Shown last fall at Eurobike in an early iteration, the new Votec VRX gravel road bike is now in production and available in two trim levels, each with the option of gravel or cyclocross tires.
The frame uses heavily shaped 6061-T6 alloy with a carbon fiber fork. Both ends get thru axles and flat mount disc brakes, with the rear’s being tucked down into the tube for a very stealthy appearance. Tire clearance maxes out at 40mm, but they’re spec’d with either Schwalbe X-One 700×33 ‘cross tires or G-One 700×35 gravel tires, both tubeless ready on the DT Swiss R24 Spline wheels. Zipp Service Course cockpits with an Ergon saddle round out the package. Drivetrain details and more images below…
The front end of the bike uses oversized ends on the top and down tubes to provide a larger contact patch with the headtube. That increased weld area supposedly makes it stiffer, and the taller (than their road bikes) headtube puts you in a slightly more upright riding position for long term comfort.
The geometry is a mix between road and cyclocross. It keeps a road bike’s lower bottom bracket, but flattens out the head angle (70.5 t0 71.5 degrees depending on frame size) and extends the wheelbase slightly for more surefooted handling.
The flat mount rear disc brake caliper sits recessed inside the dropout.
A Comp version is offered for €1,499 with Shimano 105 2×11, TRP HyRD brakes and FSA Gossamer BB386EVO cranks. The €1,699 Pro model upgrades to a SRAM Rival 1×11 with full hydraulic brakes, SRAM S-series cranks and R23 wheels. Both get custom sealed Jagwire cable systems.
