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Sophisticated race bike at a fair price

Florentin Vesenbeckh

 · 27.04.2018

Sophisticated race bike at a fair pricePhoto: Florentin Vesenbeckh
Sophisticated race bike at a fair price
The Conway RLC impresses with clever detail solutions on the completely newly developed carbon frame. The hardtail celebrates its premiere at the BIKE Festival in Riva.

How can you stand out from the crowd with a technically simple product like a hardtail frame? The Conway developers asked themselves this question. The result is a 29er carbon race bike that impresses with special detail solutions and aims to keep up with the top hardtails of the competition.

Independent: Conway gives its RLC frame a beautifully shaped seat dome.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh Independent: Conway gives its RLC frame a beautifully shaped seat dome. Clean solutions for internal cable routing are a matter of course at Conway. Inside, the cables are covered with padding, which simply and effectively prevents rattling. There is a steering stop limiter in the lower headset shell.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh Clean solutions for internal cable routing are a matter of course at Conway. Inside, the cables are covered with padding, which simply and effectively prevents rattling. There is a steering stop limiter in the lower headset shell.

The hard facts up front: The complete bike will be available from 1800 euros, the top frame should weigh less than 1000 grams. A higher quality carbon manufacturing technique is used here. A somewhat simpler and heavier frame is used on the cheaper models.

The spacer sleeve reduces the seat tube diameter from 30.9 to 27.2 millimetres and is included with all bikes - regardless of whether a dropper post is fitted as standard or not.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh The spacer sleeve reduces the seat tube diameter from 30.9 to 27.2 millimetres and is included with all bikes - regardless of whether a dropper post is fitted as standard or not.

The detailed solutions: Conway relies on a seat tube diameter of 30.9 millimetres. This provides a wide selection of telescopic seatposts. The cable routing for dropper posts runs completely inside the frame. If you want to ride with a rigid post, you can opt for 27.2 mm models that flex well. Conway includes a suitable spacer sleeve for this and installs it on models without a dropper post.

All models with single derailleur come with a minimalist chain guide. The frame has all the devices for derailleur mounting.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh All models with single derailleur come with a minimalist chain guide. The frame has all the devices for derailleur mounting.

To protect the top tube from unsightly impacts from shift and brake levers or bar ends, Conway relies on a steering stop limiter, which is located in the lower part of the headset. This means that flat race handlebars can be ridden without any problems. The frame is prepared for the installation of front derailleurs and there will be models with single and multiple drivetrains.

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There is space for a Di2 battery without rattling, and the large opening also helps with internal cable routing.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh There is space for a Di2 battery without rattling, and the large opening also helps with internal cable routing.

A larger opening for the battery of a Shimano Di2 is provided in the down tube under the bottle cage. This also makes it easier to route the cables, which are routed completely internally.

Another gimmick: The threaded inserts on the brake calliper mounts are replaceable. A broken thread is therefore no longer a problem. This applies to all threads on the frame, as all inserts are replaceable.

The threaded inserts that can be inserted from the side are interchangeable and therefore promise peace of mind, even if the thread is worn out.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh The threaded inserts that can be inserted from the side are interchangeable and therefore promise peace of mind, even if the thread is worn out.
Thin but effective protection on the down tube and chainstays is designed to protect the frame in the long term without unnecessarily increasing the weight.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh Thin but effective protection on the down tube and chainstays is designed to protect the frame in the long term without unnecessarily increasing the weight. The cables run cleanly inside the frame from front to back.Photo: Florentin Vesenbeckh The cables run cleanly inside the frame from front to back.
Florentin Vesenbeckh

Florentin Vesenbeckh has been on a mountain bike since he was ten years old. Even on his very first tour, he focussed on single trails - and even after more than 30 years in the saddle of an MTB, these are still the quintessence of biking for him. He spent his youth competing in various bike disciplines and later his cycling career was characterised by years as a riding technique coach. Professionally, the experienced test editor now focusses on e-mountainbikes. In recent years, the qualified sports scientist and trained journalist has tested over 300 bikes and more than 40 different motor systems in the laboratory and in practice.

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