The women's version of the Challenge frame is slightly shorter than the men's model, which is nominally the same size; this allows for a comfortable riding position. The beautifully painted carbon frame theoretically offers good comfort values, of which unfortunately only little reaches the buttocks due to the narrow, hard saddle. On the other hand, the tester got on well with the cockpit. The bike is equipped with 105 gears from Shimano with groupless cranks and brakes, which are heavier than 105 parts, but work just as well. The fact that a rear derailleur with a long cage has been fitted is not technically necessary, but it doesn't do any harm. The attractive aero wheels from Mavic are well above the test field average and also enhance the look of the bike. Comfort could be improved if a carbon seatpost with better suspension was fitted instead of the heavy aluminium seatpost.
Price 1,499 Euro
Weight 8.3 kilos
Available in specialised shops
Reference/Info www.haibike.de
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing** 1,163/439/80 grammes
Frame sizes*** 44, 48, 52cm
Seat/steering angle 73,5°/72°
Seat/top tube/head tube 520/545/158 mm plus 16 mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 990/58 mm
Stack/Reach/STR**** 562/381 mm/1.48
EQUIPMENT
Steering bearing FSA, top 1-1/8, bottom 1-1/4 inch
Brakes Shimano BR-R561
Circuit Shimano 105
Bottom bracket Shimano FC-R565 (50/34 t., Press-Fit BB86)
Wheels/tyres Mavic Cosmic Elite/Schwalbe Durano 25C
Handlebar/stem XLC/XLC
Saddle/post Selle San Marco Spid/XLC (27.2 mm)
*The frame set accounts for 40 per cent and the equipment for 60 per cent of the overall grade. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are given with rounded decimal places.
**Weighed weights.
***Manufacturer's specification, 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): 1.3 means a very stretched, 1.55 a very upright riding position.
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