If you’ve noticed that it’s been a little wet of late in the UK, it might be time to consider a bike designed for UK conditions, with the clearance for wider tyres and mudguards, such as the newly updated Kinesis RTD.
Kinesis says RTD stands for Race The Distance, with its aluminium endurance frameset versatile enough for everything from the daily commute to racing across continents and bikepacking adventures.
The RTD’s geometry has been tweaked, with Kinesis claiming it balances responsiveness and stability with predictable handling.
The new frameset includes an oversized down tube, contributing to a stiff front end, while the rear of the bike is made more compliant thanks to a narrow seat tube and flattened seatstays. Frame clearance is 34mm, or 30mm with mudguards – the same as the previous-generation frameset.
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Affordable and durable
Made from 6069 aluminium alloy, Kinesis says the RTD proves that aluminium can rival carbon for performance at a more affordable price and with better real-world durability and longevity. The RTD has a claimed frame weight of 1,400g for a size-52cm frame, the same as the earlier RTD.
Kinesis says it’s the only brand to use super-plastic tube forming, which employs high-temperature air rather than the more common hydroforming, and this enables it to produce tubes that are lighter and have more complex shapes. There’s a full range of three bottle cage, rack and mudguard mounts.
As well as the updated geometry, Kinesis offers a greater size range than for the RTD’s predecessor, with eight sizes from XXS to XXL now available, one more than the previous frameset.
In addition, there’s front-end cable routing into the head tube, which the brand says enables it to use lighter tubing than if there were cable ports in the down tube. The RTD is compatible with both mechanical and electronic 1x and 2x groupsets, on a BSA bottom bracket.
The RTD frame is paired with an all-carbon fork, with internal routing for the brake hose and dynamo cabling. It’s supplied with patented Switch Lever thru-axles with a removable lever.
The Kinesis RTD frameset is available in red only and priced at £950.
