The first bike trip after three weeks without exercise could have been so relaxed: not a cloud in the sky, clear air, legendary trails and the photogenic Lake Garda right in front of my nose. Instead, I start the first marathon race of my life. As if that wasn't enough, 2.8 inch wide tyres are humming under my backside and the bike I'm on has a 65 mm steering angle. After all, what sounds like an enduro bike is actually a carbon hardtail weighing just 9.9 kilos.
The Ctrail from VPace is designed as a fun-orientated trail bike, but is also intended for annual marathon use, says Sören Zieher, founder of the small bike manufacturer from Lake Constance. I don't need to be told twice and put the elegant prototype to the marathon test. At the BIKE Festival in Riva, however, the short lap with a good 1500 metres of elevation gain and 44 kilometres has to be enough - I can't expect any more from my legs, three bike- and sports-free weeks after the birth of my daughter.
The bike
Designed for 120-millimetre forks and 27.5-inch tyres up to 2.8 mm wide, the VPace Ctrail is designed for trail use. The very slack steering angle of 65 degrees in particular suggests a high level of safety on descents. The frame weight is said to be 1200 grams. The show bike, which I used to complete the Ronda Picola on Lake Garda, weighs 9.9 kilos in size L including the telescopic seat post - but only thanks to the finest equipment with tune parts, Schmolke carbon handlebars and carbon rims. The standard bike should remain under 11 kilos. Fortunately, the show bike is fitted with Schwalbe's Rocket Ron tyres in the hard Pace Star rubber compound - this promises acceptable rolling characteristics.
The Ctrail comes in sizes S, M and L, whereby size L is quite long with a 450 mm reach and 636 mm top tube with a seat tube length of 49.5 centimetres. The chainstays are only 425 millimetres long and keep the bike agile. The most striking feature is the slack steering angle of 65 degrees, which looks good even on modern enduro bikes and gives you the confidence you need on the descents. The frame is based on Boost dimensions and will cost 899 euros. The frameset will be available from June 2017 and complete bikes from July 2017.
The rise
But how does the prototype fare in a marathon? For the first few kilometres, the route from Riva on Lake Garda leads flat into the Sarca Valley. Here you have to accelerate to avoid the traffic jam at the start of the climb. The wide tyres struggle on the asphalt surface, and even in the slipstream I have to work really hard to keep up with my 29er colleagues. This is also noticeable acoustically: While the field of riders buzzed around and past me like a busy swarm of bees, I hummed like a ponderous bear in the direction of Arco. A big minus point. But when I finally start to climb, the disadvantage seems to have almost disappeared and I slowly find my rhythm. And as soon as the surface changes from asphalt to coarse cobblestones or rough gravel, the voluminous tyres do really well. In no situation do I have to worry about a lack of traction or feel like I'm going to get stuck on an obstacle - all my concentration is focussed on propulsion. The fact that I still don't feel like attacking, but rather take the climb at a leisurely pace, is more due to my lack of form than to the wide tyres alone. At least there's still time to look to the side. I overtake a fellow sufferer who is also rolling over the tarmac on plus-size tyres. "Strong tyres," I shout. "Nothing else, they give so much comfort," replies the marathon aspirant. In the long-distance field, however, we are both pretty lonely with the wide tyres - will this pay off later in the race? A short time later, I spot another exotic rider who wants to convince me of just that. The marathon runner combines his skintight Lycra dress with skate shoes and platform pedals. "Cool shoes, not bad either," I shout and add with a wink: "I don't feel quite so funny with my stupid wide tyres." The answer comes with conviction: "We have an advantage on the trails."
Really steep ramps await at the end of the climb. This is the first time I really notice the extremely flat steering angle. The slower the ride, the more wobbly it feels. With tired legs, I find it difficult to keep the bike on course in the steep sections. On the flatter sections, however, the less climbing-friendly steering angle didn't really matter. And the best thing is: with every metre, the certainty that the descent is approaching increases!
Downhill
Two marshals wave flags wildly through the cool morning air. The message is clear: SLOW! A little irritated (isn't the point of a race to be FAST?) and no less interested, I shoot round the next bend. In front of me, I spot two bikers pushing down the trail in their carbon shoes and struggling to stay on their feet. At the same moment, the stories of my fellow editorial team members who know the route come to mind: this must be the nasty stone slab that drives many marathon riders to despair right at the start of the descent. I adjust my line to the riders pushing, the ideal line is occupied. But with the grip of the voluminous tyres, this is not a major problem. A grin spreads across my face: Now it's my turn - and my chubby tyre.
As expected, the plus bike feels at home on descents. The slack steering angle gives you a lot of confidence, while the tyres and the outstanding Magura brakes do the rest. The Ctrail hardtail is probably safer and faster on medium-difficulty descents than a classic 100-millimetre marathon fully. Even if the typical Plus inertia is not absent and therefore not every line you aim for is exactly right. On the technically rather easy trail sections of the Ronda Piccola, the brakes can usually stay open and I make up a lot of ground. It seems to me as if the busy swarm of bees has turned into a few flies, buzzing around disorientated, while the bear underneath me is good-naturedly but firmly making its way as if it had just been let off the leash. Unfortunately, the off-road terrain soon comes to an end and I have to destroy a lot of metres in altitude with my trail-hungry bear on gravel and asphalt roads. Again and again I look longingly at the trail entrances at the side of the road, which I have to leave behind. That would be just the thing to test the limits of the Vpace prototype and make up a second or two. As I'm not taking part in an enduro race, but a marathon, I'm content with the fact that there's another real rumbly trail waiting for me at the end of the big gravel track. With a good dose of adrenalin in my blood, the following flat section back to Riva only hurts half as much. Luckily, after a short time I'm able to hang in the slipstream of a narrow-legged rider who I'd overtaken on the descent shortly before. I happily reach the finish line after 2:26 hours. Even though the Ctrail certainly didn't push me to a personal best time, it did a decent job of the marathon and also provided an extra dose of riding fun. Conclusion: promise kept! And luckily I'll be able to choose the descent myself again on my next bike tour - the Ctrail would be ready for a trail treat or two.
Update: Models, equipment and prices
Frames and complete bikes are available now. The frameset with headset is available for 899 euros. The budget version costs 3490 euros and comes with GX Eagle 1x12 gears, Fox 34 Factory fork, Fox Transfer seatpost, Magura MT Trail brakes and WTB Scraper i40 rims. The more expensive version shifts twelve gears with X01 Eagle, also comes with a Fox Transfer seatpost and Magura MT Trail carbon brakes for 4290 euros. A package with Tune King/Kong hubs is also available for an additional 300 euros.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
