 The epitome of the no-nonsense carbon-fibre road bike |
 Angular tube profiles add visual impact |
Dolan Mythos Carbon Road Bike £995.00
Some bikes look good straight out of the box, and Dolan’s Carbon Mythos is one of them. The latest lightweight road bike to join the RCUK test stable, the Mythos features an all-carbon fibre frame with 12K twill finish matched to Dolan’s 12K Carbon Fork, which has an aluminium alloy 1 1/8th steerer tube. The frame is an off-the-peg number made in four sizes, each with sloping geometry, ranging from 44cm to 56cm. More useful to know is the length of the top tube, which runs 53.7cm, 54.7cm, 57cm and 59 cm measured centre to centre.
Seat angle varies from 74.5deg for the smallest size to 72.5deg for the largest, while the head angle gets steeper from small to large to provide proper size-specific geometry.
 12K weave looks tasty |
 Replaceable derailleur hanger included |
On the component front, Dolan fits Shimano’s proven 105 10-speed groupset with a choice of 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm crank lengths, Deda Elementi bars and stem and a carbon-fibre seat post by Alpina.
The wheelset is the older Shimano R550 design rather than the 105-specific R5600 design and lacks an offset rear rim to balance spoke tensions, but has the same oval spokes, semi-deep rim section and spoke lacing pattern as the newer design. Completing the specification are Michelin’s Speedium clincher tyres in a 23c section and Selle Italia’s popular XO TransAm saddle.
 Michelin Speediums keep Dolan sunny side up |
 Component spec includes tasty saddle |
Weight of our 57cm example is in the region of 8kg minus pedals. Initial impressions are of a tight, well-built and correctly set-up machine with plenty of potential for racing, training and competition thanks to well-considered geometry that should let most potential buyers find a good fit. Riding impressions and road test to follow.
