Manufactured in Portugal, the Ahead The Frame bike frame won the coveted test winner title in our comparison test of high-end cross-country hardtails shortly after its launch. It doesn't get any better than this? Oh yes! In collaboration with the Räderei bike shop in Bautzen, the Würzburg-based carbon manufacturer staged its frame, which weighs just 794 grams, for the big trade fair show. The project is called "The One" and, with a total weight of 7.75 kilos, easily breaks the magical eight-kilo mark. This puts the bike right at the top of the list of the lightest mountain bikes with 120 millimetres of travel at the front. Many tuning parts come from European production. The Dream-Build from Bike Ahead is a feast for custom fans.
The Bike Ahead The One Hardtail
- Area of application: Cross Country
- Wheel size: 29"
- Suspension travel: 120 mm
- Weight of complete bike: 7.750 kg (size M)
- Frame weight: 794 g (size M)
- Price standard frame set: 1978.99 euros
When high-end doesn't end there
To further refine the sensational The Frame hardtail, Bike Ahead had almost all the CFRP parts finished by Chemnitz artist Johnny Steinert. The frame, which is manufactured using the one-piece monocoque process, also received this attention. An intensive surface treatment creates fascinating effects in the changing light. A selectively applied and subsequently sealed glaze makes the carbon chassis shimmer without covering up the special carbon fibre look. Further highlights were created in the laminating process using visible layers in a forged carbon fibre look. The depth effect is reminiscent of marble and harmonises perfectly with the gold-painted Bike Ahead lettering.
A unique custom body
Of course, off-the-shelf bike parts would hardly do justice to a show bike like the Ahead The One. The head tube houses a Cannondale Lefty Ocho Carbon with 120 millimetres of travel. Its carbon body has been sanded, varnished and sealed. At the centre of the Bike Ahead Safewing 30 carbon rims, which have also been glazed, turn Superlight hubs from Nonplus Components with lettering in custom paintwork. A special freewheel mechanism with tapered teeth and 45 teeth each is said to have 400 per cent more contact surface than conventional hubs and thus guarantee ultra-direct response. The parts are developed and manufactured by Nonplus Components in Stuttgart.
The custom wheels were spoked with textile spokes from PiRope. The Vectran material is manufactured by hand in Chemnitz and reduces the weight to a feather-light two grams per spoke. 300 individual filaments are required to braid a single spoke. Two spokes per wheel gleam in gold for the look. The rims are fitted with 2.25 inch wide cross-country tyres from Schwalbe in tubeless construction. Braking is provided by a Hope XCR Pro X2 brake, which consists of CNC-machined bodies and carbon levers. The brake system, including discs, is produced in the UK and weighs just under 200 grams.
As if a regular Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission groupset wasn't exclusive enough, Bike Ahead also tuned the rear derailleur on The One with tuning parts made in Berlin by Hopp Carbon. These include a brand new rear derailleur cage and pulleys made from lightweight carbon fibre. Shift commands are transmitted by a Zirbel Twister AXS. At 46 grams including electronics and battery cartridge, the Swiss-made gear lever solution is not only extremely minimalist in appearance. Of course, the Sram XX SL Eagle carbon crankset has also been refined. It is fitted with a carbon chainring from Gemini. The patented part is based on an aluminium skeleton and is manufactured by hand in Barcelona.
The add-on parts for the custom bike are of course made by Bike Ahead itself. The Unit ICR cockpit has fully integrated cable routing and weighs just 205 grams at 55 millimetres in length. The Straight seat post weighs just 140 grams. The Hypersaddle, which is also glazed and fitted with forged carbon inserts, weighs a mere 76 grams. All Bike Ahead parts are built by hand in Würzburg. As a result, the company promises high standards of quality, job security and sustainability.
Facts & figures about the Bike Ahead The One
- Frame: Bike Ahead The Frame
- Fork: Cannondale Lefty Ocho Carbon, 120 mm
- Rims: Bike Ahead Safewing 30
- Spokes: PiRope textile spokes
- Hubs: Nonplus Components
- Tyres: Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29x2.25 and Schwalbe Racing Ray 29x2.25
- Gear system: Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission, complete tuning with full carbon upgrade from Hopp Carbon Parts
- Shifter: Zirbel Bike Twister AXS
- Cranks: Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission
- Chainring: Gemini Rigel
- Cassette: Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission, 10-52
- Chain: Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission
- Bottom bracket: Hope MTB PF41
- Brakes: Hope XCR Pro X2, lightweight
- Cockpit: Bike Ahead The Unit ICR
- Grips: Procraft SG1
- Seatpost: Bike Ahead The Straight
- Saddle: Bike Ahead The Hypersaddle
Jan Timmermann
Editor
