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Cube Attempt review

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Cube Attempt

BikeRadar verdict

4.5 out of 5 stars

"Fast, fun and ready for hard riding – a brilliant first road bike"

4 comments
Wed 30 Mar 2011, 9:00 am BSTBy

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Cube continue the trend for German companies to make very competitively priced road bikes, and the Attempt has a lot of features – like internal cable routing – that you’d expect on much more expensive bikes. For a start it has a nearly complete Shimano 105 groupset, exactly as you’d find on most bikes costing up to £2000.

But perhaps more significantly – and one of the reasons it edges it as our top bike in this category – is the wheel and tyre combo. It’s good to have the best groupset you can afford, but after the frame it’s the wheels and tyres that have the greatest effect on how a bike rides. So finding Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels and Schwalbe Ultremo tyres on a £999 bike is an unexpected treat. Both products wouldn’t look out of place on a bike at twice the price.

The Attempt’s handling is impeccable: fast, true and direct, exactly what you want from your first serious road bike. The ride is a little firmer than you might get with a carbon frame, but it’s still pretty comfortable. The slimline Aero Flex seatstays, which change profile along their length, contribute to that, with the light, supple tyres also helping. FSA’s wing-profile bar is also extremely comfortable when you’re riding on the tops.

The pretty stiff, compact frame accelerates well, and thanks to the wheels it’s great when the roads get steeper, the triple chainset and 27t sprocket allowing less experienced climbers – or those who just want to take it easy – to cope with just about everything. There are no hassles after you reach the summit either, the frame, wheels, tyres and brakes keeping it all in check as you descend.

It’s hard to fault much about the Attempt – the name is pretty much all we’re not sure about. The ride doesn’t have quite the plushness of a carbon bike, but it’s not uncomfortable, the handling is reassuring and it absolutely flies when you put the hammer down. ultimately this would make a great first road bike, for training, long distance riding or just having fun. An Attempt? More like a resounding success.

What's the score with BikeRadar reviews? You can find a full explanation of our ratings here.

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User Reviews

There are 4 reviews on this post

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 comments

  • "For a start it has a nearly complete Shimano 105 groupset, exactly as you’d find on most bikes costing up to £2000."

    And more, as it happens:

    http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/storck-scenero-named-2011-bike-of-the-year-29529/

    Although I'd rather have, say, a Felt F1 with 105 than an F3 with Dura Ace.

  • I've got the 2010 version of this bike and absolutely love it. It doesn't have the internal cable routing that they have now, but did come with an mix of 105 and Ultegra groupset. After using my mountain bike for the winter i've got back on the Cube and i forgot how light it is and how it flies. Even with the compact chainset that is enough to get up all but the most steep hills.

  • I too bought this wheeled wonder and to say I enjoy it is an understatement. I looked at some of the bigger names such as Trek, Cannondale, Giant, even Specialized which I've ridden for 10 - 15 years and found that their steeds were same spec higher price or same price lower spec and to top it all off I got a bargain price of £120 off the featured price here...!! RESULT...!!

  • Also got the 2010 version on sale - massive bargain at £650! Improvements in the 2011 version appear to be the internal cabling, Ultremo rather than Blizzard tyres and a black crankset instead of silver. Excellent value componentry - I have looked for an alu frame with 105 triple in this price range for ages and no other brand appears to come close, even at full price.

    Used this on the Chaeshire Cat 100 mile sportiove on Sunday and was well impressed; very responsive out of the saddle - absolutely nailed up Mow Cop - and then got plenty of speed out of the Fulcrum 7s on the descents. Pretty comfortable too considering was only second ride on it, although did flip the stem upside down for a slightly more upright ride position.

    Can definitely see this being my do-it-all year-round bike for years to come - training, sportives and touring with a carradice saddle bag.

    For a grand I probably would have considered spending some extra and getting a Planet X carbon but this bike still looks great and rides excellently.

    Tempted to get a Cube hardtail mountain bike now as chatted to some very staisfied Cube MTB owners at trail centres...

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Specification

Name:
Attempt triple (11)
Built by:
Cube Bikes
Price:
n/a

Available Sizes:
50cm, 53cm, 56cm, 58cm, 60cm, 62cm, 64cm
Available Colours:
Black Red Print
Weight (kg):
8.87

Frame & Fork:

 
Frame Material:
Alu 7005
Fork Brand:
Dedacciai DBHT Carbon
Headset Brand:
FSA
Headset Type:
No.10 semi-integrated

Brakes:

 
Brakes Brand:
Shimano 105
Brakes Model:
Shimano 105

Transmission:

 
Cranks Model:
Shimano FC-R553
Rear Derailleur Brand:
Shimano 105
Front Derailleur Brand:
Shimano 105
Shifters Brand:
Shimano 105
Pedals Model:
None

Wheels:

 
Rims Model:
Fulcrum Racing 7
Front Hub Brand:
Fulcrum Racing 7
Front Tyre Model:
Schwalbe Ultremo ZX 23x628
Rear Tyre Model:
Shimano

Contact Points:

 
Saddle Brand:
RFR
Saddle Model:
NaturalShape 0.2R
Seatpost Brand:
FSA
Seatpost Model:
SL280 31.6mm
Stem Brand:
FSA
Stem Model:
OS190 Oversized
Handlebar Brand:
FSA
Handlebar Model:
Wing Compact Oversized

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