Rocky Mountain has made a big hit with the new carbon "Vertex". Alison Sydor has already won the Transalp with her new bike, while Marie-Hélène Prémont secured the overall World Cup. The frame design of the monocoque construction and details such as the integrated seatpost clamp and "direct mount" front derailleur are completely impressive. In addition, the frame weight is in the solid mid-range, with perfectly adequate headset stiffness. However, the excessive total weight of just under ten kilograms without pedals is less impressive. Here we expect a little more from a race bike for just under 4000 euros. Where the competition already uses a complete "XTR" groupset, Rocky only uses "XT". In addition, heavy tubes make for a high wheel weight and thus reduce the agility of the "Vertex". The handlebars, which are clearly too narrow at just 56 centimetres wide, come at the expense of handling and make for an unsafe feeling on descents. Overall, you sit relatively compactly and relaxed on the Rocky. The frame geometry fits, but the stem could be a little flatter for a more propulsive position. In terms of lap times and on the downhill sections, the "Vertex" is therefore only in the midfield. Incidentally, only the "Vertex Team" frame with an even higher quality carbon fibre and 100 grams lighter is available as a frame kit for 2590 euros. A complete version of this top frame with lighter add-on parts is to follow from April 2009.
CONCLUSIONS: As a complete bike, the "Vertex 70 RSL" falls well short of the potential of the successful frame. However, at € 3,990, it is the comparatively cheapest bike in this test.
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