Tresca is a relatively new brand based in the UK with all the design and development carried out by a small dedicated team (frame manufacturing is in Asia), and the TCA-1 is its rim-braked aluminium race bike.
Tresca tells us that each tube of the TCA-1's frame uses unique butting profiles and hydroforming. It's good looking and the individual tube profiles show some clever thinking.
The seat tube has a nod to aerodynamics with its wheel-hugging profile, the seatstays are multi-shaped and tapering, while the boxy chainstays are there for power efficiency.
The squarish down-tube is neatly radiused and it, along with the seat tube, flares out at the bottom bracket junction for maximum stiffness in the bottom bracket shell. Up front, an oversized and tapered head-tube ensures handling accuracy.
Tresca TCA-1 kit
Fizik provides its decent R5 Cyrano bar and stem, and the R5 level Antares saddle.
The alloy DT Swiss P1800 wheels have a great reputation for hardy longevity, while the 105 drivetrain is quite brilliant. Accurate shifts are the order of the day and the standard rim brakes with soft gummy pads are the perfect companion to the alloy DT rims.
Tresca TCA-1 ride impressions
On the road the TCA-1 feels just like a good bike should: stiff through the pedals, responding well to steering inputs.
The aggressive ride position gleaned from the low stack of 584mm and mid-long reach of 387mm sets the TCA-1 out as a race bike. The steering is quick yet stable.
Compared to my benchmark aluminium race machine, the Cannondale CAAD12, the TCA-1 has more rake on the fork (58mm compared to 45mm) and more trail (64mm compared to 56mm).
That means it’s not quite as snappy and nimble as the CAAD12 (or the new CAAD13, which shares the same geometry), but it’s very similar.
The similarities to Cannondale don’t end there, with the back end of the Tresca having dropped stays (like the CAAD13). It has also adopted the minimal 25.4mm seatpost first seen on the last generation Cannondale SuperSix EVO and CAAD12.
This combination of slim post and low stays makes the back end of the TCA-1 a smooth riding experience. It’s slightly in contrast with the front end where the combination of stiff alloy bar and a stiff carbon fork offers a much firmer ride.
It’s never uncomfortable but it’s a marked difference between the front and back, especially on coarse road surfaces – a carbon bar upgrade wouldn’t go amiss here.
Tresca TCA-1 geometry
- Chainstay: 42cm
- Seat tube: 55.5cm
- Top tube: 56.9cm
- Head tube: 15.6cm
- Fork offset: 5.8cm
- Trail: 6.4cm
- Bottom bracket drop: 7.4cm
- Bottom bracket height: 27.1cm
- Wheelbase: 1,010mm
- Stack: 58.4cm
- Reach: 38.7cm
Product
| Brand | tresca |
| Price | 1600.00 GBP |
| Weight | 8.3000, KILOGRAM (L) - |
Features
| Fork | Carbon |
| br_stem | Fizik Cyrano R5 |
| br_frame | 6069 Aluminium |
| Tyres | Continental Grandsport Race 25mm |
| br_brakes | Shimano 105 |
| br_saddle | Fizik Antares R5 |
| br_wheels | DT Swiss P1800 |
| br_shifter | Shimano 105 |
| br_seatpost | FSA SL-K Carbon |
| br_handlebar | Fizik Cyrano R5 |
| br_availableSizes | S, M, L |
| br_rearDerailleur | Shimano 105 |
