We got a taste of some of Rose Bikes’ 2010 models during a trip to Livigno, Italy last year, so we were excited when head designer Andi Heimerdinger popped into BikeRadar HQ with some of the first bikes to hit the UK.
Who are Rose? A massive presence in Germany, they sell thousands of parts, clothing and other cycling bits through their Rose Versand mail order/web business and Biketown store, as well as designing their own mountain bikes and Red Bull branded road and cross-country models.
In 2010 they'll be making a big push onto the UK scene with their own-brand mountain bikes. As well as being available to ride during our Bike Demo Days, UK go-to man Andy Mayne will be touring the length of the country offering you the chance to sling your leg over one of the trail machines.
So, here's a look at some of the highlights of the range (see our 2010 preview, and the thumbnail gallery above, for more):
Rose Verdita Green
New for 2010 is the Verdita Green women’s model, a 140mm-travel full-susser which is available in five specs varying in price from €1,799 to €3,249.
This base model has a RockShox Pike 409 U-Turn fork, Fox Float R rear shock custom-tuned for lighter riders, SUNringle Charger rims, a mix of Shimano Deore and SLX shifting, Formula RX brakes and finishing kit from Syncros.
Rose Beefcake
Pictured at the top of this article, the Beefcake is the gravity-loving bruiser of the range, as ridden by the company’s test pilot and freeride loon Bobby (record holder for fastest wheelie) Root.
If you want to get hold of a Bobby Root limited edition model it’ll cost you €3,999 and come with a custom purple frame, Fox 40 RC2 fork and RC4 coil shock, DT Swiss FR 2350 Special Edition wheelset, Truvativ Holzfeller crankset, SRAM XO shifters, Formula The One brakes and a mix of Selle Italia and Syncros finishing kit.
The entry model Beef Cake 2 comes with a RockShox Domain fork, Fox Van R rear shock, Shimano Deore and SLX shifting kit, Truvativ Hussefelt 2.0 crankset and Syncros finishing kit. RRP is €1,999.
Red Bull X-LITE ORO
If it’s tarmac action you’re after then Red Bull (no relation to the energy drink people) have a number of aluminium and carbon models, as well as cyclo-cross rigs for mud-plugging. Most bikes can be configured to your own specification.
This tidy looking Shimano Di2-equipped carbon X-LITE ORO is Red Bull’s top-end race bike at €8,999, and as well as the electronic version of Shimano's Dura-Ace groupset it comes with Mavic’s R-SYS Premium wheelset (pictured with Easton EA70 wheels) and finishing kit from Selle Italia, FSA and 3T Ergonova.
Red Bull PRO-SL 3000
The PRO-SL 3000 has a triple-butted aluminium frame, full-carbon fork, Easton EA70 wheelset and Shimano Ultegra 6700 groupset. It’ll cost you €1,489.
BikeRadar's very own James 'JC-Dubb' Costley-White will be long-term testing the Granite Chief trail bike during 2010, and we'll have reviews of other models in the range during the year ahead.
For more information on Rose and Red Bull Bikes, head to their website. You can test many of the bikes at our Bike Demo Days – book online now!
Andi Heimerdinger, Rose Bikes' chief designer, aboard their jump bike, The Bruce