It is often said that women have less strength and therefore don't need frames that are as torsionally stiff as men. The value of such prejudices is demonstrated by the fact that our female testers enthusiastically praised the "super power transfer" and the enormous smoothness of the Red Bull racer after the test lap. Significantly, the bike is based on by far the stiffest frame in the test. The bike is also attractive because of its above-average spec. Rose is the only manufacturer in the test to rely on the braking and shifting technology of the new Force groupset from SRAM, which offers no cause for complaint. Top marks were awarded to the 40 centimetre narrow handlebars from 3T with a tight bending radius and the Vitesse saddle from Fizik, which is not only popular with women and makes the comparatively low suspension comfort of the non-cranked seat post bearable.
Purchase/info: Rose Versand, phone 02871/275570, www.rose.de
Weight frame/fork/headset bearing*: 1,588/442/79 g
Frame sizes**: XS, S, M, L
Seat/ steering angle: 75°/73°
Seat/ top/ head tube: 550/545/167 mm
Wheelbase/caster: 986/56 mm
Stack/reach***: 574/391 mm
EQUIPMENT
Fork: Red Bull
Steering bearing: n/a, top 11/ 8, bottom 1.5 inch
Brakes/gears/bottom bracket: Shimano SRAM Force (50/34 t.)
Wheels/tyres: Easton EA70/Continental Grand Prix 4000S
Handlebar/stem: 3T Ergonova Pro/3T ARXPro
Saddle/post: Fizik Vitesse CP/Xtreme WCR (31.6 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
