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The Gravel racer Backroad has become a real bestseller for multichannel distributor Rose: The sporty but not too racey frame is available in aluminium with a slightly more relaxed geometry or in carbon with a slightly more aggressive geometry and a higher price. Both series are equipped for flat-mount discs, wide tyres up to 40 millimetres, wheels with thru axles and a comfortable flexing seat post.
The frames offer a choice of completely different set-ups: Gravel, racing or straight handlebars, tyres with gravel or smooth road tread, single or double derailleur gears, mechanical or electric. The Backroad can be ordered as an all-terrain gravel or racy road racer, as a randonneur with lights, mudguards and pannier rack, and even with or without a motor.
We were interested in a rarity in this variety: the version with an innovative, partly even cableless shifting mix of Shimano's GRX-Di2 and the Classified Powershift gearbox. The highlight is that a two-speed hub gear in the rear hub replaces the front derailleur. This doesn't sound very innovative at first, as Sachs and its successor SRAM had a similar gear combination in their programme as "Dual Drive" until a few years ago. But with Classified, the technology is much more sophisticated: the two gears should be able to be changed at lightning speed and reliably under load, even under racing conditions. Unlike the front derailleur of a derailleur system, the hub works completely encapsulated under continuously optimised conditions. And finally, the gearing solution frees the chain from the strong skewing that can occur in derailleur systems with 11, 12 or 13 sprockets. In addition to increased reliability, low maintenance and operational safety, this significantly reduces system wear and the associated increasing loss of efficiency, according to the manufacturer.
Advantages of an electrical circuit
The gearing on the Backroad combines Shimano's electrically shifted Di2 with the two-speed hub, which is also electrically controlled. The two ergonomically excellent brake levers from the GRX series are used to shift from gear to gear. Both shifters can be operated with minimal force and without latency. The Classified components are integrated into the system. The right-hand lever commands the GRX rear derailleur via the eleven sprockets of the Classified cassette, which is driven by a 46-tooth chainring. The shifting impulses from the left Di2 shift lever, which normally controls the front derailleur, lead to a separate shifting unit from Classified, which is located at the end of the racing handlebars. It takes the Di2 shifting impulse and converts it into a radio signal that flows to the thru-axle in the rear wheel hub. The receiver there converts the radio command into a mechanical shifting process: A servomotor activates the planetary gear, which provides a reduction ratio with a factor of 0.686 as an alternative to direct gear. Converted to the chainrings of a double crank, this corresponds almost exactly to the combination of a 46 and a 32 chainring. The cassette specially developed for the hub is made of steel and is milled from a single piece by Classified. It does not fit Shimano freewheels. There is a choice of 11-27, 28, 30, 32 and 34-tooth gradations, each with eleven or twelve teeth.
Classified: 2x shifting via gearbox
Simply dispensing with the front derailleur on a derailleur system is nothing new. So-called 1x gears currently dominate the mountain bike market. From there, they are increasingly spilling over into the gravel, sports and touring bike sectors. However, their sometimes narrower gear range and extreme chain skew mean that many people continue to opt for 2x systems. The young Belgian company Classified wants to prove with its new development that there is also potential for improvement with these systems. Similar to gearbox manufacturer Pinion, expertise from the construction of automotive gearboxes meets the enthusiasm of the makers for bicycles. Above all, reliable, uncompromising shifting behaviour and the highest possible efficiency were in the developers' specifications. The efficiency of a derailleur also depends on the size of the sprockets: large sprockets run more smoothly than small ones, as the greater curvature of the chain on small sprockets causes more friction between the chain links. Conventional 1x drivetrains also use strong springs in the cage to compensate for the change in length between a 9 and a 50 sprocket. The system with the smallest 11 sprocket, a smaller spread and only one chainring in the centre should put less stress on the chain. The planetary gear in the hub is durable, dirt-free and maintenance-free. Overall, the system should be as heavy as or even lighter than a double derailleur system.
After so many explanations, it's time for the practical test - and it's simply fun: The gears can be shifted through with wonderfully smooth jumps, which saves energy on longer journeys. Even gear changes over several sprockets in succession are smooth and precise. A dynamic chase over forest and country lanes, even over easy trails, is a relaxed affair with the Classified and Shimano combined gear system. The easy change between the two "chainrings" in the hub helps you to get off to a powerful start and sprint up and down fast hills or on winding paths. The reliability, speed and intuitive operation of the gears are also impressive on the open road. Particularly in winter, you also learn to appreciate the low operating forces and lever travel of the E-shift levers: with clammy, sore fingers, you can shift gears electrically more easily and more often than you would with mechanical shift levers with significantly greater operating forces and radii. With Di2 and Classified, you can therefore convert your pedalling power both mechanically and psychologically more efficiently.
The wheel itself maintains this level: with its laterally stiff carbon chassis and comfort-enhancing components, the Backroad performs confidently on the road and in light terrain. We particularly liked the Conti tyres: they combine good grip and tracking on loose ground with quiet, fast running and high grip on asphalt. They also roll smoothly and filter out minor bumps. With the Classified gearing, the Backroad is confident and fun to ride on almost any surface. Ultimately, however, the fundamental question remains as to whether you want to couple something as convincingly simple as a bike with complex electrical systems that, in case of doubt, can only be repaired with specialised knowledge and tools? But every bike enthusiast has to decide that for themselves.
Test summary of the Rose Backroad Classified
The potential and performance of the Classified circuit are convincing across the board. However, the complexity of the technology and the high price of €5,299 may put many people off.
