The titanium racer from Van Nicholas is clearly comfort-orientated at the rear and the in-house carbon fork. The Dutchman achieves the best value for the frame, the carbon fork also yields noticeably - and is laterally stiff at the same time. This is clearly noticeable while riding: You can feel the suspension comfort, while the racer never acts critically on a rapid descent, but still lacks the last bit of directional stability. The riding position is sportier compared to the Lynskey racer. The workmanship is a touch better than on the American: the tubes are more finely polished, the weld seams a little more finely scaled; Van Nicholas gives a lifetime guarantee on this, but the carbon fork is excluded from this. The equipment package corresponds to the standard in the price range.
Reference/Info: Van Nicholas, phone 0031/186/657718, www.vannicholas.com
Weight frame/fork/headset bearing*: 1,610/393/98 g
Frame sizes**: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 cm
Seat/steering angle: 73.5°/73°
Seat/top/head tube: 535/565/178 mm
Wheelbase/ caster: 1,005/55 mm
Stack/reach***: 592/387 mm
EQUIPMENT
Fork: VNT Elements
Steering bearing: Chris King, 1-1/8 inch
Brakes/gears/bottom bracket: Shimano Ultegra (52/39 t.)
Wheels/tyres: Mavic Ksyrium SL/ Continental GP 4 Season (25 mm)
Handlebar/stem: VNT Classic/VNT
Saddle/post: Van Nicholas Leather Saddle/VN Ti Seatpost (27.2 mm)
*weighted weights; **manufacturer's specification; test frame size greased; ***stack/reach: projected vertical or horizontal dimension from centre of bottom bracket to top edge of headset cap
