CHAPTER2 RERE Road Frame

CHAPTER2 Rere: The Pro-Level Aero Bike

Though CHAPTER2 is quite a young brand, it is interesting to see that they have already stepped up to the sponsorship level and provide the bikes for the Bigla professional women’s team from Switzerland. Never heard of them? Maybe you’ll remember the name Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and her enthusiastic post-race interviews. It is with the CHAPTER2 Rere full-on aero bike that she and her teammates compete all over the world.

Joining the ranks of the pros is no easy task, but the Rere offers all those hallmark features that mean the rider can make the absolute most of his or her power. Using an intelligent mix of Toray T700, T800 and 3K Directional Carbon, the Rere feels stiff and responsive without offering the harsh ride that so often goes hand in hand with aero-specific frames. It helps too that even in the rim brake version of this frame, you can fit 28mm tires which will make the ride that much more forgiving. Pairing the wider tires with a modern wheelset designed for wider tires will also help add to the aero gravitas.

The frame itself has left no aero stone unturned. Using Mike Pryde’s deep knowledge of fluid dynamics and the data gathered from tests done in the Auckland University Wind Tunnel, CHAPTER2 has made the Rere with an eye to reducing as much drag as possible. And it is not just aero when facing a head wind. They have developed the shapes to have the ultimate aero effect at a wide range of Yaw on both the drive train and non-drive train side. So the head tube-fork crown-down tube area has a seamless appearance to prevent turbulence from developing. Similarly, the seat tube has been shaped to sit very close to the rear tire, again with an eye to smoothing out the airflow around that region. The fork legs have been given a Kamm tail shape, as has the oversized down tube. And the seat post has an aero shape as well. Not only that, but knowing some triathletes will want to turn to the Rere for their events, the seat post is reversible to accommodate tri positions better.

Race-Ready Geometry and Comfort of the CHAPTER2 Rere

The geometry for the Rere encourages an aggressive, race-ready position, though you won’t be expected to compromise your overall comfort, or be expected to be a contortionist to reach the bars. CHAPTER2 has in fact used an extensive database of ergonomic data to develop the best geometry options across all sizes to suit pro and amateur alike. To take advantage of how fast and fit this frame will make you feel, CHAPTER2 has used a Press Fit BB86.5 to strengthen the bottom bracket region, which helps to form the powerful spine of the bike. It’s all about speed and comfort, both of which will be in ample supply with the Rere.

And though this is a rim brake bike, they have designed it to accommodate the more aero and indeed more powerful direct mount brakes, which stop like a dream and are one of the main reasons you can comfortably fit 28mm tires on this bike. The Rere works with mechanical and electronic groupsets. The frame comes normally with the CHAPTER2 stem, though you can upgrade to the very slick looking Mana bar/stem cockpit if you like.

The CHAPTER2 Rere is the prime aerodynamic racing bike to come out of the New Zealand company. It’s a perfect bike for the keen cyclist, whether you have WorldTour ambitions or just want to enjoy riding a unique, super-fast racing bike on your Saturday group rides.

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