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Velocite Syn Testing Program Now Active13.05.2015

As many of you may be aware, I'm a sponsored Velocite rider and I thought I would share some exciting news with you.

If you've been following Velocite over the last few months you would have noticed a few pictures floating around of their new Syn bike. It's a new aero road bike designed to accommodate disk brakes, ahead of the anticipated shift towards road disks. Over the last few months Victor and the R&D team at Velocite have been developing preproduction prototypes and are now making some available for select members of the public to test. What does it mean to be a "select member"? Well, typically someone who rides a L sized frame, and has a spare $699 USD + Shipping (Shipping is estimated to cost $180, depending on where you live).

To apply please get in touch via Velocite's contact form here: Contact us

Here's what Velocite had to say about the bike:

Those of you that have already registered or expressed interest in participating will have received an email message outlining the program details and the basic terms and conditions. A limited number of size L Velocite Syn 3rd generation prototype frames will be made available to successful test program applicants. The test program aims to gather user experience feedback on the performance of the Velocite Syn, starting from the ease of assembly, all the way to how it makes you feel or perform as a rider. Your feedback will allow us to make a better product.

Velocite Syn prototype in red, side view

For those not familiar with the Velocite Syn road bike, here is some background information. It was developed entirely in house with the sole purpose to be the best road bike on the planet, according to Velocite’s interpretation of what “the best” means. So, what does the best mean, in Velocite’s language?

1. It is aerodynamic – aerodynamics matter at any time you are moving forward, but really start making a difference at around 25 km/h apparent air speed. This does not mean that the Syn is intended to be just an aero road bike, but that it is more aero than any high performance general duty road bike on the planet. Think Pinarello Dogma, Giant TCR (or even Propel), Specialized Tarmac and Venge, etc. It is especially more aero if you use standard or even long round water bottles mounted on the downtube and seat tube as a means to deliver hydration. The patent pending Velocite Syn downtube in particular was designed to deliver optimal aerodynamics in that situation. We spent 6 months of development just on aerodynamics. We are very serious about aerodynamics. It is not just a styling or a marketing exercise to us.

Velocite Syn downtube CFD simulation with water bottle showing attached boundary layer and low downstream turbulence.

2. It is stiff – in fact the Velocite Syn is stiffer at the head tube and at the bottom bracket than the likely stiffest road bike on the planet, our own Velocite Magnus. The numbers are:

Chainstays: 61 N/mm
Head tube: 132 N/mm
Bottom bracket: 187 N/mm (!)

This means that you will move forward about as soon as you think that you are moving forward. The response is instant. The stiffness is further helped by the use of 12mm x 142mm through axle on the rear dropouts and 100mm x 15mm through axle for the fork. This stiffness does not come with a weight penalty as the raw frame in size L comes in at 950g. We achieved this the same way as we have been achieving this since Velocite started – by knowing how to use carbon fiber composites.

3. It s comfortable – this is why the seatpost is round. “Aero” seatpost does nothing of benefit to the rider and we chose not to sacrifice comfort in the name of expectations. You see, we have significant volume of data from research conducted in Germany (cannot name the institutions as this is their internal data) that show that most of the rider comfort is derived through wheels, tires, and the seatpost. The same data also indicates that in order for the frame to start delivering significant amounts of comfort, that frame would render the bicycle almost unrideable due to unfavorable handling characteristics.

The Velocite Syn also handles well, and is full of small touches that enhance the riding performance: seatpost clamp is a removable three piece wedge type made of aluminium and steel (yes, two metal types to ensure durability), the seat tube is capped by a silicone weather shield that also features a large “bumper” which serves as an elastomer to dampen the seatpost movement and high frequency vibrations, all cable routing is internal and weather sealed at the bottom bracket, the bottom bracket is PF30 so the frame is compatible with the vast majority of cranksets in the market.

Oh, and the first test versions and the first Velocite Syn bikes will be disc brake only. Why disc brakes? Because they work really well in diverse conditions, and allow safe use of deep profile carbon fiber wheels. We are also testing disc brakes first as making a disc braked frame is a little more difficult than making a rim braked frame. This means that the rim braked Velocite Syn version will not follow far behind this original disc braked version.

To the test program then, this is what we are offering:

Velocite Syn 3rd generation safe to ride test prototype frameset size L (top tube 570mm) which consists of frame, fork, front axle, seatpost clamp, and various fittings in matte black finish with all Velocite Syn decals as well as a special “Velocite Test Team” decal on the seat stay.

Price: US$ 699 + shipping. The price paid for the Velocite Syn will be credited towards your purchase of the final Velocite Syn, in case you want to upgrade sometime in the future.

You may also need the wheels as the Syn uses disc brakes and rather large axles.

Filament wound Venn Rev 35 TCD tubeless carbon clinchers: US$ 418 /set +shipping

or

Venn Alter TCD tubeless carbon clinchers: US$ 435 /set + shipping

More information about Venn here: www.venn-cycling.com

You will be able to purchase the Syn once we process your application. After that is done we will send you a hidden link to our website that will allow you to use PayPal or a credit card to pay for your order.

Here are some renderings of what the special edition Velocite Test Team Syn looks like.

Velocite Syn Velocite Test Team edition side view

Front View

Top/rear view

I'm quite excited about this product, not because Velocite sponsor me, but because it's one of the first aero road bikes with disk brakes.

Stay tuned for further updates!

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