Difficult balancing act
Is there room for another species between the marathon road bike and the gravel bike? Apparently yes. At least there are always new bikes squeezing in between the two established categories. We are talking about all-road bikes. As the name suggests, they should feel at home on almost any surface and combine the long-distance capability of a marathon bike with the off-road capability of a gravel bike. Will they manage this balancing act?
The new Votec VRC Pro has to prove it in the TOUR testwhich, according to the manufacturer, "feels at home on all roads" and has been revised for the current model year with electronic twelve-speed groupsets from either SRAM or Shimano.
Before you get on the saddle of the Votec VRC Pro, the striking knot between the seat tube and top tube catches the eye. As with its predecessor - the relatively bulky carbon frame remained untouched during the model update - it houses the seatpost clamp. This is attached to the top tube with two hexagon socket screws and can be removed together with the seatpost. The set seat height remains fixed. This nice detail makes the VRC a little easier to maintain, but otherwise doesn't offer too much added value.
Deep-set clamping
In the saddle, the strengths of the construction are more present in the suspension comfort. The low-set clamp means that even the inexpensive aluminium seatpost flexes noticeably. A carbon seatpost would yield significantly more, but is only available from the two most expensive equipment variants (from 3,999 euros) comes as standard on the Votec VRC Pro. In relation to this, the front of the bike is extremely unyielding, the massive carbon fork hardly has any suspension. Both comparable all-road bikes such as the BMC Roadmachine X (TOUR 1/2022) as well as current Endurance models such as Rose's Reveal Four (TOUR 4/2022) can do this much better.
The 32 millimetre wide standard tyres can at least compensate for this harshness somewhat. On tarmac and gravel motorways, the nimble Votec irons out the bumps. However, as soon as the surface becomes looser, the Votec VRC Pro starts to hop over the little stones, and on muddy ground the smooth Vittoria Terreno Zero tyres don't bite into the ground enough. Even if the frame and fork would allow tyres up to 35 millimetres wide: The VRC is therefore no substitute for a gravel bike specialising in off-road riding.
High weight, modern technology
The frame geometry is balanced and is equally suitable for relaxed tours and high speeds. Thanks to the comparatively long wheelbase, paired with an extreme trail, the Votec VRC Pro rolls extremely true and smoothly, even on loose surfaces. On fast descents or evasive manoeuvres off-road - keyword: potholes - it reacts rather sluggishly. The rather high total weight of 8.7 kilograms also prevents lively manoeuvres; both the frame set and the wheels are heavy.
The Stuttgart-based mail-order brand, which sells its gearshift groupsets via the online platforms fahrrad.de and bruegelmann.de the VRC with state-of-the-art technology. The Pro version tested is available at a remarkably fair price with Shimano's new Ultegra Di2 2x12 which impresses with precise gear changes and powerful brakes. Thanks to the 1:1 gear ratio, the Votec can also tackle steeper ramps. The VRC Comp, the cheapest version at € 500, also features wireless shifting with SRAM's Rival eTap AXS and a small gear ratio (48/35, 10-36 teeth), but must allow for an additional weight of around 500 grams. The Frame set is available in limited quantities for 1,499 euros.
Conclusion
Overall, the Votec VRC Pro has the characteristics you would expect from an all-road bike. It really fulfils its potential on levelled field and forest paths, where the riding fun is comparable to that of a race gravel bike. The Votec also cuts a fine figure on tarmac - despite its high weight - and competes with inexpensive marathon bikes. Contrary to the manufacturer's claim, however, it only feels "at home on all roads" to a limited extent. Demanding terrain should be avoided with the VRC Pro and left to the specialists. At Votec, these go by the name of VRX and were also revised at the end of last year.
Facts about the Votec VRC Pro
- Price: 3,499 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 8.7 kilos
- Info: www.votec.de
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing*: 1,318/410/62 grammes
Frame sizes**: XS, S, M, L, XL
Seat/top/head tube: 505/555/168 millimetres
Stack/Reach/STR***: 583/389 millimetres/1.50
Wheelbase/caster: 1,005/62 millimetres
Equipment
Drive/gear shift: Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12, 50/34, 11-34 t.)
Brakes: Shimano Ultegra (160/140 mm)
Wheels/tyres (weights): Mavic Allroad S/Vittoria Terreno Zero 32 mm (f./h.1,546/2,002 g)
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer's test size bold.
***Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (stack to reach) 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 an upright riding position.
Julian Schultz
Editor
