Rose have a new carbon gravel grinder hitting the paved and unpaved roads near you. The Backroad is they say, the best weapon for thrill seekers looking for off-road adventures. The carbon frame is on par with competitors but the direct sales brand bring bang for your buck. There is also a cyclocross version too if that is your calling. 

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Backroad Gravel

Rose say the BACKROAD stays true to its racing genes by offering lightness and agility, the aim to offer an all-rounder that allows you to ride everywhere a classic road bike would have its difficulties, leaving the possibilities wide open.

The Backroad is available as a carbon framed bike only, weighing in at 1040g carbon. The frame has fully internally routed brake hoses and gear cables and features a ROSE Disc full carbon fork with thru axle and flat mount disc brake calipers.

Angles and geometry of the Backroad look as you would expect for a 'do it all' bike, the head angle changes across the range (size dependent) from 71-72 degrees and with the effective seat angle sitting around the 73 degree mark, chainstays are a short 425mm, adding up to a wheelbase that is longer than their endurance road bike but not as long as some gravel bikes we have seen, the Sonder Camino being one of them. 

There are 5 sizes in the range from 51cm to 62cm and four spec levels ranging from the 2,249 Euro Shimano 105 build to the Di2 build coming in at 3,199 Euro's (UK pricing to be confirmed). Customisation is possible with the Rose online configurator. 

Across the range the BACKROAD has room for 38 mm wide G-ONE Allround Evo tyres by Schwalbe, set to 700c Rose R Thirty Disc wheels. It'll take up to 42mm tyres though if you fancied it. There is a ROSE RC-170 Flex carbon seat post to absorb vibrations and Ritchey WCS Evomax bar, Rose say, provides freedom of forearm movement and greater leverage when in the drops.

Backroad Cross

ROSE Bikes also offer a cyclocross version of the BACKROAD, the BACKROAD CROSS is the ideal off-road tool and looks good for races on muddy courses. Featuring 33 mm wide knobby tyres – the Schwalbe X-ONE Evo Bite at the front and the Allround at the rear – it should offer high grip, even on slippery ground, sand fields or rocky sections.

The Backroad Cross has the same geometry as the gravel version but features a DT Swiss P1750 Spline Disc wheelset and SRAM Force, a powerful Shimano Ultegra and Ultegra Di2 or a Shimano 105 group. Prices start at 2,199 Euro's for the Shimano 15 version and head up to 3,149 for the Di2 version. There is also an interesting  Ultegra Randonneur with dynamo hub version for 2,799 Euro's.

For more info go to: www.rosebikes.co.uk

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