{"id":48899,"date":"2023-05-03T11:00:42","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T09:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=726508"},"modified":"2023-05-03T11:35:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T09:35:46","slug":"bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike of the Week | Lapierre\u2019s Prorace is a stealthy cross-country ripper\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

XC hardtail features new carbon construction and triple-triangle rear end\u00a0 <\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 03 May 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Launched in September 2022, Lapierre\u2019s Prorace CF 9.9 cross-country hardtail has arrived at BikeRadar Towers for testing.<\/p>\n

This hardtail mountain bike<\/a> has 100mm of suspension travel<\/a> and is easily identifiable by its triple-triangle style design, which Lapierre claims introduces further compliance.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at this race-ready build.<\/p>\n

Shaving weight<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Prorace has been on a diet.<\/span><\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Prorace sees a significant reduction in weight over its predecessor, thanks to the brand\u2019s new UD SLI (Unidirectional Superlight Innovation) carbon construction. This first debuted on the brand\u2019s XR and XRM full-suspension cross-country mountain bikes<\/a> launched in March 2022.<\/p>\n

There are two tiers of carbon frame, with this frame using the lighter \u2018UD SLI Team\u2019 carbon layup. Lapierre claims an 845g frame weight in a size medium, with the second-tier frames said to be 970g in an equivalent size.<\/p>\n

Lapierre says it has used new unidirectional Torayca carbon fibres. The brand is remaining coy on what exactly is used, although it notes T1000 carbon fibre features mainly on the top-tier frames.<\/p>\n

Lapierre also claims it has been able to expel excess resin from a new polypropylene rigid mandrel it has developed (what the fibres are wrapped around in the manufacturing process). The brand also says it has reduced the wall thickness of the tubes to save weight.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The 3D Tubular Concept will be familiar if you\u2019ve seen Lapierre\u2019s road bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The hardtail inherits the 3D Tubular concept the brand has used on its road bikes since 2015, such as the Xelius SL 9.0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is effectively a triple-triangle design sees the seatstays separated from the seat tube, which Lapierre claims improves their flexibility and disperses vibrations and other shocks via the top tube.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The geometry isn\u2019t groundbreaking.<\/span><\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The geometry<\/a> has also been revised, heading down the longer, lower and slacker<\/a> route. All sizes feature a 68-degree head tube angle and 74-degree seat tube angle, with the reach 455mm on a size large.<\/p>\n

What is Bike of the Week?<\/h3>\n

Every fortnight, we\u2019ll bring you a detailed first look at one of the latest bikes (or framesets) to arrive at BikeRadar HQ \u2013 from road to commuting, gravel to enduro, and anything in between.<\/p>\n

This is our chance to introduce the bike and everything that makes it unique before hitting the road or trails.<\/p>\n

Head to our\u00a0Bike of the Week hub<\/a> for previous editions.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div> <\/section>

A lightweight race spec<\/h2>\n
\""RockShox\"<\/picture><\/div>
A fitting fork for the price tag. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""RockShox\"<\/picture><\/div>
You can lock the fork out for race efforts.\u00a0<\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Lapierre\"<\/picture><\/div>
There\u2019s a remote up at the bar to control the lockout. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

At \u00a35,999\/\u20ac6,799, the Prorace CF 9.9 we have in for testing sits at the top of the range.<\/p>\n

For carbon-framed models, the range starts at \u00a31,999\/\u20ac2,299 for the Prorace CF 5.9 and there\u2019s even an aluminium 4.9 model at \u00a31,499\/\u20ac1,499.<\/p>\n

RockShox<\/a> is on suspension duty on the Prorace CF 9.9 with its SID SL Ultimate Charger Race Day fork.<\/p>\n

\""Lapierre\"<\/picture><\/div>
No cables to be seen here. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""SRAM\"<\/picture><\/div>
There\u2019s a 10-52t cassette to provide plenty of range. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""SRAM\"<\/picture><\/div>
Lapierre deviates to an X1 crankset. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""SRAM\"<\/picture><\/div>
The SRAM UDH hanger future-proofs the bike. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

The bike is decked out with a SRAM X01 Eagle AXS drivetrain<\/a>, the only deviation being an X1 carbon crankset<\/a>. Lapierre opts for a 34t chainring, with the crankset spinning on a PF92 bottom bracket<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The TLM is the top brake in SRAM\u2019s lightweight Level range.<\/span><\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

SRAM\u2019s Level TLM disc brakes<\/a> bring you to a stop and Lapierre specs a 180mm SRAM Centerline rotor<\/a> up-front and a smaller-diameter 160mm out back.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Maxxis rubber is always nice to see.<\/span><\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Lapierre provides its own XC CL 29 carbon mountain bike wheels<\/a> with an asymmetric rim. The wheels feature a 27mm internal rim width<\/a> and are wrapped with Maxxis\u2019 Rekon Race mountain bike tyres<\/a> in a 29\u00d72.35in flavour. The Rekons feature Maxxis\u2019 3C MaxxTerra triple compound with a 120 TPI casing.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A Fizik Taiga saddle rounds out the build.<\/span><\/figcaption> Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A 740mm-wide FSA SL-K carbon handlebar<\/a> in 740mm width is paired with Lapierre\u2019s own 7050 Alloy forged stem<\/a>. The brand also provides its own lock-on grips<\/a> and alloy 27.2mm-diameter seatpost<\/a>, with a Fizik Taiga saddle.<\/p>\n

Our size-large test bike weighs in at 9.79kg without pedals.<\/p>\n

The Prorace is part of a cross-country bikes<\/a> group test, so stay tuned for senior technical editor Tom Marvin\u2019s verdict.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

XC hardtail features new carbon construction and triple-triangle rear end\u00a0 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":48900,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2023\/05\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper.png",1860,1239,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2023\/05\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2023\/05\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper-300x200.png",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2023\/05\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper-768x512.png",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2023\/05\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper-1024x682.png",800,533,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2023\/05\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper-1536x1023.png",1536,1023,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2023\/05\/bike-of-the-week-lapierres-prorace-is-a-stealthy-cross-country-ripper.png",1860,1239,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":"XC hardtail features new carbon construction and triple-triangle rear end\u00a0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/48899"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}