Climbing or Aero?
Last season, Isaac and I both rode the ENVE Melee (ENVE’s flagship road bike) with very similar builds of SRAM Red and ENVE 4.5 wheelsets. After a great season aboard the Melee, we each decided to swap out to something else choosing to go in somewhat "opposite" directions. Isaac focused on building something lighter that would excel on the high-altitude days while I emphasized aerodynamics and top-end speed.
The bikes were built the bikes to do completely different things. Even though we were building bikes for different purposes, we had three changes in common from our Melees. The new bikes were spec'd with shorter cranks, narrower bars and a SRAM Force drivetrain.
AERO
To maximize aerodynamics, I decided to build a BMC Teammachine R a more aero-focus bike than the Teammachine SLR. Even though it is not marketed as "aero", the Teammachine R saves 3.5% above 25kph, and was designed in part with Red Bull Advanced Technologies to optimize it for World Tour racing. The most striking feature is the BMC Halo fork (named for the F1 Halo) which pushes the fork arms away from the turbulent air caused by the front wheel rotating.
Again with aerodynamics at the forefront, the bike features a BMC ICS Aero cockpit with a 36cm bar that flares up to 42cm in the drops. The 36cm hoods take some getting used to but enables getting as narrow as possible. The other crucial touch point added was the new SRAM Red levers, giving better positioning in the hoods and a flared lever to match the flare of the drops. BMC provides aero bottle cages, seamlessly integrating with the frame to ensure smooth airflow.
For wheels, something deeper than the ENVE 4.5s was needed and a strong option seemed to be Roval Rapide CLX II Team wheels. The Roval wheels have a unique profile with a 51mm deep front wheel, paired to a 60mm deep rear wheel. The front wheel also has a 35mm external width to provide a smooth airflow from the front wheel to the frame's downtube. The wheels have a 21mm internal width and are hooked. This allows the bike to run 75-80 PSI with 28mm tires; something not possible with the ENVE 4.5s.
Finishing off the build is a 165mm SRAM Force powermeter crankset, which allows an easy swap back to a 170mm if needed. Add the Ceramicspeed OSPW RS Alpha Team edition pulleys and a Ceramicspeed bottom bracket to maximize the marginal gains. Each component was chosen to increase aerodynamics and optimize speed.
ALTITUDE
Isaac took a completely different direction, building off of the Orbea Orca OMX frame, one of the lightest framesets available on the market. The frame embraces tradition with more classic seatstays and nearly-round tubing. Combined with a beautiful wine red tint paint scheme, the Orca has a timeless aesthetic. Using a two-piece cockpit, Isaac opted for a 120mm stem and 38cm handlebar. His choice of handlebars is probably the least climbing-focused bit of the bike, as wider handlebars provide better leverage while climbing to help increase power transfer. Even though narrow bars are on-trend, it can still be preferable to use a wider bar for riders who love to climb.
The release of the SRAM’s 10-36 RED cassette convinced Isaac to get the widest gear range possible, pairing the cassette with SRAM’s 50/37 chainrings on 170mm arms. This gives easier gearing for climbing but increases the individual jumps in the cassette. For race day, the cassette might not be the best option but for long training rides the increased range can check all the boxes.
Opting for a shallower wheelset, Isaac chose the Forge + Bond AR45s. These wheels were custom built with DT Swiss 240 hubs and boast a 1360g weight maximizing the climbing efficiency while still having a slight dish for aerodynamics. Even though Isaac opted for components that keep the weight down to optimize climbing capabilities, he still chose to keep the bike relatively balanced using well rounded wheels and a fairly aggressive position.
WRAPPING UP
Building up a top-level road bike always starts with the frame, but choosing the right components will truly take the build to the next level. These two bikes are great examples of how a rider can tune a bike to fit their specific cycling needs. Give us a call or contact us if you have any questions or to get your build started.