Back at the Berlin Bike Show we had a chance to sit down and chat with the Dresdeners who run Veloheld. They had some updates to the multi-purpose steel cyclocross bike that we had tested two seasons ago, plus a couple of other updated bikes and an all new singlespeed and city bike. The new belt drive singlespeed AlleyX cyclocross bike is one of their first new bikes as they move production back to Europe, and includes a few nice features like the custom shape steel fork. Take a closer look at this and other bikes after the break…
The Veloheld AlleyX is their newest single speed and replaces the outgoing Alley, a city riding singlespeed/urban fixed gear bike. The new bike gets an X (for cross) that means it bumps up tire clearance so that it can run a proper cyclocross tire for better versatility. The resulting bike is still billed as a good bike for city commuting, but you don’t need to worry about getting it muddy on the ride home. Now it comes with room for slicks or gravel tires and the option to add fenders.
The AlleyX uses double butted 4130 and an eccentric bottom bracket to tension its belt (or chain if you so choose.) It gets a set of hidden fender mounts inside of the seatstays for that added flexibility. This bike in particular had just been ridden on the sandy course of the European Single Speed Cyclocross championships with a Gates setup, but it did even have a replaceable derailleur hanger suggesting there could be a lot of flexibility built into the bike.
The fork in particular caught our eye. It uses a butted steel unicrown fork with nicely shaped legs. The ribs on the outside of the upper part of the fork leg are said to offer a noticeable improvement in stiffness, without adding any weight. Like in the rear, the fork gets fender tabs and uses v-brake studs to slow you down. The AlleyX is available for sale as both a frameset or in complete bike builds, with it expected to be released officially some time in May or June. Pricing for the frameset hasn’t been set yet, but we expect it to go for about 600€ for the frame and another 100€ with the fork. It will be available standard in this matte khaki color, or for an upcharge in any regular RAL color.
As we led with, the AlleyX is one of Veloheld’s first bikes to lead their trend of bringing frame production back to Europe. While their previous generation of frames were made in Asia, they’ve seen that by bring production back to a couple different EU countries, they are able to deliver better turn around on new bikes, plus offer buyers the option for a bit of customization starting off with custom paint colors, all with only a minor impact to cost.
The IconX is the updated version of the cyclocross and gravel bike that we tested back in 2014. The revised bike goes a little more down the path of gravel and touring with a bit of general purpose built in. Part of that is the inclusion of a steel unicrown fork with lowrider rack mounts and an overall complete set of rack and fender tabs. The bike sticks with double butted, heat-treated steel, a threaded BB, and a 44mm headtube.
Pricing actually drops from the previous model (always nice), with the basic matte grey paint job and the steel fork coming in at 750€. It also can be bought as a frame-only, or in a complete 105 bike build for 2300€. Custom single color adds just 50€.
Veloheld’s city bike line has several offerings including Alfine and Rohloff specific frames, a dropped toptube Lady Lane, and even a stainless version to handle your commutes on 700c wheels. But the new Path, built around 27.5″ wheels and 2″ tires with fenders, is sure to handle some rougher commutes.
The new Path was specifically designed for urban commuting in cities with rougher streets. Like our EU base in Prague with a ton of cobbles, sometimes skinny tires just don’t make sense for most people looking to ride to work. The Path still gets a Gates belt drive optimized rear end and is intended to be build up with an internally geared hub like the 8 speed Shimano Alfine that you will get with a complete build on this bike.
The bike is built with an extended suspension corrected alloy unicrown fork, that gives buyers the option of swapping in a suspension fork (and proper knobby tire clearance both front and rear) to handle rougher commutes, or a bit of off-asphalt touring. Available only as a complete bike, the Path does include a full set of rack and fender mounts, and even includes both color matched fenders and a rear rack, plus integrated Supernova E3 LED lighting.
Like the AlleyX, the Path also uses an eccentric BB, and can get a replaceable rear derailleur hanger to add compatibility for geared drivetrain builds. The Path is welded from double butted 4130, uses newly redesigned stainless steel dropouts that include the KSA standard kickstand plate and an integrated IS brake mount on the chainstay. The new bike comes in matte silver or custom colors on request, and should be available with a month.
Veloheld.de (with 2016 Katalog/Catalog in English)
