The mail-order company Aeolus, which emerged from a bike shop in Offenbach, makes a promising debut in the TOUR test. The basis of the "Xuthos", named after a figure from Greek mythology, is a stiff aluminium frame with the cables running over the top tube, as crossers appreciate. The equipment, normally a matter for the customer, was chosen primarily with an eye on the scales - the result is impressive: No bike in the test is lighter. However, critics may take issue with the technically outdated cranks with square axle. The bike would also have benefited from wider tyres, but this can be changed when ordering.
In the practical test, we liked the balanced, good-natured handling at all times. The brakes decelerated well in dry conditions and could also be controlled reasonably well by the additional brake levers on the top link. In the wet, however, the braking distances were unacceptably long.
Price1,499 Euro
Weight: 8,6 Kilo
Reference/InfoAeolus Bikes GmbH, telephone 06106/6269500, www.aeolus-bike.de
Weight frame/fork/headset bearing*: 1,730/494/95 g
Frame sizes**: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 cm
Seat/steering angle: 73.5°/71.5°
Seat/top/head tube: 580/550/147 mm plus 16 mm headset cover
Wheelbase/caster: 1,011/67 mm
Stack/Reach/STR ***: 569/377 mm/1.51
Equipment
Fork: Aeolus
Steering bearing: n/a A., 1-1/8 inch
Brakes: Tektro CR720 (cantilever)
Gear system: Shimano Ultegra
Bottom bracket: Sugino XD (48/34 t.)
Wheels/tyres: P.O.G. CCR20/Panaracer Crossblaster
Handlebar/stem: Syntace Racelite/F139
Saddle/post: Aeolus/Syntace P6 (31.6 mm)
*Weighted weights; **Manufacturer's specification, test frame size greased; ***Stack/Reach: projected vertical or horizontal measurement from centre of bottom bracket to top of headset cap; STR: (Stack to Reach) values between 1.45 and 1.55 indicate a sporty riding position, values below are race-like, above are comfortable.
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