Time Alpe d'Huez Disc Road Frame

Time Alpe d'Huez - newest iteration of a lightweight racing bike

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. You know the quotation, but now it’s the reverse. The more things stay the same, the more they change. In this case the newest iteration of the Time Alpe d’Huez lightweight racing bike perhaps looks remarkably similar to the previous version of the exceptional climber but is in reality quite different when you dive under the gorgeous paint schemes.

Though the frame profile might look very similar, there have been some serious improvements in the material weave that Time employs for the Alpe d’Huez. As their climbing bike, as the name implies, the goal was to ensure the frame remains lightweight while being not only durable but super impact resistant. This is not a lightweight carbon frame that will shatter if you happen to lay it down accidentally taking a corner too fast.

The clever mix of materials is possible since Time famously weaves its own carbon rather than resorting to prepeg sheets sourced from third parties. This capability allows them to dose the various types of carbon thread with additional materials to find the perfect recipe for the ideal bike frame. In the case of the Alpe d’Huez they have woven Toray M40J carbon with Vectran fibers that they have used previously, but then added some Dyneema fiber into the mix. The result is a frame that at 890g is lightweight while being extremely resistant to impacts. That’s thanks largely to the Dyneema fiber that is 15x stronger than steel at the same weight.

Once they have woven their materials into a sock-like structure, Time uses RTM or Resin Transfer Molding which injects resin at high pressure between rigid external and internal molds. The resulting uniformity of the mold and pressure removes any air pockets and voids, which could be potential points of failure for the frame down the road. The BCS or Braided Carbon Structure itself adds to the overall responsiveness and quality of the frame as well since it allows the engineers to use continuous fibers that run the full length of a structure enhancing durability while keeping the structure light.

Innovative Front-End Design in the Alpe d'Huez

For the front end, the Alpe d’Huez turns to Deda’s very clever DEDA S-DCR headset. Compatible with standard stems and handlebars, you can have a semi-integrated setup with exactly the bar/stem combo of your choice. Alternatively, you can go with the DCR headset cover/stem/bar available from Deda to have a super clean fully integrated look with all cables and brake hoses tucked neatly away. Time’s engineers have also future-proofed the Alpe d’Huez by making it 2x and 1x compatible with a nifty Derailleur Mount Cover if you want to build it up without the front derailleur.

The Time Alpe d’Huez comes in five sizes and three stellar colors. Only available with disc brakes, the Alpe d’Huez will be the ultimate climbing machine for anyone who loves perfection.

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