RED HOOK CRIT

BARCELONA: EPILOGUE

Round Three of the Red Hook Criterium is in the books, and this time, Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso were headed to Barcelona. Of course, Manual for Speed was one step behind, cameras in tow. Read on to see what the Doctors of Journalism had to say about how it all went down in Barcelona.It seemed that the stars were aligned for the men of Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso as they lined up to race the final in Barcelona.

All four riders had qualified for the main and were riding strong. There was a feeling, a vibe, that this was going to be the team’s race. Alec Briggs and Stefan Schafer qualified with ease in heat one, the duo coming in second and third giving them plenty of time to rest their legs before the grand finale. In heat two, Eamon did what Eamon does and hammered his way to first place. The gauntlet, as they say, had been thrown down. As for the fourth? Aldo had returned. He was back and racing in Barcelona, and if his form and antics were any indication, he hadn’t skipped a beat since Brooklyn. But the God of Speed needed to be sure and decided to test his metal. During qualifying, Aldo dropped his chain at full speed, and with no way to slow down, he took aim at the nearest barrier. Fortunately, he has both the reflexes AND the speed of cat and managed to do a perfect somersault, gracefully flipping over the barrier and landing on his feet. Perhaps all the wakeboarding is beginning to pay off? His points from Brooklyn automatically qualified him to race the last chance qualifier, and having the appeased the God of Speed, Aldo didn’t disappoint and took the win.

And while the men prepared for the final, Carla Nafría took her place on the starting grid. She wasn't happy with her eighth place in qualifying and started the race with fire in her eyes. This year the course at Barcelona had been changed and became substantially more technical, and come finals, the riders were still trying getting comfortable with the layout. The number of corners meant that racers would need to be very smart about how and when they put in hard efforts. In order to have any chance at the win, riders needed to maintain a position near the front of the pack. The serpentine course, however, caused the peloton to pinch and distend, and as the race moved along it, racers found it increasingly difficult to move up through the pack. Unfortunately, Carla fell victim to the difficulties of the course, and while she was riding strong, it seemed that luck wasn’t on her side with a 10th place finish the most she could muster in front of a friendly crowd of fellow Spaniards. By most accounts, a top 10 finish at Red Hook would be a dream come true, but for Carla, it only adds more fuel to the fire. She has her mind set on the top of the podium and there's no doubt that Milan is going to be one hot race.

The men's race was just brutal, attack after attack after attack after attack with Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso team doing their fair share of covering the breaks. These continual attacks kept the pace in the final high and was only made more difficult by a breeze pushing in off the Mediterranean. The laps ticked off and fatigue set in with riders blowing up and falling off the pace like sailors abandoning a ship on fire. With four laps to go, Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso stacked the front of the field hoping to control the pace and to position Alec Briggs for a chance to take the win. But the stars don't stay aligned forever. First, it was Aldo to drop and he pulled out of the race completely gassed. Was he finally feeling the effects of his gymnastic routine? Just a few laps later, Schafer hit the deck, splintering the field.

Despite all of this, Alec was still in contention coming into the last turn. And with a podium finish all but assured, he opted to take a chance and go for the win. But it wasn't to be. Cutting hard to take the inside line, he overcooked the final corner, which caused his front wheel, and a podium finish, to disappear out from under him. Even with a pulverized field, Eamon was able to put in a strong finish and negotiate the broken detritus of bike and body to salvage 10th overall.

This wasn't the result that the team had hoped for, but after it was all said and done, the team had left everything on the track and there's no fault to be found in that. With the race over, the party was just getting started and oh my does Barcelona know how to party. Barca, we love you, and you can be sure we'll see you again next year.

RED HOOK CRIT

BARCELONA: EPILOGUE

Round Three of the Red Hook Criterium is in the books, and this time, Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso were headed to Barcelona. Of course, Manual for Speed was one step behind, cameras in tow. Read on to see what the Doctors of Journalism had to say about how it all went down in Barcelona.It seemed that the stars were aligned for the men of Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso as they lined up to race the final in Barcelona.

All four riders had qualified for the main and were riding strong. There was a feeling, a vibe, that this was going to be the team’s race. Alec Briggs and Stefan Schafer qualified with ease in heat one, the duo coming in second and third giving them plenty of time to rest their legs before the grand finale. In heat two, Eamon did what Eamon does and hammered his way to first place. The gauntlet, as they say, had been thrown down. As for the fourth? Aldo had returned. He was back and racing in Barcelona, and if his form and antics were any indication, he hadn’t skipped a beat since Brooklyn. But the God of Speed needed to be sure and decided to test his metal. During qualifying, Aldo dropped his chain at full speed, and with no way to slow down, he took aim at the nearest barrier. Fortunately, he has both the reflexes AND the speed of cat and managed to do a perfect somersault, gracefully flipping over the barrier and landing on his feet. Perhaps all the wakeboarding is beginning to pay off? His points from Brooklyn automatically qualified him to race the last chance qualifier, and having the appeased the God of Speed, Aldo didn’t disappoint and took the win.

And while the men prepared for the final, Carla Nafría took her place on the starting grid. She wasn't happy with her eighth place in qualifying and started the race with fire in her eyes. This year the course at Barcelona had been changed and became substantially more technical, and come finals, the riders were still trying getting comfortable with the layout. The number of corners meant that racers would need to be very smart about how and when they put in hard efforts. In order to have any chance at the win, riders needed to maintain a position near the front of the pack. The serpentine course, however, caused the peloton to pinch and distend, and as the race moved along it, racers found it increasingly difficult to move up through the pack. Unfortunately, Carla fell victim to the difficulties of the course, and while she was riding strong, it seemed that luck wasn’t on her side with a 10th place finish the most she could muster in front of a friendly crowd of fellow Spaniards. By most accounts, a top 10 finish at Red Hook would be a dream come true, but for Carla, it only adds more fuel to the fire. She has her mind set on the top of the podium and there's no doubt that Milan is going to be one hot race.

The men's race was just brutal, attack after attack after attack after attack with Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso team doing their fair share of covering the breaks. These continual attacks kept the pace in the final high and was only made more difficult by a breeze pushing in off the Mediterranean. The laps ticked off and fatigue set in with riders blowing up and falling off the pace like sailors abandoning a ship on fire. With four laps to go, Team Specialized x Rocket Espresso stacked the front of the field hoping to control the pace and to position Alec Briggs for a chance to take the win. But the stars don't stay aligned forever. First, it was Aldo to drop and he pulled out of the race completely gassed. Was he finally feeling the effects of his gymnastic routine? Just a few laps later, Schafer hit the deck, splintering the field.

Despite all of this, Alec was still in contention coming into the last turn. And with a podium finish all but assured, he opted to take a chance and go for the win. But it wasn't to be. Cutting hard to take the inside line, he overcooked the final corner, which caused his front wheel, and a podium finish, to disappear out from under him. Even with a pulverized field, Eamon was able to put in a strong finish and negotiate the broken detritus of bike and body to salvage 10th overall.

This wasn't the result that the team had hoped for, but after it was all said and done, the team had left everything on the track and there's no fault to be found in that. With the race over, the party was just getting started and oh my does Barcelona know how to party. Barca, we love you, and you can be sure we'll see you again next year.

RED HOOK CRIT

BARCELONA: PREVIEW

When the Specialized / Rocket Espresso Red Hook Crit squad thinks of Barcelona, they will no doubt picture a city bathed in warm, late summer light—sunny days to look forward to as they attempt to put the rainy results of London in the past.

In London, Eamon Lucas was on a flyer and well off the front before falling victim to the slick, wet roads. No doubt, he'll be looking for redemption in Spain, and judging from his social media feed, Eamon's speed has undoubtedly increased.

London wasn't all bad, though: hometown hero Alec Briggs came away with a spot on the box and his third place finish moved him into seventh overall, right behind teammate Stefan Schäfer. Since then, Alec has been mixing it up in England with a bit of road racing and a spot of mountain biking, and we don't doubt the cross training will come in hand when he lines up in Spain.

Unfortunately, sixth place in the overall is not where Stefan wants to be, given the momentum he carried into London after taking the win in Brooklyn. But a mechanical in the final made his race for the overall title considerably more difficult. And while not totally out of reach, Stefan will need to get Lady Luck back on his side if he's going to have any chance of taking home the series crown. Rest assured, Herr Schäfer has been cranking out some high-speed kilometers behind the derny in the lead up to Barcelona.

Carla Nafria hails from Madrid, and while she isn’t exactly local, she would like nothing more than to stand on the top of the podium in her home country. And we’re sure she’d be especially ecstatic to take the win over a Barcelonés, given the intense rivalry between these two major Spanish cities. A new edition to the team, she put on an impressive performance in London before her podium hopes were dashed to the ground by the slippery roads.

Team leader Aldo Ilešič was notably absent from the London race, and we still have no news about a potential return to the RHC in Spain. If he rejoins the fold, will he finally be able to claim his place on the top of the box? Only time will tell.

This year the riders will be tackling a new course layout: tight and twisty, there are nine corners on this circuit, so anticipating speed, managing exertion, and maintaining a high level of flow will be critical for those looking to take home the win (or even to simply make it out in one piece). In the first two races, the men have showed that they make an efficient team, and barring any bad luck, Specialized / Rocket Espresso is in a strong position to make a bid for the podium. For Carla, no doubt the excitement and motivation of racing in her native country will give her that little extra boost towards the top of the podium.

All the action is set to go down in Barcelona’s famed Parc del Forum, located in the city’s center right off the beach. The riders, staff, and fans will undoubtedly take full advantage of the city's famous beaches, night clubs, bars, and–if they can find the time–cultural sites. One thing is for certain, Barcelona is going to be a very good time.

RED HOOK CRIT

BARCELONA: PREVIEW

When the Specialized / Rocket Espresso Red Hook Crit squad thinks of Barcelona, they will no doubt picture a city bathed in warm, late summer light—sunny days to look forward to as they attempt to put the rainy results of London in the past.

In London, Eamon Lucas was on a flyer and well off the front before falling victim to the slick, wet roads. No doubt, he'll be looking for redemption in Spain, and judging from his social media feed, Eamon's speed has undoubtedly increased.

London wasn't all bad, though: hometown hero Alec Briggs came away with a spot on the box and his third place finish moved him into seventh overall, right behind teammate Stefan Schäfer. Since then, Alec has been mixing it up in England with a bit of road racing and a spot of mountain biking, and we don't doubt the cross training will come in hand when he lines up in Spain.

Unfortunately, sixth place in the overall is not where Stefan wants to be, given the momentum he carried into London after taking the win in Brooklyn. But a mechanical in the final made his race for the overall title considerably more difficult. And while not totally out of reach, Stefan will need to get Lady Luck back on his side if he's going to have any chance of taking home the series crown. Rest assured, Herr Schäfer has been cranking out some high-speed kilometers behind the derny in the lead up to Barcelona.

Carla Nafria hails from Madrid, and while she isn’t exactly local, she would like nothing more than to stand on the top of the podium in her home country. And we’re sure she’d be especially ecstatic to take the win over a Barcelonés, given the intense rivalry between these two major Spanish cities. A new edition to the team, she put on an impressive performance in London before her podium hopes were dashed to the ground by the slippery roads.

Team leader Aldo Ilešič was notably absent from the London race, and we still have no news about a potential return to the RHC in Spain. If he rejoins the fold, will he finally be able to claim his place on the top of the box? Only time will tell.

This year the riders will be tackling a new course layout: tight and twisty, there are nine corners on this circuit, so anticipating speed, managing exertion, and maintaining a high level of flow will be critical for those looking to take home the win (or even to simply make it out in one piece). In the first two races, the men have showed that they make an efficient team, and barring any bad luck, Specialized / Rocket Espresso is in a strong position to make a bid for the podium. For Carla, no doubt the excitement and motivation of racing in her native country will give her that little extra boost towards the top of the podium.

All the action is set to go down in Barcelona’s famed Parc del Forum, located in the city’s center right off the beach. The riders, staff, and fans will undoubtedly take full advantage of the city's famous beaches, night clubs, bars, and–if they can find the time–cultural sites. One thing is for certain, Barcelona is going to be a very good time.

RED HOOK CRIT

LONDON: EPILOGUE

We sent Manual for Speed to London to cover Specialized x Rocket Espresso at the Red Hook Crit. Here's what they saw.

Racing fixed gear bicycles through city streets in the midst of a pack of white-knuckled racers is difficult, it's harrowing, it's madness, and to do it right, to come across the line first, you have to ride the razor's edge. And the razor's edge is, well, a razor's edge. It is sharp and thin, and any slip, any miscalculation will likely result in some serious consequences.

Unfortunately, London summers are beset by drizzles and downpours. In Albion, the gods of storm pay no heed to the race dates of the Red Hook Crit. This year’s race was soaked from start to finish, and this made the well-worn streets of London slick as ice and the razor’s edge that much harder to ride.

In the women’s final, Specialized x Rocket Espresso’s new recruit, Carla Nafría de Miguel, showed that she had the pace and was on track for a top 10 finish before her hopes and her body were dashed against the wet concrete in the final laps of the race. Confident and unfazed, Carla now has her sights squarely set on Barcelona where she’s making plans to take the top step of the podium in front of a crowd of her countrywomen.

The weather did not improve for the men’s race. Brooklyn winner and Red Hot Crit series leader Stefan Schafer suffered a flat early on that would end his bid for another win. Sticking with the plan, Eamon Lucas was intent on controlling the race from the front, setting a high tempo that would grind down the rest of the pack. And while Eamon rode off the front, local hero Alec Briggs—the London Lion—was strategically positioning himself for a spot on the box. It was obvious to all that he was on a flyer and feeling the energy from his hometown when he too was struck down by a flat. Fortunately, Alec was able to make a quick change and get himself back into the race without much damage being done.

The rain was relentless, and with 15 laps to go, misfortune struck again. Lucas was involved in a crash that sent him to the ground hard. Bleeding from the corner of his eye, Eamon looked every part the pugilist who'd been blasted by a hard left hook. But no sooner had he hit the ground than he was back on the saddle and into the race. Unfortunately, though, Eamon was not able to hold off the charging peloton in the final laps. And while he wouldn’t place in the top three, his efforts wouldn't go unnoticed, and he walked away from the race with the Top Antagonist jersey.

Meanwhile, Alec had worked his way back through the pack to put himself within striking distance as the white flag came down. With the savvy of a seasoned Red Hook racer and the energy of the crowd driving him towards the line, Alec took third place in a sprint finish against last year's series winner to secure a spot on the podium and his best finish in a finals to date. MENTAL! This race was so difficult, and yet, despite the many mechanicals, crashes, flats, and mishaps that faced the team, Alec’s third place finish and Eamon’s Top Antagonist jersey are a testament to the depth and tenacity of Specialized x Rocket Espresso. The crew is already looking forward to the sunny and dry climate of Spain and has every expectation that they’ll be crowded on the podium in Barcelona.

RED HOOK CRIT

LONDON: EPILOGUE

We sent Manual for Speed to London to cover Specialized x Rocket Espresso at the Red Hook Crit. Here's what they saw.

Racing fixed gear bicycles through city streets in the midst of a pack of white-knuckled racers is difficult, it's harrowing, it's madness, and to do it right, to come across the line first, you have to ride the razor's edge. And the razor's edge is, well, a razor's edge. It is sharp and thin, and any slip, any miscalculation will likely result in some serious consequences.

Unfortunately, London summers are beset by drizzles and downpours. In Albion, the gods of storm pay no heed to the race dates of the Red Hook Crit. This year’s race was soaked from start to finish, and this made the well-worn streets of London slick as ice and the razor’s edge that much harder to ride.

In the women’s final, Specialized x Rocket Espresso’s new recruit, Carla Nafría de Miguel, showed that she had the pace and was on track for a top 10 finish before her hopes and her body were dashed against the wet concrete in the final laps of the race. Confident and unfazed, Carla now has her sights squarely set on Barcelona where she’s making plans to take the top step of the podium in front of a crowd of her countrywomen.

The weather did not improve for the men’s race. Brooklyn winner and Red Hot Crit series leader Stefan Schafer suffered a flat early on that would end his bid for another win. Sticking with the plan, Eamon Lucas was intent on controlling the race from the front, setting a high tempo that would grind down the rest of the pack. And while Eamon rode off the front, local hero Alec Briggs—the London Lion—was strategically positioning himself for a spot on the box. It was obvious to all that he was on a flyer and feeling the energy from his hometown when he too was struck down by a flat. Fortunately, Alec was able to make a quick change and get himself back into the race without much damage being done.

The rain was relentless, and with 15 laps to go, misfortune struck again. Lucas was involved in a crash that sent him to the ground hard. Bleeding from the corner of his eye, Eamon looked every part the pugilist who'd been blasted by a hard left hook. But no sooner had he hit the ground than he was back on the saddle and into the race. Unfortunately, though, Eamon was not able to hold off the charging peloton in the final laps. And while he wouldn’t place in the top three, his efforts wouldn't go unnoticed, and he walked away from the race with the Top Antagonist jersey.

Meanwhile, Alec had worked his way back through the pack to put himself within striking distance as the white flag came down. With the savvy of a seasoned Red Hook racer and the energy of the crowd driving him towards the line, Alec took third place in a sprint finish against last year's series winner to secure a spot on the podium and his best finish in a finals to date. MENTAL! This race was so difficult, and yet, despite the many mechanicals, crashes, flats, and mishaps that faced the team, Alec’s third place finish and Eamon’s Top Antagonist jersey are a testament to the depth and tenacity of Specialized x Rocket Espresso. The crew is already looking forward to the sunny and dry climate of Spain and has every expectation that they’ll be crowded on the podium in Barcelona.

RED HOOK CRIT X WHOOSH X TEAM SPECIALIZED/ROCKET ESPRESSO

The Red Hook Criterium series (RHC) represents a look into the “current” future of professional road cycling. Why? Because the RHC is an international series of highly specialized races, which showcase and demonstrate the purest, rawest, and most exciting exhibition of speed that cycling has to offer. It’s part NASCAR, part Professional Rodeo, part Fight Club, part Friday Night Lights, part modern-day gladiators, and ALL SPEED! And while enthusiasm for traditional road cycling continues to flounder in the eyes of mainstream America, excitement about the Red Hook Criterium is growing at an exponential pace—from existing fans of cycling and sport enthusiasts to friends and family, randos, and common citizens.Criterium racing has always been popular in America (it’s how we race), but until recently, it hasn’t managed to gain much traction as an international export. The Red Hook Criterium’s modern, progressive approach to race promotion, and its modified, highly specialized racing format is changing that. In turn, fans all over the world are changing how they look at criterium racing. The RHC has ushered in a wave of enthusiasm for this style of racing from fans around the world.

RED HOOK CRIT X WHOOSH X TEAM SPECIALIZED/ROCKET ESPRESSO

The Red Hook Criterium series (RHC) represents a look into the “current” future of professional road cycling. Why? Because the RHC is an international series of highly specialized races, which showcase and demonstrate the purest, rawest, and most exciting exhibition of speed that cycling has to offer. It’s part NASCAR, part Professional Rodeo, part Fight Club, part Friday Night Lights, part modern-day gladiators, and ALL SPEED! And while enthusiasm for traditional road cycling continues to flounder in the eyes of mainstream America, excitement about the Red Hook Criterium is growing at an exponential pace—from existing fans of cycling and sport enthusiasts to friends and family, randos, and common citizens.Criterium racing has always been popular in America (it’s how we race), but until recently, it hasn’t managed to gain much traction as an international export. The Red Hook Criterium’s modern, progressive approach to race promotion, and its modified, highly specialized racing format is changing that. In turn, fans all over the world are changing how they look at criterium racing. The RHC has ushered in a wave of enthusiasm for this style of racing from fans around the world.

SPECIALIZED / ROCKET ESPRESSO

WHOOSH DESIGN PROCESS

Creating good design is difficult. If it’s been manufactured, it’s been designed. All day, every day, the deluge of design means that we're in a constant state of critical review. And while the majority of us passively ingest this information, when presented with a need for judgement, our experience informs an ability to critique—and designers have no choice but to take notice. As Mark Twain once said, “The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.” But the public can’t design, creation by committee is doomed, and so to be a designer is to stake a claim in the face of overwhelming criticism. To be successful requires skin thick enough to withstand this onslaught, yet thin enough to recognize its value. Dylan Buffington likes to think that he’s spent his formative years searching for this balance.

SPECIALIZED / ROCKET ESPRESSO

WHOOSH DESIGN PROCESS

Creating good design is difficult. If it’s been manufactured, it’s been designed. All day, every day, the deluge of design means that we're in a constant state of critical review. And while the majority of us passively ingest this information, when presented with a need for judgement, our experience informs an ability to critique—and designers have no choice but to take notice. As Mark Twain once said, “The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.” But the public can’t design, creation by committee is doomed, and so to be a designer is to stake a claim in the face of overwhelming criticism. To be successful requires skin thick enough to withstand this onslaught, yet thin enough to recognize its value. Dylan Buffington likes to think that he’s spent his formative years searching for this balance.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL REQUIRES SKIN THICK ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THIS ONSLAUGHT, YET THIN ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE ITS VALUE.

In 2016, Specialized created four custom paint schemes for their two riders competing in the Red Hook Crit series. Heading into 2017, the Red Hook team has been expanded to include five riders, but their bicycles will be brought under one unified design. After making this decision, the design group within Specialized sought to develop a set of guidelines for 2017 based on their efforts the previous year. Though they had the best intentions, the world is a busy place: things crop up, demand attention, and get in the way. Suddenly, the team found themselves up against a fast-approaching design deadline.

New to the Specialized team, Dylan Buffington volunteered. He would need to design a comprehensive graphic package for the five riders on the the Specialized/Rocket Espresso Red Hook Criterium race team: an integrated look that accounted for the bike, shoes, helmet, kit, and other accessories. The designs needed to capture the speed and excitement of the Red Hook Crit series, they needed to evoke the idea that this style of racing is breaking old paradigms, and that its unique makeup is helping to push the future of bicycle racing forward. In addition, he needed to communicate these ideas in a way that was palatable to the consumer market. They couldn’t simply be one-off specials, the design had to be scalable and appeal to a public appetite. Oh—and it all needed to get done in two weeks.

Taking inspiration from the iconic BMW Art Cars and their melding of art and speed, specifically those by Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons, Buffington jumped in, “Warhol spent like 36 minutes painting his car. He was minding, but not minding too much.” It was the way in which Warhol walked the line between thoughtlessness and over-thinking that inspired Dylan, and with a time crunch of his own, he adopted this idea as a guiding principle. As he was going through his mood boards, he discovered that the same seven colors kept appearing: “I just wanted to use them all,” said Buffington, ”but I kept getting feedback that it was way too many, especially for production. But I knew it would be right, and sometimes you just have to do it without asking first, and tell everyone they need it after it’s done.” Buffington, guided by intuition, devised a method by which the graphics would work for production. Once done, he began applying the graphics to a huge assortment of accessories and equipment, each presenting their own set of design challenges. He piled on the hours, slept in the design studio, and tacked on more than a few overnighters. Was it worth it? The various production timelines meant that Buffington needed to survive a few anxiety-riddled months before seeing the final results. Seemingly unfazed, Dylan espouses the philosophy that, “If you feel good about, run it.” Upon seeing the final results, he was not disappointed. Now it’s up to the Specialized / Rocket Espresso team to put all that effort on the top of podium.

HELLO, ALLEZ SPRINT

The fast-action, high-powered, explosive-sprinting Specialized/Rocket Espresso team race the Allez Sprint for a pretty good reason—it's the ultimate bare knuckles race bike. So if you're looking for apologetic tones for issuing bold proclamations, like "Alloy bikes are back en vogue," you won't find them coming from our camp. No way.

D'ALUISIO SMARTWELD BOTTOM BRACKET

Built by brazing together two formed sheet metal halves into a single hollow section, it saves weight by reducing material. It increases pedaling efficiency, meanwhile, by maximizing the structures shape, and it improves durability by joining the halves with low temperature brazing. This is the backbone of the Allez Sprint’s performance pedigree, and you'll only find it here.

D'ALUISIO SMARTWELD HEAD TUBE

Hydroformed top tubes, head tubes, and down tubes create a perfect match that lets us leverage the tube shape and create incredibly strong welds that increase front end precision to levels never before seen on an alloy bike.

RIDER-FIRST ENGINEERED™ FORKS

With siblings like the pro-tour-favorite, Rider-First Engineered™ Tarmac, it was easy to borrow from the best. All Allez Sprints feature S-Works-level full carbon forks, with stiffness matched to the rider. Hands down, this provides the absolute best handling available from any bike.

AERO PACKAGE

It’s all about the complete package. Dropped seatstays (like what's found on the Venge ViAS), aero seat tubes, and sized head tubes come together to create a bike that's as aerodynamic as any competitor's flagship aero platforms.