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The Rose Backroad is considered a formative companion of the gravel boom in Germany. The model, which was first sold in 2019, quickly became the "absolute bestseller among dropbar bikes", as the Bocholt-based manufacturer and mail order company put it for the predecessor model. Now in its third generation, the Backroad is transforming even further from its former cyclocross successor into a comfortable long-distance off-road racing bike that is designed for everyday use and travelling. The introduction of the Backroad FF, which is trained for speed and has been appealing to a sporty, ambitious audience since last year, gives the developers new freedom.
New Rose Backroad goes with the trend
The new Backroad follows many gravel trends of recent years: more space for wide tyres, up to 53 millimetres now fit through the frame and fork. More comfort, because with a new seatpost clamp, which takes up the concept of the marathon racer Reveal, the carbon seatpost should now have more suspension than its predecessor. Simple and beginner-friendly drivetrains, because there is no alternative to single-speed drivetrains with wide-range cassettes on the new Backroad. The geometry has been carefully adapted, with slightly higher handlebars for a more upright position and a slightly slacker head angle and slightly lower bottom bracket, the bike is trimmed for stability and straight-line stability. This makes the Backroad more conducive to leisurely cruising and long days in the saddle; it requires little practice and concentration off-road. Comfortable contact points and the fluffy tyres immediately create a feel-good atmosphere, even if the seat post cannot fulfil the promise of comfort. A sporty pace with fast sections, powerful acceleration and fast corners is no longer really its strong point, simply because of its weight of almost twelve kilograms. But that's what the Backroad FF.
Bags and lights included with the new Backroad
The Rose also offers innovations in terms of additional benefits: A storage compartment integrated into the frame creates space for a puncture repair kit, and mudguards, pannier racks or customised frame bags can be mounted at a number of attachment points. The latter are attached to Fidlock fixed points - a magnetic-mechanical system that allows the bags to click into place on the frame almost automatically. This eliminates the time-consuming fiddling with straps, Velcro fasteners and tensioning straps. Canyon also uses it for the frame bag on the new Grizl. Rose also uses the same attachment for the bottles, which has the advantage that they can be easily removed from the side and the frame bag is not in the way. The bag comes as standard on all carbon models; it can be ordered as an option for the aluminium model.
There's also this
To the tested "Unsupported" version, the most expensive in the programme at 4400 euros, also includes a small top tube bag, high-quality dynamo lighting from Supernova with a powerful headlight including high beam, as well as a buffer battery from Busch+Müller, called K-Werk, built into the frame. A toggle switch at the end of the handlebars determines whether the dynamo should power the lights or charge the battery while riding. This can be tapped into via a USB-C port on the stem to charge a mobile phone or sat nav. Such solutions have been technically feasible for some years now and are popular with touring cyclists. Until now, however, it took some expertise and tinkering skills to integrate them on your own bike. On the Backroad, everything is neatly mounted and solidly wired, nothing rattles or wobbles and the operation is self-explanatory. Because the Unsupported is equipped with mechanical shifting, it is in theory completely independent of power sockets.
The main limiter for too many consumers is likely to be the power harvest. The capacity is sufficient to fully charge a mobile phone plus sat nav. Because the hub dynamo sends relatively little power, you would have to cycle for around twelve hours at a moderate speed to get the 5000 mAh battery fully charged again - with the lights switched off. Alternatively, the battery can also be recharged at the socket.
Where is there potential for improvement?
However, we think that some details still have potential for improvement: The headlight prominently placed on the handlebars, for example, is likely to be incompatible with many handlebar bags. The minimalist rear light on the left dropout is not visible from the right-hand side. And you can only see the charge status of the battery if you open the storage compartment and turn the front wheel (or connect a charging cable). However, such details are probably bearable if there is still some power for the empty mobile phone battery in an emergency.
Rose Backroad Unsupported: Info & Rating
- Price: 4400 Euro >> available at Rosebikes
- Weight of complete wheel: 11.8 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL
- TOUR grade: 2,9
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 510/570/155 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 614/398 millimetres/1.54
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 680/570 millimetres/1.19
- Wheelbase/caster: 1050/76 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano GRX 820 (1x12, 40, 11-51 teeth) | Note: 2,5
- Brakes: Shimano GRX 820 (180/160 millimetres) | Note: 1,0
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Overland 50 millimetres | Note: 1,0
- Impellers: Rose G30
- Impeller weights: 2227/2561 grams (f./h.)
Measured values
- Weight of complete wheel: 11.810g | Note: 5,0
- Driving stability: 9.82 N/mm | Note: 1,0
- Rear comfort: 227 N/mm | Note: 3,7
- Comfort front: 112 N/mm | Note: 3,3
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 60 N/mm | Note: 1,0
Rose Backroad Unsupported: advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
Smart solutions for travelling and bikepacking, integrated power supply
Disadvantages
heavy; comfort only via the tyres
How TOUR tests
Jens Klötzer
Editor
