Beautiful Bicycle: X-LAB RT9

The X-LAB RT9 was designed with one goal in mind: to be as light as possible. X-LAB did this so well they ended up making the lightest production road bike frame on the planet. That makes it an exceptional climbing platform, ready to tackle the tallest, steepest climbs. This particular build takes that lightweight frame and pairs it with a full SRAM Force AXS E1 groupset, making it a real climbing machine.

FRAME DETAIL

Built with Toray T1100 carbon, X-LAB got the RT9 frame down to a featherlight 550g. It’s not just light, it’s stiff too, so every watt you put into the pedals is put to work. The unpainted raw carbon finish and sleek decals over rounded tubing really show off the layup. This bike is ready to hunt KOMs, and it’ll look good doing it.

DRIVETRAIN

Setting itself apart from the stock RT9, this rider went with a full SRAM Force AXS E1 drivetrain, complete with a Force AXS power meter crankset. To lean into the climbing, they paired a 10-36 cassette with 46/33t chainrings, giving them plenty of gearing to roll up and over the steep stuff.

WHEELS & TIRES

Reserve 34|37 Turbulent Aero wheels wearing Michelin Pro 5s are a great match for this bike. The Reserves bring stiffness on the climbs and a bit of aerodynamic efficiency on the flats and descents. The 28mm Michelin Pro5s offer a smooth, comfortable ride with plenty of grip and durability.

COCKPIT & CONTACT POINTS

The handlebars on this build come from X-LAB's in-house brand, Branta. It’s a full carbon, integrated bar and stem with internal cable routing. On this XS frame, the bars measure 36cm with an 80mm stem, which keeps the ride feeling responsive and snappy. Rounding out the contact points is the Selle Italia SLR Boost saddle with carbon rails that comes stock on the RT9.

The Takeaway

This custom built RT9 takes the lightest production frame and turns it into a personalized climbing machine. Everything about it is built for performance, especially when the road points uphill. If you’re interested in starting your own custom build, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team here at Contender. We’re more than happy to talk through what’s available and build the perfect bike for you.