The long-awaited 2013 RoadCyclingUK winter bike build is underway.
After the success of the 2012 build, which featured Kinesis UK’s aluminium Racelight TK3 frame, the Sussex-based firm have once again been called upon to provide the chassis.
Kinesis have forged a reputation for building frames well-suited to the vagaries of the British weather and the GF_Ti V2 looks to continue that.
The GF_Ti is Kinesis UK’s long-distance, titanium road frame, made from a custom drawn 3AL/2.5V ti alloy tubeset. The 2013 model, V2, has been updated with the addition of a striking, hourglass headtube which is now the frame’s defining feature. It’s designed to accommodate the same carbon fibre Tracer 1.5 fork as the TK3 and means the GF_Ti V2 now has room for long drop brakes, mudguards and, crucially, 28mm tyres. Ideal for the British winter.
But to call the GF_Ti V2 a winter bike is, ex expect, to undersell it. The frameset’s £1,499.99 price tag says otherwise and we’ll admit from the outset that our ‘winter bike’ (probably more accurately described as four-seasons machine with the GF_Ti V2 at its heart) will be on the more elaborate side of what you’d expect to see solely at this time of year.
But that’s enough talk. Let’s take a close look at the frame and the opening steps of the build. Check back soon to see the rest of the bike – steering components, groupset, wheels and tyres – take shape.
Thanks to Ride in Dorset, for use of their workshop, and to mechanic Jon Hayes for his help with the build.
