      VaastR\/1 Force AXS <\/strong>
      \u00a34,999.99<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

      The same frame is used again but here it\u2019s decked out with 12-speed wireless SRAM Force AXS and 45mm-deep carbon aerodynamic wheels, pushing up the spec, and the price, significantly. <\/p>\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n

      \n\n

      Dolan ADX Titanium 105 Di2<\/h4>\n\n

      \u00a33,099.98<\/span> Titanium endurance machine with Shimano\u2019s new 105 Di2 <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

      Weight <\/strong>9.3kg (58.5cm) Frame <\/strong>3Al\/2.5V titanium Fork <\/strong>Alpina ADX carbon Gears <\/strong>Shimano 105 Di2 (50\/34, 11-34) Wheels Mavic <\/strong>Cosmic SL 32 Brakes <\/strong>Shimano 105 hydraulic disc Finishing kit <\/strong>Deda Zero bar and stem, Selle Italia Novus saddle, Alpina Ti seatpost, Continental GP5000 28c tyres <\/p>\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
      <\/div>
      \n

      The Good<\/strong>
      Great value; wireless shifting; smooth ride; sporty handling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The Bad<\/strong>
      Coarse bottle boss thread<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n

      LIVERPOOL-BASED DOLAN HAS <\/strong>been designing its own-brand bikes under founder Terry Dolan since 1977. With close ties to British cycling and track racing, its range covers everything from road and time-trial machines to gravel, tandem and ebikes. <\/p>\n\n

      Dolan\u2019s ADX Titanium is the brand\u2019s take on the classic endurance bike, with a smart, brushed-finish 3Al\/2.5V tubeset built into a semi-sloping frame. Proper mudguard mounts and provision for rear racks make it a truly year-round machine, adding commuting and light touring to the ADX\u2019s endurance credentials. <\/p>\n\n

      The ADX is available from \u00a32,399 with mechanical Shimano 105, to \u00a36,449.99 for a model with Dura-Ace Di2. I opted for the new 105 Di2 to get a bit of the flagship feel for less than half the price. <\/p>\n\n

      The geometry is classic road bike, with a steep, 74\u00b0 head and similarly upright 73.5\u00b0 seat angle, though the riding position is relaxingly upright, with a tall 623mm stack and short 390.2mm reach. I thought this might make the bike feel too sedate, but the steepness of the head angle combined with the straight-legged fork make the steering quick and the ADX feels responsive thanks to the stiffness through the bottom bracket. <\/p>\n\n

      What usually marks out a titanium frame is a softer spring than you get with quality steel frames such as the Cotic\u2019s. Dolan\u2019s ADX, however, feels more like the spring of steel, which means the bike\u2019s great fun to ride, with quick handling and a position that\u2019s very easy to live with. In short, the ADX offers everything you\u2019d want from an endurance bike. I found Shimano\u2019s new 105 Di2 impressive. It shares the same 12-speed gearing as its more expensive siblings, though with fewer gearing options available. Our test bike\u2019s climbing-friendly 50\/34 chainset and 11\/34 cassette\u2019s 1:1 bottom gear will keep you spinning up the steepest climbs though.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

      The rear-mech\u2019s shifting is pretty much indistinguishable from the dearer Ultegra Di2. And while its front shifts aren\u2019t quite as quick as Ultegra, the motor-assisted shifts under load between chainrings is dependable and accurate. The levers lack the additional buttons of Ultegra and Dura- Ace, so you can\u2019t control your Garmin head unit hands-free. Thankfully the 105 Di2\u2019s semi-wireless design lets you connect to your Garmin or Wahoo head unit to show your gearing and each battery\u2019s individual level. The mechs are powered by a wired seatpost-mounted battery with the levers using coin cells. <\/p>\n\n

      • \"\"
        01 The new Shimano 105 Di2 didn’t disappoint <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
      • \"\"
        02 The tubeset has a smart, brushedmetal finish <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
      • \"\"
        03 The gearing ratios helped us up steep hills <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n

        Shimano has improved 105\u2019s braking too, with a more progressive lever action that gives more feel than ever. The distance between the pad and rotor has been increased by 10% to reduce the likelihood of rubbing, which seemed to work, though on a couple of wet rides I did get a bit of brake squeal under hard braking.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

        \u201cThis is Dolan\u2019s take on the classic endurance bike with a brushed finish 3Al\/2.5V titanium tubeset in a semi-sloping frame\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

        Mavic\u2019s understated Cosmic SL wheels are reasonably light and have a 32mm-deep rim with a 21mm internal width. Their special shaped and sealed rim bed makes them very easy to set up and maintain as tubeless. Their stiff, solid feel is classic Mavic. The 9\u02da-engagement freehub picks up quickly and the wheels\u2019 tautness balances the smooth-riding titanium frame. The tyres are even more impressive. Continental\u2019s 28mm GP5000s are superb: compliant, fast, grippy and durable. Be aware they\u2019re not the tubeless version, though. <\/p>\n\n

        Dolan finishes off the ADX with a smattering of quality Italian components, including Deda\u2019s dependable Zero stem and bar. The stem is stiff and light, the bar has a good shape with a big, hand-friendly semicompact drop and nicely ovalised tops. It\u2019s well complemented by Deda\u2019s tacky and grippy all-weather tape. Alpina\u2019s titanium seatpost is polished to match the frame and is topped with Selle Italia\u2019s well-padded Novus saddle, with a full-length channel and split nose that I found comfortable as the hours \u2013 and miles \u2013 mounted up. <\/p>\n\n

        \"\"
        The riding position is upright and comfortable<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n

        My only niggle with the ADX is that one of the down-tube\u2019s welded-in bottle bosses had a very coarse thread that wasn\u2019t perfectly aligned. Ideally this thread would have been chased out properly when the bike was assembled, but that\u2019s a tiny thing on well-priced bike with a quality ride. <\/p>\n\n

        Verdict <\/span> A great, sporty, yearround bike that majors in value and doesn\u2019t disappoint in its ride<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

        Also consider… <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n\n

        A little les<\/strong><\/em>s<\/em><\/strong>…<\/p>\n\n

        Dolan ADX Titanium disc Ultegra <\/strong>
        \u00a32,799.98<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

        Dolan\u2019s <\/em>titanium frameset built up with mechanical Shimano Ultegra mechanical gears and custom options from Dolan\u2019s bikebuilder website. <\/p>\n\n

        A little more… <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

        Dolan ADX Titanium disc Ultegra Di2 12 speed <\/strong>
        \u00a34,449.98<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

        The same frameset again, but this time with Shimano\u2019s brilliant semi-wireless 12-speed Ultegra as well as plenty of options for customisation. <\/p>\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n

        \n\n

        Cotic Escapade Road Plus Platinum<\/h4>\n\n

        \u00a33,899<\/span> British-designed, steel framed, all-road, go-anywhere machine <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

        Weight 9.93kg <\/strong>(L) Frame <\/strong>Custom 4130 multi-butted steel Fork <\/strong>Carbon Gears <\/strong>Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed (38, 9-42) Brakes <\/strong>Campagnolo Ekar hydraulic disc Wheels Fulcrum <\/strong>Rapid Red 500 DB 2WF Finishing kit <\/strong>Cotic bar, stem and saddle, CC Alloy seatpost, WTB Horizon Road plus 47c Skinwall TCS tyres <\/p>\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n
        <\/div>
        \n

        The Good<\/strong>
        Great balance of comfort and performance; quality frameset; versatility<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The Bad<\/strong>
        Average saddle; versatility means tough build choices<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

        THE PEAK DISTRICT-BASED <\/strong>British steel specialist Cotic has an enviable reputation among mountain bike aficionados, thanks to its forward-thinking design and love of all things steel. But while best known for its off-road bikes, Cotic has been designing interesting drop-bar bikes since its earliest days in the early noughties. The Escapade is Cotic\u2019s go-anywhere, no-limits road bike. When launched in 2015 it featured horizontal dropouts that enabled it to be run with hub or derailleur gears or as a single-speed. On our fourth-generation Escapade, it\u2019s thru-axles both ends, but versatility is still very much to the fore. <\/p>\n\n

        The Escapade comes with a choice of two wheel sizes across multiple models that start at \u00a31,799. I opted for the smaller 650b wheels with huge Road Plus tyres, Campagnolo\u2019s 1×13 speed gravel\/adventure gearing and Fulcrum\u2019s Rapid Red 500 wheels. For \u00a3939 you can also buy it as a \u2018rolling chassis\u2019 \u2013 a frameset with wheels \u2013 and spec the rest of the kit yourself. <\/p>\n\n

        The beautifully finished frame has tidy welds throughout and pretty much every fitting you could wish for. The carbon fork has an internal brake hose routing along with triple \u2018anything\u2019 bosses on the legs, mudguard mounts and a drilled bridge. The frame has internal routing for Di2 and external removable mounts for mechanical drivetrains. <\/p>\n\n

        The down-tube has six bottle bosses and there\u2019s a further set on the seat-tube, though oddly there are no top-tube bento-box mounts. Wishbone seatstays offer rack and mudguard fittings, making the Escapade equally suitable as a bikepacking machine, trainer or year-round commuter bike.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

        • \"\"
          01 The large 38t chainring helps give a wide gear range <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
        • \"\"
          02 Triple ‘anything’ bosses on the fork make it versatile <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
        • \"\"
          03 The wide flared bar helps you ride technical terrain <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n

          Thanks to its 9-42t cassette and 38t chainring, Campag\u2019s 13-speed Ekar delivers a super-wide gearing range. The Escapade accelerates well on WTB\u2019s 47mm semi-slick tyres, though once you\u2019re up to pace in a group ride, you\u2019ll be putting in more effort than your friends on 700c wheels. The wheels have a shallow 24mm-deep rim that measures 28mm externally and 23mm internally, pushing the tyres to 50mm, right at the rear triangle\u2019s limit. The Fulcrums are a pretty weighty 1,760g, though, and the tyres add over a kilo, so these aren\u2019t flyweight climbing wheels. On one of my test rides that included half a mile of ploughed bridleway, the bike collected mud around the tyre, chainstay and bottom bracket shell. This didn\u2019t stall the bike, but was a gentle reminder that the Escapade isn\u2019t a mountain bike.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

          \u201cThe beautifully finished steel frame has tidy welds throughout and pretty much every fitting you could wish for\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

          The Escapade is a capable climber in spite of its weighty wheels. You\u2019re never going to set Strava KOMs on tarmac, but it\u2019s easy to sit in the saddle on the Escapade and pound out a steady rhythm. On light gravel and unmetalled roads it\u2019s even better, with the big, pliable tyres and a sufficiently stiff head-tube and carbon fork giving a rocksteady ride when you\u2019re pulling around on the bar. This is balanced by the steel frame that easily swallows up uneven surfaces and jarring ruts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

          The Escapade\u2019s geometry is pitched just right too, its sporty-endurance 598mm stack combining with a 397mm reach for a ride position that\u2019s equally at home at speed or when you\u2019re sitting up and spinning while taking in the great outdoors. Its 1,035mm wheelbase is short enough to make it quick through tight turns, while its 72\u00b0 head and 73\u00b0 seat angle deliver a bike that has the trappings of a tidy tourer but the soul of a race bike. <\/p>\n\n

          The low-slung frame adds to the bike\u2019s nimble handling and it impressed over woodland singletrack. It\u2019s easy to throw around and maintain both your balance and a fast line. Its components are good, solid alloy items, with a 46cm flared bar that\u2019s great for technical terrain and with a short drop that lets you get low on the road, to cheat the wind and keep up your pace. <\/p>\n\n

          <\/p>\n\n

          \"\"
          A low-slung frame means nimble handling<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

          The only real criticism I can level at the Escapade is the saddle. I found it overly firm, long, and narrow and, though I rode it on numerous rides, it still wouldn\u2019t be my personal choice. But as Cotic bikes are built to order, this isn\u2019t really an issue. The biggest question is whether to go for a 700c or 650b Road Plus wheelset, and that, again, is up to you. <\/p>\n\n

          Verdict <\/strong>With a lively chassis and fun handling, this is a well-made, do-anything drop-bar bike <\/p>\n\n

          Also consider…<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n\n

          A lot less… <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

          Cotic Escapade Road Plus Gold 1x <\/strong>
          \u00a31,799<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

          Sporting the same steel Escapade frameset, this one\u2019s built up with a costeffective mix of SRAM 1×11 Apex and Cotic\u2019s own wheels for those with a smaller budget.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

          A little less… <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

          Cotic Escapade 700c Platinum 2x <\/strong>
          \u00a33,484<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

          * *<\/p>\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

          Here, <\/em>proving its versatility, the Escapade frame is built up for the road, with SRAM\u2019s wireless Force AXS groupset and Hope\u2019s 20Five RS4 24 wheelset. *Exact spec not shown <\/em><\/p>\n\n

          <\/p>\n\n

          <\/p>\n\n

          \n\n
          The winner is\u2026 <\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

          Dolan ADX Titanium Shimano 105 Di2<\/h4>\n\n

          Titanium takes it, thanks to a great spec and versatile ride <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n

          EACH OF OUR BIKES <\/strong>shows beyond doubt that Carbon isn\u2019t the only material out there when it comes to serious performance bikes.
          The Basso Tera\u2019s clever design not only stands out from the crowd but the bike\u2019s quick handling and smooth ride challenges gravel bikes at twice the price. With a lighter, quicker set of wheels it\u2019d be a true giant killer. <\/p>\n\n

          Vaast\u2019s R\/1 brings carbon-like lightness to an alloy road bike, and the magnesium frame feels lively yet forgiving over poor surfaces. The build is great value, and the bike should excel on well-kept tarmac, but the old-school skinny rims and tyres may suffer a little on rougher surfaces. With a more modern wheel and tyre combo, it would hit top marks though. <\/p>\n\n

          \u201cThis month\u2019s winner is a smart hybrid of endurance-bike comfort and sportsbike handling with a price-busting spec\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

          Cotic\u2019s fourth-generation Escapade retains its original, clever do-it-all design brief, so it can be pure road bike, tourer, bike-packer, gravel speedster, commuter or winter bike. But due to our Platinum build\u2019s price, it\u2019s just out-marked by the Dolan\u2019s ADX Titanium. <\/p>\n\n

          This month\u2019s winner is a smart hybrid of endurance-bike comfort and sportsbike handling, all wrapped up with a price-busting spec including premium Mavic carbon wheels and the latest semiwireless electronic group from Shimano. The new 12-speed 105 electronics are excellent and bring Shimano shifting reliability and electronic efficiency to a new price point and this, combined with Dolan\u2019s value, is tough to beat. The ADX is at home on rapid group rides, big days out and even commutes and rainy winter training rides, and all these qualities add up to hand this bike the top spot. <\/p>\n\n

          Thanks to our sponsors…<\/span><\/h5>\n\n
          \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
          \n\n
          Specifications & measurements <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

          \u25cf Geometry is probably the most important factor when buying a bike but even bikes nominally the same size can vary considerably. All reputable bike retailers should ensure the bike fits you. <\/span>
          *Centre of bar to centre of saddle clamp bolt on seatpost.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

          \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Carbon fibre dominates modern bike design, but can alternative frame materials offer performance with a difference?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":41321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"34","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"34","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_34-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_34-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_external_id":"November-2022-34-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"November-2022-34-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000111762||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000111762||","purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.398","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.398","purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.398","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.398","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"d6ad2395-23ab-4326-a10d-940b8b948490","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-09-29T16:13:54Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"0ba16dd0-13d1-4c6e-a8ee-d768bb82a5e1","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-10-04T15:35:55Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AC6Ft0BPRTG6o7tdou4Kl4Q","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[140],"tags":[124,14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"25","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1.jpg",2048,1448,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1-300x212.jpg",300,212,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1-768x543.jpg",768,543,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1-1024x724.jpg",800,566,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1-1536x1086.jpg",1536,1086,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/09\/602ffc71-2c29-4e4a-9321-7c3a5f632fe1.jpg",2048,1448,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Carbon fibre dominates modern bike design, but can alternative frame materials offer performance with a difference?","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41322"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41322"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42949,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41322\/revisions\/42949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}