British bikemaker Vielo is set to move beyond their debut all-road gravel V+1 with another lightweight carbon bike – the aero road R+1. Vielo claims that the new R+1 is unlike any other aero road bike in that it was engineered from the ground up to accommodate 1x drivetrains exclusively, a statement possibly supported by the introduction of the 3T Strada Due last summer. Vielo backs up the development choice as allowing greater drivetrain & handling stiffness, without degrading rider comfort. We got a sneak peek two months ago, but now on the eve of its debut we get more details…
Vielo R+1 lightweight aero 1x-only carbon road bike
Vielo says the focus of the R+1 was developing significant performance gains with a 30% boost in lateral frame stiffness at the bottom bracket over a 2x frame by ruling out space for a front derailleur. At the same time like we’ve seen from several other recent aero bikes, the design focus on a stiff lower spine of the bike freed Vielo to build in comfort through a vertically compliant seatstay configuration. Vielo achieves this with an extended flat section at the top of the dropped stays before they meet the seattube.
The R+1 is a follow-up to founder Ian Hughes V+1 fat-tire all-road/gravel bike officially launched just over a year ago after more than three decades in the bike industry. Hughes says the new bike extends the same cutting edge design & construction of their gravel bike to a newly adapting road bike market, being helped along by new 1x drivetrain options like the SRAM Red eTap AXS and Force eTap AXS 1×12, plus Rotor 1×13.
R+1 tech details
The R+1 frame gets increased bottom bracket width (vs. a 2x road bike) transitioning to a large symmetrical downtube, with Kamm tail aero shaping throughout. That makes the bikes single ring only, but ensuring high drivetrain efficiency & perfect 1x chainlines across all chain-cassette angles. Chainstays still work to provide lateral stiffness, but with vertical flex to compliment the comfort seatstays.
Vielo developed the aero character of the R+1 to isolate comfort-focused elements of the bikes from the wind. That meant using wide, flat horizontal shapes to flex vertically with a minimal frontal area. Plus, the bike gets a curved/cutout seattube to fit the bike’s max 30mm wide tire.
The R+1 features flat mount disc brakes, optimized for a 140mm rear, 160mm front (or optional 180mm front). It also gets new lightweight Vielo-developed A2T bolt-on thru-axles, a replaceable alloy derailleur hanger, and stainless steel anti-scrape guards at the brake rotors. The bike features a two-position downtube bottle cage mount to maximize aerodynamics, a standard seattube bottle mount, plus and extra cage mount under the downtube and toptube bento box bosses.
The bike will include Vielo’s own one-piece carbon bar+stem combo that keeps hydraulic hoses fully internal. No need for internal shift wiring since the bike is designed for eTap AXS, but it is unclear if routing would be possible for a Rotor 1×13 combo or some version of other road group converted to 1x.
While the bike uses a Kamm tail aero seatpost, Vielo says it is also compatible with dropper seatposts though an optional adapter for the hidden wedge-style seatpost clamp.
Geometry, pricing & availability
The Vielo R+1 is meant to be built up with the new 12 speed e-tap AXS 1X groupsets, at either the SRAM Red or Force level. The R+1 will be sold as a frame kit only, including frame, 1.5″ tapered fork, seatpost, headset & 12mm thru-axles.
Two carbon specs will be available like the gravel bike – the top-tier £4000 UD carbon frameset, and a more affordable £2700 UDG layup. Both versions share the same mold & detailing, offered in five stock frame sizes (XS-XL).
Vielo bikes will make their way to US cyclists through a direct partnerships with select independent bicycle shops in the states in a move to limit distributor model overhead costs.
