Rose has reshaped their best-selling affordable alloy road bike into this totally modern Reveal AL that looks as sleek and well-integrated as carbon bikes costing many times more than this. I’m not going to argue that this aluminum road bike is more aero or lighter than some carbon bikes (it probably is, though), but the Reveal AL looks like an incredible value for an entry-level road bike that doesn’t skimp on performance…
Rose Reveal AL modern affordable alloy endurance road bike
Rose calls the new Reveal AL the ‘next era’ of affordable aluminum road bikes. Their PRO SL had long been Rose’s go-to entry road bike, but generally seemed to stay a couple of steps behind their carbon bikes regarding the latest updates. (A few 2022 PRO SLs remain in stock even with rim brakes, as that bike is gradually phased out.)
Now with the new bike’s debut, the disc-only Reveal AL gets smooth shaping, aero-optimized features, updated geometry, the latest flat mount disc brakes, 12mm thru-axles, and big tire clearance, plus the fully integrated internal cable routing that makes this budget bike blend in with top-tier carbon road bikes.
Endurance Road Geometry
Built for ‘nice and long tours’, the new Rose Reveal AL is an endurance bike with “modern long-distance geometry” that seems to be identical to its PRO SL predecessor, and a close adaptation from the carbon Reveal endurance road bike. The most interesting note is that this alloy bike comes in a huge 10-size range from a tiny 45cm all the way up to a giant 65cm. Geometry of course shifts a bit across such a wide range.
The new endurance bike gets good tire clearance – 700c x 32mm max for most sizes, while the two smallest frames have to make due with a max of 28mm on 650b wheels to preserve handling, minimize toe overlap & work with those bikes’ shorter chainstays.
Tech details
The Rose Reveal AL gets a 1300g aluminum frame with hydroformed tubing and smoothed welds across the main triangle for sleek looks, that blend back from the full carbon tapered-steerer fork. Only at the dropouts do you see the untouched welds peek out through the paint.
Much of the bike’s clean finished look comes from Rose’s new ALR alloy stem that routes mechanical shift and hydraulic disc brake cables from a conventional handlebar into the frame through the headset, without entering the stem thanks to a simple integrated cover underneath.
The Reveal AL also gets an integrated wedge-style seatpost clamp hidden in the non-driveside of its seat cluster, but sticks with a 27.2mm round seatpost.
So how affordable is it really?
Rose Reveal AL – Pricing, options & availability
Pricing for the new Rose Reveal AL starts at just 1849€ with a full Shimano 105 2x11sp groupset, 28mm deep x 19mm internal tubeless-ready Rose R TwentyFive alloy wheels, and a respectable 8.9kg claimed weight.
Seriously, you could buy 3 of these new Reveal ALs and still have almost 1000€ left to buy new kit compared to buying the cheapest new carbon SL8. Or even buy the similarly spec’d alloy Allez Sprint and have 1450€ left over!
You can also get a mechanical Ultegra 2×11 build for 2199€. Or for the first time, Rose now offers their alloy road bike with an electronic groupset in the 2499€ Reveal AL 105 Di2.
All new Rose Reveal ALs can generally be ordered now in either matte black or ‘salted caramel’ orange, but real availability dates are estimated for 6 weeks from now in the second half of September.
