All the capabilities of an adventure bike, but with the performance, low weight and characteristics of a gravel racer
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything but we do try to look for weak points in any design.
An aggressive position doesn't mean an aggressive front end, though. The handling has a large degree of neutrality to it, with just enough speed to keep the steering direct and responsive; when you add in the wheelbase length of 1,057mm you have a very stable machine. Ideal in slippery wet, muddy conditions.
Firmer trails are where you can really let the Race Edition fly. The wide tyres allow you to just soak up the bumps while the low weight gives you the means to bunny hop and flick the bike over rocks and roots if your route of choice is some twisty singletrack. The tyres fitted to our test bike aren't the standard spec – it should be 50mm Continental Terra Hardpacks – but the knobbly Conti Race Kings, also 50mm wide, are ideal for the current conditions.
The slender seatstays bring a noticeable amount of comfort-inducing flex to the rear end, which soaks up some of the bumps and high-frequency vibration. Even the chainstays are slender in comparison to many other frames, which also adds to the compliance at the rear, though Vielo has restricted this to the vertical plane. When climbing or accelerating, the rear triangle still feels tight, with no unwanted movement from side to side.
The uncluttered look also makes it easy to fit frame and bar bags, with probably the only downside being having to install the hoses in the first place. I'm not saying it is, as it's not something I've needed to have a go at. Vielo has gone for a BB386 Evo press-fit bottom bracket, and while I can hear the sound of air being sucked in through teeth as you read this, it really hasn't thrown up any issues in terms of reliability or creaking in what has been a very wet and muddy review period. Vielo has obviously made sure that the tolerances between the frame and the bottom bracket cup diameters have been kept very tight to ensure smooth running and minimising water ingress.
We have the medium, with a 555mm top tube, 393mm of reach and 572mm stack height. The head tube is 145mm in length with an angle 70.5 degrees, while the seat tube angle is a steeper 74.25 degrees.As I've touched on, the wheelbase is 1,057mm including the chainstay length of 435mm. The bottom bracket drop is 70mm.
For the braking Vielo has gone for a 160mm rotor on the front and 140mm at the rear, which provides ample stopping power. Modulation on SRAM's hydraulic systems has improved over the years with the latest versions feeling much less grabby. This gives you loads of control when using the front and rear brakes together or independently, to slow or control your line through a bend or on technical terrain.
A sandpaper-style effect is added lower down on the post to stop slippage, which works well, and adjustment takes place by way of a bolt and expanding wedge assembly hidden within the seat tube. As I said earlier, the tyres fitted to our test bike aren't the tyres you will get as the standard build. The Race Kings are actually from Continental's mountain bike range , but they certainly made it possible to review the bike in the current weather conditions. Vielo specifies Continental's Terra Hardpack on its website, and although the same width, they have a pretty much smooth central section for fast rolling in dry conditions, with treaded shoulders for extra cornering grip.
With the Zipp wheels added, our review model comes in at £6,049 and if you wanted the power meter, you'd be paying £6,448 in total. I just love the way that the V+1 behaves. The geometry is spot on. It's an easy bike to ride regardless of the conditions, which makes sure things are always fun, and if you want to push it on more technical trails it won't let you down there either.
Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive optionsWell made throughout, and the paint job is certainly eye-catching.The Vielo uses carbon fibre throughout the construction of the frame and fork.The geometry is fairly typical of a gravel machine, but maybe a touch slacker at the front than some, and with a slightly steeper seat angle, although we are only talking about 1/4 to 1/2 a degree here and there.
Which components had the most effect on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?Which components had the most effect on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?
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