The carbon fibre X-Lite tops Rose’s new Xeon range, with Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and a 6.2kg overall package (frameset weight is a claimed 1,020g). All bikes in the Xeon range should reach dealers by the close of 2011John Whitney/BikeRadar
Beefy chainstays are a feature of the whole Rose Xeon rangeJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
Wheels from fellow German brand Lightweight are a highlight of the Rose Xeon X-Lite’s specJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Di2 battery is located on the underside of the non-drive side chainstay on Rose’s Xeon bikesJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
A short head tube gives the Rose Xeon X-Lite a racy rider positionJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Rose Xeon RS is made from ultra-light alloy. Available with almost any groupset you might want, the model shown is finished, like many bikes this week, with Shimano’s eagerly anticipated Ultegra Di2 drivetrain and Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL hoopsJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
With a claimed weight of 7.6kg, the Rose Xeon RS is only 400g heavier than its carbon brother when kitted out with a like-for-like spec. Wafer thin seatstays no doubt contribute to the low weightJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Rose Xeon RS’s carbon-like look fooled us for a secondJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
With a claimed weight of 7.2kg, the carbon Rose Xeon CRS is only a little lighter than the alloy versionJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
We’ve seen the Ultegra Di2 battery in a few positions this week, including in the seat post. More orthodox is this position under the non-drive side chainstayJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
29ers are the order of the day on the off-road side of things at Rose; this is the Mr Big carbon hardtail. Claimed weight is 9.25kg, with the frame coming in at 1,150g and the rigid carbon fork adding another 555g. The bike shown is a prototype; expect a paintjob similar to the X-LiteJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The Rose Mr Big’s carbon fork weighs a claimed 555gJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
Back end of the Rose Mr BigJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
The 26in-wheeled, 100mm-travel carbon Psycho Path comes in two versions; shown here is the standard model, with a frame weight of 1,333g. Not on show was the lighter frame, which isn’t quite finished but is said to come in around 250g lighterJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
More 29er action, in the shape of the 100mm-travel alloy Mr Ride. Geometry has changed for 2012 to give it more of a cross-country feel. This 10.7kg hardtail comes with a RockShox SID fork and SRAM XO groupsetJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
Eurobike has gone 29er mad, emphasised by the Rose Dr Z 8, now only available with the bigger wheel option. It remains an alloy, 100mm-travel cross-country bike, and is specced with a RockShox SID fork and Fox Float RP23 shockJohn Whitney/BikeRadar
Lighter frames and bigger wheels is how 2012’s road and mountain bike offerings from German online giants Rose can be best summed up. On the tarmac side, the X-Lite TT-Flyer was again taking pride of place on their stand at Eurobike, after its launch in Munich earlier this year.
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There was also a new range of lightweight carbon fibre and alloy road bikes called Xeon. Changes to Rose’s off-road line-up are typical of what we’ve been seeing at the Freidrichshafen trade show this year – a big shift towards 29ers. Check out our image gallery for the heads-up.
Cycling Plus deputy editor and tireless domestique John has been putting in a shift for the magazine for seven years. Despite having been a ‘proper’ road cyclist for the last decade, he still can’t work out what his main motivation for punishing all-day rides is. A freewheeling attitude towards cake is the popular theory, however.
