In conjunction with Bike Ahead Composites, ex-professional marathon racer Thomas Stoll has been developing some of the lightest European-manufactured carbon mountain bike frames ever to grace the race course. His own rich history of stage racing, coupled with his experience managing professional cross-country race teams, has given him an acute appreciation not only for the benefits of a lightweight bike, but also a compliant one. That comes through in his frame design ethos; all of Thomas Stoll’s frames are made to order, and the carbon layup is tailored according to the rider’s weight and riding style.
At Eurobike, Stoll had two XC-dingly lightweight carbon bikes on display; a 9.9 kg 120mm travel full suspension bike, and a 5.9 kg hardtail. Let’s take a look at the components Thomas utilized to achieve those numbers.
9.9 kg Stoll Bikes M2.2 SR Mountain Bike
The Stoll M2.2 is a 9.9 kg 120mm travel mountain bike built for stage racing; the carbon fiber frameset is yours for just 5,500 € (with shock and headset). The complete bike pricing is from 8,900 €.
A Rockshox SID SL 120mm travel fork manages front wheel traction, while a Rockshox SIDLuxe Ultimate manages bumps out back. All of Stoll’s full suspension mountain bikes, from the 100mm travel XC offering, through to the 145mm EVO Trail Bike, make use of a now off-patent VPP linkage design.
Consistent across these frames is the honeycomb lattice design of the milled aluminum link that drives the shock. Thomas tells us the design brings a lot of stiffness to the frame, but is not so cheap to produce.
The Stoll M2.2 XC Bike is available in three different sizes, each with its own stiffness profile adjusted to rider weight and height. On top of this, Thomas offers customers a full customization of components.
This 9.9 kg offering is home to Bike Ahead Composites BiTurbo RS carbon wheelset with six monocoque carbon spokes supporting a 28mm internal width rim. Weighing a claimed 1,299 grams the wheelset has a maximum system weight limit of just 95 kg. Seated onto those rims is a set of Wolfpack Speed XC race tires.
The SRAM XX SL Transmission takes care of forward propulsion, with Trickstuff Piccola HD brakes managing speed. The lightweight cut-able Yep Components Podio seat post, a favorite of Dangerholm’s, offers up 80mm of drop. Atop it is a Selle Italia SLR saddle.
In the cockpit, we have more Bike Ahead Composites goodies. The Unit is an integrated handlebar-stem combination that, in its lightest 44mm reach iteration, weighs just 215 grams. ESI grips finish it off.
5.9 kg Stoll R1 Superlight Hardtail
Stoll’s R1 Superlight frame weighs a claimed 788 grams in a size medium. Rear end compliance was high on the list of design priorities for this hardtail, too. The flexing seat tube, seat stays and chainstays together offer around 5mm of vertical compliance as measured at the rear axle. Again, Stoll is able to tune that compliance to each frame size, as well as to a rider’s preference.
The complete bike you see before you weighs a claimed 5.9 kg, and Thomas went to great lengths to achieve that number by borrowing componentry from the world of road cycling. Propelling this featherweight is a THM Clavicula XC crankset combined with a SRAM Red derailleur and cassette with eTap AXS wireless blip shifters integrated with modified push-on foam grips.
A sub 1kg PiRope Superlight 900 wheelset rolls on Schwalbe Thunder Burt tires, with twenty-eight textile-based spokes lacing Non Plus Hubs to a 26mm internal width Bike Ahead Composites carbon rim.
A Gemini Propus cockpit and Gelu Carbon Creations Combo K saddle and seat post round out this 5.9 kg build. By the way, the latter alone would set you back 740 €.
The Stoll R1 Superlight Hardtail frameset retails at 4,500 €, with the complete bike pricing from 8,500 €.
