Stromm Rakkt: Aero road bike with record value in the test

What does it take to build the fastest bike in the world? Dedication, design expertise and manufacturing technology. Ben Rothacker has dedication, he races on the track himself. He also has expertise, having worked as an aerodynamicist at Boeing. And in the beginning, Rothacker and his two colleagues from Stromm Cycles also laminated the bikes themselves. Production is now carried out in Asia and the company has moved from Michigan to California. Stromm has its roots on the track, the Raktt road bike is relatively new and caught our attention via web research. A few weeks later, we had the bike in our hands, personally delivered by Rothacker, who flew it across the Atlantic after the parcel got stuck at customs. The decisive action paid off, as Stromm took the crown for the fastest bike ever measured by TOUR with 196 watts for 45 km/h in the wind tunnel. On the one hand, this is due to the design with slender tube profiles. On the other hand, the add-on parts are also trimmed for maximum speed. Single cranks, aero tyres, high wheels and very narrow handlebars offer the wind little surface to attack. The Raktt is particularly fast in frontal airflow, which dominates when there is little wind or when riding very fast.

Not super stable

This impression cannot be denied during the test ride. The tight arm position and the view of the filigree tube with the knife-like, 75 millimetre deep and 10 millimetre thin fork blades encourage you to pedal hard. Our ride in wintry conditions doesn't quite match the purpose of the bike, which is more suited to being ridden in a one-piece racing suit - be it with a race number or on a full-throttle evening lap. But even with thick winter clothing, the Raktt rolls light-footedly. The geometry is designed for good directional stability. And that's a good thing, because the frame stiffness is not quite up to date. It is reminiscent of the first generation of carbon bikes in the professional peloton almost 40 years ago. The weak stiffness, especially in the front part of the frame, is clearly noticeable.

80 km/h on the descent

However, it does not prevent us from speeding. We reach 80 km/h on the descent without lurching. Nevertheless, the design is more suitable for solo rides than for precision manoeuvres in a tightly packed field of riders. The equally low bottom bracket stiffness is not noticeable when climbing, but when pedalling hard, it lacks the defined feel that stiffer bikes provide. However, as a test rider I am not a reference in sprinting, my bike is more geared towards time trialling. The Raktt is well suited to this discipline. It marches and animates. The 1x12 drivetrain with 48-36 in first gear is only suitable for good climbers. Alternatively, the bike is also available with a front derailleur. The Raktt is available in six sizes from 48 to 61 centimetres. The riding position is stretched to suit the intended use, but not super extreme. The bike comes with a handlebar/stem combination from Stromm, but also accepts other brands. The tyre clearance is large, especially for an aero model, 34 mm tyres are possible. The high-speed machine is therefore designed to be absolutely practical.

There is a choice of three configurations, the frame kit with handlebars is available for 6,160 euros. The test bike with SRAM Red costs 11,563 euros. A lot of money, but the bike is faster and cheaper than established manufacturers make it possible. Anyone who has a heart for shooting, likes to ride brands outside the mainstream and appreciates sitting on what is currently the fastest bike in the world will find a congenial partner in the Raktt.

• Price: 11,563 Euro
• Weight of complete wheel: 7.3 kilos
• Info: www.strommcycles.com
• Frame sizes: 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61 cm