Rocky Mountain Solo C70 & A50: The double Solo: Rocky's gravel bikes on test

Rocky Mountain announced the update of its first gravel bike, the Solo, with little fanfare. There was already a road bike (!) called Solo in 2016 and two aluminium models in 2020. The reverberations in the industry press about the current Solo gravel bike were relatively short. In fact, the Canadian manufacturer has now presented an entire line-up, similar to the mountain bikes: the Rocky Mountain Solo A50 aluminium bike and the two carbon models C50 and C70. As always, the Solo C50 and C70 differ in terms of equipment.

Rocky Mountain's promise for the Solo is, among other things, "plenty of comfort" thanks to the design of the seat tube with a cut-out and the curved chainstays, which should allow the rear triangle a certain amount of flex. In contrast to technical suspensions, this would be maintenance-free and durable. The Solo also has a powerful carbon fork and plenty of tyre clearance for fat tyres (max. 29 x 2.0 inch / 27.5 x 2.2 inch).

What's more, a whole host of mounting points make the bike a potentially attractive companion for long tours. We wanted to put it to the test - preferably the carbon version against aluminium. One had to go with us through the bushes at home - the other on the long journey from Strasbourg to Saumur in France.

Test of the Rocky Mountain Solo C70 gravel bike

The first bike we receive is the top model of the Rocky Mountain Solo, the C70. Pitch black, matt exposed carbon, and only the decals are in glossy black - awesome. Apart from the electronic Sram Rival drivetrain, the spec is good, but not breathtaking. A brief outline of the specs:

• Gear system: Sram Rival XPLR AXS
• Brakes: Sram Rival, 160 mm brake discs
• Wheels: Easton EA70 AX
• Tyres: WTB Venture TCS Light Fast Rolling 700 x 40c tyres
• Weight: approx. 9 kilos
• Price: 5100 Euro >> available here

When you first sit on the bike, you notice that the gravel bike is built high, you sit quite sportily stretched and the steep steering angle gives the front wheel a certain "lively" feel. Even more exciting, however, is the impression of whether the seat tube provides noticeable comfort. Yes! The "kink" and the flex achieved in the rear end are most noticeable when riding through short bumps like puddles. But the frame also absorbs bumps or edges like a numbing anaesthetic in the cheek: they are noticeable, but only muffled - which in this case feels very pleasant!

The Rocky Mountain Solo, which weighs a good 9kg, also accelerates very well, but is of course not a rock-solid sprinter. The Easton EA70 AX handlebar is pleasantly wide (420 mm in XS, 440 mm SM-MD and 460 mm LG-XL). It has an 80 mm reach and 120 mm drop. For rough trails or for fun in between, the undergrip with 16° flare is used. The in-house stem with 7° rise is, however, unseasonably long: XS has 60 mm and XL is already 100 mm long.

All this contributes to the fact that the author personally favours a size smaller. Rocky Mountain offers the following sizes for the Solo: XS, SM, MD, LG, XL. For a body height of 173 cm, the Canadians recommend MD - but if you're less stretched out and want to be able to turn corners quickly, I would recommend SM. Or a shorter stem.

The Rocky Mountain Solo C70 was at our disposal for several hundred kilometres. The Funk Rival gears are unobtrusively precise and quiet. The bike itself is just as quiet, the hub sounds averagely loud, only the WTB tyres take some getting used to, especially when cornering slowly. Their "bards" - mini studs (see photo) - have great grip on tarmac, which you can also hear a little. On the other hand, they are too closed for rough gravel, but they keep catapulting small stones against the bike and the rider. On the other hand, they can be ridden with relatively low pressure, especially in tubeless set-up.

In combination, this confirms the impression that the Solo gravel bike is made for long distances. Even after a long day in the saddle, you don't feel shaken because small and medium vibrations are effectively dampened. Attention - daring: It feels a bit like the good old steel frames of the 90s. And how does the aluminium version perform?

Rocky Mountain Solo A50 - tested in France

For the Solo A50, we had considered difficult conditions: The gravel bike from Rocky Mountain was not only to be taken on a journey over the gravel paths and roads of France, but also pull a single-track bicycle trailer with a decent payload across the country.

For the cheapest model in the Solo range, the spec is correspondingly unexciting, but functional - although the weight of a good 10 kilos with a Sram Rival and cheap aluminium rims is still perfectly acceptable. Like the C70, the Rocky Mountain Solo A50 has a carbon fork. However, at 2600 euros (RRP), it is significantly more expensive than the entry-level models from Canyon or Rose, for example.

• Gear system: Sram Rival 1, 1x11
• Brakes: Sram Rival, 160 mm brake discs
• Wheels: Rocky Mountain hub + WTB ST i23 TCS tubeless rims
• Tyres: WTB Venture TCS Light Fast Rolling 700 x 40c tyres
• Weight: approx. 10 kilos
• Price: 2600 Euro

The geometry corresponds to that of the carbon solo shown above.

Rocky Mountain Gravelbike: Does aluminium flex like carbon that flexes like steel?

It was clear from the start that the aluminium version of the Rocky gravel bike couldn't have the flex of a carbon bike. But how much flex is there in the Rocky Mountain Solo A50? Due to the lack of a comparison with an A50 without flex, we can't clarify whether the kink in the seat stay has an effect. The fact is, however, that in combination with the WTB tyres, a high level of comfort is achieved. To stay with the image of the cheek anaesthetic: it still has a slight effect. Impacts from the ground are slightly filtered and sent to the rider's sore wrists and bruised backside.

>> Also interesting is the test report on the Topeak Journey bicycle trailer <<

The stiffness values of the aluminium Solo are certainly not in the range of the Endurance models from other manufacturers - fortunately! Because you don't ride fast with a trailer, but you are (forced to) ride longer. The Rocky Mountain Solo in aluminium does this very well. We changed the saddle (WTB Silverado Race) after just a few kilometres for various reasons. Incidentally, the sportier riding position is not too stretched, even for long hours. All parts have held up without any problems (not even one puncture) and there are no signs of rubbing from the shoes on the stays or any cables on the frame, which on both Solos disappear into the down tube at the front.

Only the Sram Rival brakes with 160 mm discs could be more powerful, which was particularly noticeable during braking manoeuvres with a trailer. However, the poor braking performance could also be problematic with a much heavier rider or with a lot of luggage on the bike. After all, the Solo offers numerous mounting points, both on the fork and above and below the top tube as well as on the down tube. Mudguards can also be fitted to both gravel bikes from Rocky Mountain.

Conclusion on the Rocky Mountain Solo gravel bike test

The carbon model of the Rocky Mountain Solo is very comfortable to ride thanks to the flex of the rear triangle and fork. Many mounting points make it a bikepacking gravel bike for long distances or long hours in the saddle. The aluminium Solo A50 model doesn't come close to comfort, but it does effectively absorb vibrations.

Rocky Mountain's Canadian bikes are always a good deal more expensive than the competition. But for 2600 euros you can certainly get a gravel bike that will last you a long time in the city or when commuting, without you having to worry about the chic carbon frame when it is connected to a lantern. Paint protection film is available for the A50's light-coloured paintwork. The wheels and the tame brake system could perhaps be tuned.