Normally, bikes are set to fixed installation standards. Normally, the customer has to decide on an area of use when buying. Normally, people of retirement age do not design production-ready bikes on the drawing board. But what is normal?
The Celtic Chadh by inventor Richard Kapp is certainly not. The charismatic man from Baden even designed the bike as a kind of rebellion against the norm and christened it Chadh, the Celtic word for fighter. The fact that the industry is constantly inventing new standards and demanding more and more money for less and less compatibility is madness for Kapp. His approach: an honest bike for honest people - practical, affordable and durable. Based on the letters from readers in the BIKE editorial team's mailbox, he probably speaks from the soul of many bikers.
Celtic Chadh - the maximally variable touring bike
As a maximally variable touring bike, the Chadh from Race to Down Country. It is flexible in terms of the installation length and the mounting standard of the shock thanks to the exchange parts included in the scope of delivery. The telescopic seat stays allow the geometry to be adapted to different shocks and forks as well as personal requirements. This allows Chadh riders to convert their bike between 80 and 120 millimetres of travel at any time. Thanks to the Vario solution on the seat stays, the steering and seat angle can be adjusted four times by half a degree each.
Top compatibility for wheels and tyres
Interchangeable dropouts make the Celtic compatible with all axle standards. The geometry adjustment also allows Impellers in 29 or 27.5 inches. For smaller riders, even a 26-inch wheel is possible at the rear. No other manufacturer offers more flexibility.
The aluminium rear triangle is manufactured in Freiburg, while the carbon main frame comes from Asia. Due to the high production costs, the Celtic Chadh is only available in size M for the time being. In contrast to the prototype, which we have already been able to test, the production bike has a Sram UDH derailleur hanger. All bolts are made of sturdy grade 5 titanium.
Practical test: How the Celtic Chadh Race rides
Sporty, but not too stretched despite the 80-millimetre stem, bikers take a seat in the saddle of the Celtic. A very comfortable weight distribution between hands and buttocks predestines the bike for long laps. The suspension sensitively filters small bumps out of the ground and generates a lot of comfort.
The downside of the lively chassis is a constantly pitching rear end. Compared to thoroughbred race fullys, the Chadh pedals less efficiently. As the DT Swiss shock does not have a complete lockout, a lot of energy is wasted when pedalling. The Exotic is not a proven sprinter, but accelerates decently thanks to the lightweight Tune wheels. The narrow 2.25-inch tyres can hardly spread out on their small rim width and require a lot of air pressure.
Classically delicate: the Celtic exudes charm
In the virtue of classic touring bikes, the geometry positions the rider with long chainstays and a short reach far forward over the bike. This requires a sure hand and a lot of pressure in tight bends. On the trail, the rear end is sensitive to small bumps and allows the Celtic to glide calmly downhill at low speeds. However, as soon as the speed increases and the bumps get bigger, it takes an experienced rider to keep the bike under control. This is when the noticeably high torsion of the rear end becomes apparent.
Its material flexes noticeably under rough side impacts and hard braking manoeuvres. When pedalling hard, the rear tyre even comes into contact with the seat stay due to the lack of stiffness. Although a dropper post could be easily retrofitted and the equipment can also be adapted, the suspension and tyres lack downhill reserves in this configuration.
Overall, the riding experience conveys a refreshing vintage charm and clearly stands out from the more modern bikes in our test cellar. Even if the Chadh isn't an expert in downhill trail fun, it still offers a relaxed riding position and a high level of comfort on long rides.
Test summary of the Celtic Chadh Race by Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor:
Richard Kapp has created a vario-bike that offers touring bikers all kinds of customisation options. The Celtic Chadh spoils you with a high level of comfort on long laps. Due to its conservative riding characteristics, it is less a playful bike for trail fans than a bike for lovers of classic virtues - and there are many of them.
Technical data and notes Celtic Chadh Race
Manufacturer information
- Price: 2249 Euro (frame set)
- Available from specialised dealers
- Frame material: carbon/aluminium
- Frame size: M(47 cm)
Measured values
- Weight without pedals: 10.7 kg
- Frame weight: 2700 g
- Weight of wheels: 3577 g
- Acceleration of running wheels: 2700 kg x cm²
- Handlebar width: 740 mm
- Frame rigidity (absolute): 44 N/mm
Equipment
- Wheels: Stans No Tubes ZTR Crest MK3; Tune Boost hubs
- Tyres: Schwalbe Racing Ray / Ralph 29 x 2.25
- Fork: DT Swiss F 232 One Remote
- Shock: DT Swiss F 232 One Remote
- Front/rear suspension travel: 114/118 mm
- Brakes: Magura MT 4 / 160/160 mm
- Gear system: Sram GX Eagle 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 9-50 / 556 %
- Seatpost / Ø: Easton EC 90 / 27.2 mm
Valuation
- Driving behaviour uphill: 24 from 30
- Chassis efficiency: 17.5 out of 25
- Rolling resistance: 12.75 out of 15
- Weight: 20 from 25
- Inertia impellers: 12 of 15
- Bottle cage: 8 out of 10
- Driving behaviour: downhill 24 from 30
- Front suspension: 9 out of 10
- Rear suspension: 11.25 out of 15
- Saddle retractability: 7 out of 10
- Brakes: 8 out of 10
- Tyre grip: 10.5 out of 15
- Driving stability: 2 out of 10
TOTAL UPHILL: 94.3 OUT OF 120
TOTAL DOWNHILL: 71.8 OUT OF 100
- Other: 22 out of 30
- Ease of maintenance: good
BIKE test rating*: very good - 188 out of 250 points
*The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (250-205 P.), very good (204.75-170 P.), good (169.75-140 P.), satisfactory (139.75-100 P.), with weaknesses, unsatisfactory.
Further articles:
Stefan Frey
Editor
