Independent Fabrication Club Racer £1595 frame and fork

So, do we have, in Independent Fabrication’s Club Racer, the ultimate all-rounder? An affirmative answer would, presumably, depend as much on the machine’s performance in competition of some stripe as on its ability to carry serious luggage, wear full-length mudguards and accept at the same time fatter-than-23c tyres, offer all-day comfort and generally impress onlookers with its elegant, svelte looks and self-evidently precise construction.

Thing is, faced with a choice between it and something a couple of kilos lighter for the Southern Sportive, the reviewer chickened out and went for titanium. A rider not possessed of a lighter alternative would surely be happy to roll around on the Club Racer; for sure, it would have carried me around the ride in style and comfort and at a fair lick. There is, however, no getting away from the effect of excess weight on performance even in a mere sportive and, light as it is, the Indy can’t quite match a decent race bike for speed.

It’s not much of an issue even for the regular sportive rider and, surely, nobody is going to buy a Club Racer for the thrash and risk of racing. Instead, this is a machine to savour.

Not least, of course, for its appearance. Of the many machines I’ve ridden on the regular commute, only the Club Racer has elicited admiring comments from fellow cyclists and motorcyclists alike. Kitted out with Shimano’s year-old Ultegra SL grouspet and wheels, it looks simply stunning.

The ride more than matches the looks. Let’s start with the handling, however, which may be summed up with the phrase ‘sure-footed precision’. A longish wheelbase, torsionally stiff frame and beefy (for steel) inch-and-eighth steerer ensure the bike goes where it is pointed and turns smartly enough on request. The steering feels a mite lazy with a hint of understeer, no bad attribute in a cycle that may be ridden in any conditions and with a substantial load on board, but holds its line once committed. Just don’t expect the instant response of a race bike.

Nor should you expect the crashing, banging ride quality of many such machines. Instead, here is a frame and fork combo that exemplifies everything claimed for steel: resilience, shock absorption, liveliness, shock absorption…

While not as stiff as a top-end carbon frame, the Indy is plenty responsive to pedalling input; at the same time, it soaks up urban roughery as though suspended, the all-steel fork keeping its side of the bargain with visible movement at the tips of the straight blades over the bumpy stuff. It really is a dream to ride on poor road surfaces and, should the 24mm tyres fitted not be quite fat enough, the big clearances will take much more.

Next step, then, is to go on tour on a Club Racer…