Three years ago, Isla Bikes took the decision to cease the production and sale of bikes, citing difficulties in the industry, despite being profitable. But the company is back with the Rosetta, a ‘gravel bike’ that challenges conventions.
Isla Rowntree, who founded the company in 2005, spoke to BikeRadar at Bespoked, the handmade cycle show, which runs from today through to Sunday in Peckham, London.
Rowntree said the decision to downscale the business gave her the opportunity to build a bike born out of the riding she does.
As well as racing bikes, Rowntree takes on cycling adventures that inform the design decisions behind the Rosetta, which she calls an “adventure ready gravel bike”.
The most obvious deviation from the best gravel bikes is the step-through frame. Rowntree says the step-through might mean people think the bike’s only for women, but she says it’s for men too.
Rowntree says she opted for a step-through design because when cycling in the British countryside you often encounter fences and gates. A step-through design makes the Rosetta easier to dismount when you hit one of these obstacles, especially with Rowntree's preferred cycling baggage, panniers.
Rowntree says panniers make more sense for off-road riding than frame bags because you are often doing “mini manuals” to clear obstacles.
The weight at the rear of the bike makes this easier, while placing the weight at the rear improves rear-wheel traction. Panniers are also easier to remove when lifting the bike over obstacles, Rowntree says.
The other difference between typical gravel bikes and the Rosetta is the choice of handlebar. Rowntree has fitted a flat bar to the bike rather than a drop bar.
She says if you were designing an off-road bike without preconceptions, you would logically choose a flat bar, which puts your hands in a more natural position for moving the bike across rough terrain.
While Rowntree made the prototype, the Rosetta’s frame is produced by Stayer, the East London-based bike builder, which is also exhibiting at the show.
The bike has “high-quality” bearings and brakes from Hope Technologies, while it uses an “inexpensive” Shimano CUES drivetrain.
This is because the drivetrain components will wear out and be replaced, but you want the other components to last much longer.
The gearing is also “very low” for “real-world climbing”. Rowntree adds that when touring, people are going to be freewheeling down hills rather than pushing the pace.
Elsewhere, the Rowntree has fitted the bike with mudguards, a rack – for panniers – and a dynamo, which powers front and rear lights and can charge your phone.
Although the rear light is mounted on the rack, Rowntree says you can disconnect the dynamo wire by the down tube to make removing the rack easier when travelling with the bike.
The bike on display at Bespoked is fitted with 45mm gravel tyres because this is what Rowntree favours for her riding, but she says it has clearance for tyres up to 57mm wide.
Ultimately, Rowntree says the bike is “well sorted” and aimed at providing riders with everything they need. But she says, “The challenge for me is connecting with people who will appreciate it”.
