Rose' gravel bike, the Backroad gets an update for 2020
New bike gets tuneable seat post flex and asymmetric chainstays
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For gravel, adventure, racing and just about anything
Plus it now has boost spacing and it's longer from axle to crown
Customer specced kits or full bike builds
For daily grinds, your next unpaved adventure or a CX race
After it's successful launch in 2019, the Backroad by Rose gets a well deserved update for 2020. This year it gets asymmetric chainstays and a seat tube with tuneable flex, and ride positions.
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We first got our hands on the Rose Backroad last year and overall, we liked Rose’s first go at an Allroad bike. Our tester, Dave, had reservations about the high and very firm ride so its interesting that Rose has come back with an updated 2020 version that features some major changes and some subtle tweaks, plus more compliance.
The Backroad is built around a carbon fibre frame that weighs in at 1020g. With its gravel specific geometry, Rose promises a versatile bike that's equally at home on the road and on technical off road terrain. On a size 57 frame, you'll find a 71.75 degree head angle, a 73.5 degree seat tube angle with a 395mm reach. All this achieves a wheelbase of 1039mm.
The Backroad features full internal cable routing through the headset with help from a Redshift suspension stem. The hidden gear and brake cables allow for the easy fitting of a handlebar bag.
On that carbon frame is plenty of bosses for bottles and bags should your adventure take you afar. There are also protectors on the downtube and chainstays to keep stray rocks from damaging the frame.
The frame and fork now allow for tyre widths of up to 47mm on a 700c wheel and 50mm with 650b wheels.
The low chainstays and integrated seat post clamp on the Backroad keep it a comfy ride even during those super long rides, Rose claims. The 2020 frameset has been updated with dropped seatstays and a sloping top tube, exposing more seatpost which Rose hopes will provide a bit more compliance in the rear end. The D shaped seat posts allow for different setbacks. A choice of 8mm or 25mm offers different levels of flex and ride positions.
The Rose Backroad is available in eight different builds, each to suit different budgets and riding intentions.
Prices start at 2,500 euro (around £2,210) and that'll get you a Shimano GRX 600 groupset with a Ritchey cockpit, Schwalbe rubber and Roses own R Thirty Disc Wheelset.
Topping the range is the Background Force eTap AXS Limited which comes sorted with a Force eTap AXS groupset with Rose GC Forty Disc carbon wheels with WTB Venture Road TCS tan wall tyres. That model will set you back 4,950 euro (about £4,380).
The Backroad comes in six sizes 50, 53, 55, 57, 59 and 62. It also comes in three model specific colours, Evil Pepper Green, Deepest Purple, and Midnight Laser Grey.
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Comments
To bad there are so few 2x11 (or 2x12) options, I think Gravel is still better on 2x setups, u need to be to ride fast on the road but also be able to go up steep hills often on dirt surfaces!