"Force" gears from SRAM, carbon cranks from FSA, lightweight wheels from Easton, add-on parts from 3T: mail-order company Rose is sending an opulently equipped bike off-road with the "X-Lite Cross AL". The basis for the high-quality mix of parts is a super-stiff aluminium frame with press-fit bottom bracket, internally routed brake and gear cables and tapered steerer tube.
Fork stuttering is not an issue thanks to the stiff fork, but the cantilever brakes are still not convincing. The braking distance is still acceptable in dry conditions, but clearly too long in the wet. This is a shame because the bike is otherwise really fun: the riding position is comparatively upright, the steering behaviour is so agile thanks to the short trail that you tend to see a slalom pole in every tree while riding.
Price1,584 Euro
Weight: 8,9 Kilo
Reference/Info: Rose Versand, telephone 02871/275555, www.rose.de
Frame/fork/headset bearing* weight: 1,858/724/109 g; frame sizes**: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64 cm
Seat/steering angle: 73°/72°
Seat/top/head tube: 605/560/185 mm plus 17 mm headset cover
Wheelbase/caster: 1,022/58 mm
Stack/Reach/STR ***: 599/376 mm/1.59
Equipment
Fork: Red Bull
Steering bearing: FSA, top 1-1/8, bottom 1.5 inch
Brakes: FSA SL-K (cantilever)
Gear system: SRAM Force
Bottom bracket: FSA SL-K (46/36 t.)
Wheels/tyres: Easton EA70/Conti Cyclocross Race
Handlebar/stem: 3T Pro
Saddle/post: Fizik Arione/Xtreme (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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