Bicycles

Test: FRW Diamond Heights Pre Season 2010

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: FRW

Published on Friday, 29 May 2009 21:33

Written by Luca Salvatelli

We test on preview the new FRW Diamond Heights 2010; well assembled and cured, has a new frame and it is available at a nice price

The new range 2010 Diamond Heights

The Diamond Heights on test

The bike on test is the model with Shimano Ultegra group. As with all products FRW the group is taken to complete with controls, brakes, front and rear derailleur, chain, sprockets 12/25 and compact crank 34/50. Positive is the fact that all FRW length of the cranks is differentiated according to the size of the frame, especially neglected by most of the competition, especially on a bike in this price range. In the model on test, a size L, has a length of 172.5 mm. The pedals are the classics Look Keo Classic with this model is also the serial bottle cage and water bottle; previously absent. The seatpost Ritchey aluminium is covered with carbon, stem and andlebar are Ritchey Pro aluminium. The saddle is a Selle Italia XR Light Flow. The wheels are Fulcrum Racing 5 Evolution, while tyres are Vittoria Rubino Pro 700x23, a classical measure. The bike, as assembled, in the size L, has a weight, as recorded by our instruments, of 8.5 kg.

Technical Details

Road test

The new Diamond Heights FRW model maintains the basic features common to all FRW, a well assembled and well-appointed, where, although there is the finish of their products of high range, you can not find obvious flaws. The coating is cured, and perhaps, without excelling in absolute terms, is better than other realizations. Excellent implementation of the carbon frame and cured, as always, assembly of components. The latter have the advantage of having a uniform level of quality that adds to the feeling of being faced with a good bike. The serial bottle cage is simple, but was not present last year, then a small step forward. Welcomes the adoption of a saddle of a good quality, with a hole for the decompression of the perineum. Remains absent a chain protector, while the rest of the cables is well led and well-protected the frame from possible accidental contact. In the saddle will appreciate the ergonomics of the controls and the proper saddle. Nothing special, but everything is in place and able to meet athletes of different sizes. Excellent choice technique to vary the length of the crank according to the size of the frame. The Look Keo Classic pedals, sliding and confirmed with a simple adjustment of the coupling strength, lightweight or are not rigid, but remain an excellent product, with a favourable price-performance ratio. In motion, as with other products FRW, shows that the total rigidity that does not help the comfort of travel, which remains on a good level, but lower than would be assumed that such a frame. Thanks to the good and the seat belt, however, the situation remains at an acceptable level, even for the most sensitive to speech comfort. This rigidity has its positive performance, since the responsiveness of the frame is more than good in absolute terms and very good for the price range of the bike, as well as the rigidity of the frame and the box bottom bracket . The new range is clear and rigid as the frame has been given the preference to not provide the ability to absorb disconnections of the land. The good performance is supported by the wheels Fulcrum Racing 5 Evolution, not slight at all, but with a good glide and lateral stiffness, are also well supported by tyres Vittoria, sliding, although in this version are a little stiff. This set the excellent Ultegra group leads to excellent performance for the category. In the plain it can be fast and even more in the mixed routes, thanks to the manageability and responsiveness of the bike that allows excellent change of pace. Also up was fast and the ergonomics of the controls allows the saddle to pedal off in absolute safety and comfort. The brakes are powerful, modular, safety, as well as the rest of the group with passages ever precise and a rigid and slide crank. That is down it is always competitive, but you must make good the handlebar to get precise trajectories and round as they should be careful on uneven, because the fast geometry leads to rapid changes in direction if not held very firm folds. This behaviour is common to other models determined by FRW and technical choices that favour an "racing" with a steering light and ready for orders, with placement in fast bends and a high reactivity to changes of pace, however this leads to a greater commitment to driving on and off to a less comfortable than some competitors, over long distances.

The performance recorded with the Polar CS 600 Power

Explanation of why the test:
we decided to use the equipment Polar CS 600 Power to analyze the performance of the bike. Other tools may give us the values of a rigid frame, important information, but they say little about the overall quality of the bike that will be keen to buy and its real value for money. It is clear that a bike is not only the frame, but also components with which it is assembled and which determines the overall performance. With the Polar CS 600 Power can tell how many watts the athlete needs to develop to go at a speed X. The more rigid chassis is the best crankset, wheels good, the rest of the components excellent, the lower will be the power required to reach that speed X, the better the quality of the bike as a whole. However, a good chassis, but with the non-top, may have the worst results of a chassis of medium range, but with good assembled components. Then evaluate the bike as a whole, as well as the purchase by the retailer, not a single element of it, although important. The Polar CS 600 Power also is the only tool that allows you to detect the power developed without replacing crank or rear wheel.
The completion of the test:
mounted and properly calibrated CS Power 600, the athlete has gone a stretch of road perfectly flat and in very good conditions, without wind and other interference. The athlete has travelled several sections first 30 km / h constant, then at 40 km / h constant, and finally to 50 km / h constant, with the longest available. These are the powers needed to maintain the speed:
30 Km / h 230 Watts
40 Km / h 340 Watts
50 Km / h 485 Watts

The commentary to the test instrument

The benefits observed confirm the impressions received in the test road. The bike behaves so good compared to its market segment with an average performance which are always higher than direct rivals. This is due both to the rigid frame and the rest of the components of good quality, especially Ultegra group, wheels and tyres. Obviously the demand for energy at various speeds is more than high-end products, also more expensive to buy. The increase in energy required to reach the various levels of speed follows a regular index the excellent stiffness of the frame.

Conclusions

The new Diamond Heights FRW 2010 showed a qualitative step forward compared to the previous model, which incidentally remains current. The new frame has excellent performance in terms of stiffness and response, like the fork. The assembly is a high quality rating, although it must take account of a relatively low price. The performance is highest in consideration band market to whom and good in absolute terms, which are penalized by the weight and the wheels are, of course, well away from high-end products. Despite this, the stiffness and responsiveness of the frame allow commendable results and able to satisfy many cyclists. The qualities of leadership and the same frame prefer the comfort performance, though good may be too low for those seeking a comfortable frame on long distances. In such cases, even within the range FRW, there are better products. What emerges, however, is the favourable price-performance ratio, enabling you to access, at a cost not excessive, for a winning product and good performance, but especially with a "racing" bikes typical of most high-end. A bike, therefore, ideal for those who want a bike "racing", but without the economic burdens that are often associated with these products.

Positive aspects

Aesthetics classic
Rigidity and responsiveness of the frame
Value for money
Assembly quality
Performance

Negative aspects

Absence chain protection

Is suitable for

Athlete: the frame is excellent, and good are assemblies, there are only the wheel of a high level.
GF cyclists-tourists: a bike is ideal for those looking for a product with good performance and quality, but without a large financial commitment. The comfort is good and disappoint only the most sensitive.

Prices

The bike is proposed on a price of about Euro 2.159. A very good price in view of the components used and performance emerged. The rest of the range is maintained with the same value for money with the basic model, Campagnolo Veloce, which costs 1799 Euro and a top, Shimano Dura Ace, which costs 3569 Euro. Given the various assemblies and the different benefits that may emerge, however, the model on test, though not the cheapest of the range, can be regarded as the best buy for the value for money.

For further informations:

Freewheeling S.r.l.
Via Barsanti, 10
Fornace Zarattini 48100 (RA) - Italy
tel. 0544 461525
fax 0544 462096
Website: http://www.frwbike.it/

Tests carried out in collaboration with: