The 2017 MTB season is in the starting blocks with a new, strong team at ROSE Bikes. Six top-class riders have joined forces under the German bike brand to showcase their repertoire of skills, push the sport forward and blow their fans away as they hit the slopes and give their all in the competitions. We spoke to the team riders about their new bikes and asked them what it means to them to be part of the ROSE Rad Squad.
Antoine Bizet (FRA)
1) I'm super motivated to ride for ROSE. From freeride to dirt to enduro - I like all ROSE bikes and I'm really looking forward to finally riding a slopestyle bike. I'm going to rock the Jester slope bike like crazy this year!
2. my Jester is basically a standard factory model The Jester II, but with brand new Michelin tyres, a badass Fabric saddle and crazy Fabric grips. My brakes are from TRP and it will all roll on Spank wheelsets. My Jester will be steered by a stem/handlebar combo from Spank. Get ready, 2017 - we're perfectly equipped for some great riding sessions!
Lukas Knopf (GER)
1. it's just great to ride for ROSE Bikes, I've been riding for them for two years now. It's amazing when such a big brand has your back, especially now with the new additions. ROSE will really bring it this season!
2 I decided in favour of both the ROSE The Jester and the ROSE The Bruce. The first is a slopestyle bike, the other a dirt jump bike. Both ROSE frames come with a KMC chain, Novatec wheels and Kenda tyres. The set-up is pretty light and also very stable! I can't think of another bike that would suit me better.
Tobias Wrobel (GER)
1) Riding for ROSE Bikes feels great and I'm totally stoked to be part of this big family again. Perfect bikes, great team mates and of course great people behind the scenes - that's what family feels like.
2. this year I switched to a larger frame and tried to build my bike as cleanly as possible. I ride a Rock Shox Pike DJ with an ACROS headset, my wheelsets are fitted with Maxxis IKON tyres so that I have perfect grip on every course. For the brakes, I opted for a Shimano XTR with sufficient power and easy handling. My crank arms are from e*thirteen LG1, and I have completed my bike with components from KORE.
Torquato Testa (ITA)
1) I am very happy and honoured to be part of such a professional team! The bikes from ROSE really are the best I've ever ridden!
2. most of the time I ride my dirt jump/slopestyle bikes "The Bruce" and "The Jester"! The frames of both models are just perfect for my tricks, super fast and light, I can turn in all directions with them. With my "The Unchained 2.0" I've even done a bit of freeriding and I'm still totally stoked about how light this bike is! I can do almost the same tricks on my DH bike that I normally do on my hardtail.
Jakub Vencl (CZE)
1) I've been riding for ROSE for six years now, and it's always been great. I really appreciate the great support I've had all these years. These bikes feel like home to me.
2 "The Bruce" is a great little dirt jump beast. It has some really original features and is generally very stable, just like a dirt jumper should be in my opinion.
Anthony Messere (CAN)
1) I'm really looking forward to riding for ROSE. I've only heard good things about their bikes in the past. After looking at the geometry of the frames, I knew we would be a good match. I couldn't wait until the frames were ready and I could finally ride them. After riding "The Bruce" for a few weeks, I'm really happy with how it feels. Now I'm looking forward to riding all the other bikes from ROSE.
2. the set-up of my "The Bruce" and my "The Jester" are identical. So switching from one bike to the other is really easy.
Both bikes are equipped as follows:
Frame: ROSE The Jester/ The Bruce
Fork: RockShox Pike DJ, 100mm 3 tokens, 180psi
Shock: RockShox RT3 High tune/ 240psi
Bottom bracket: Sram XO DH
Cranks: 165mm / Direct mount narrow wide chainring XO
Stem: Truvativ 30mm
Handlebars: Truvativ descendant colab 28.75"
Pedals: Crankbrothers Stamp Small
Seatpost: Truvativ Noir T-40 Carbon
Grips: Sensus DISISDABOSS
Tyres: Maxxis DTH Rear, IKON front
Wheels: DT Swiss EX471 Rim, 240S hub
Brakes: Avid XX Brake, or BB7 mechanical disc with Slopestyle gyro
Anatol Sostmann, Marketing & PR Manager ROSE Bikes.: "The ROSE Rad Squad is awesome and certainly one of the strongest teams in the Tour. With Anthony and Antoine, we have two newcomers to ROSE who are among the best the mountain bike world has to offer. But Torquato has already shown what level he is at this year and that he is ready for some great deeds. In my eyes, Lukas is the strongest rider in Germany and simply a blatant trick machine. Jakub epitomises the fun and lifestyle that the team stands for like no other. Tobi has recovered and we'll be seeing more of him again in 2017; it's clear that your mouths will remain open. I wish all riders safe flights and good times!"
More information about ROSE Bikes www.rosebikes.com
