We have had Reilly’s Titanium bikes and frames in the shop for over a year now, and they have proven to be extremely popular. However, we recently acquired one of Reilly’s carbon frames - the 600SL. The ‘SL’ stands for Super Light, and with frame weights of only 649 grams for a size Medium, we thought where better to test the bike properly than on Rob’s trip to the Pyrenees…
The lightweight frame has been complemented with a SRAM Red Etap groupset, DT Swiss PR1400 Dicut Oxic wheels and carbon finishing kit making the total weight of the bike only just over 7kgs, however this only tells part of the story.
Weight seems to be the first thing us roadies consider when looking at a bike, and it obviously is a big factor - especially when climbing Pyrenean Cols, however there is so much more to the Reilly than the light weight. The stiffness of the frame was remarkable when going up hill - it felt like every single watt of power went straight to the road, and even on steep climbs the bike just wanted to go faster and faster up hill. At the same time, the comfort of the bike was not compromised at all, and 5 and 6 hour rides were managed in complete comfort. This performance and comfort is achieved by Reilly through their manufacturing process - rather than the mass production approach of single ‘monocoque’ carbon moulds, Reilly use a laser-precise tube-to-tube construction technique which enables them to achieve superb ride characteristics.
As well as being so accomplished going uphill, the 600SL handled impeccably on the descents, enabling confidence-inspiring cornering. Again, this is a result of the meticulous approach to the construction of the frame.
All round, the Reilly 600SL was a joy to ride. If you are interested in something a little different, and very special, give us a call at the shop or drop in anytime. Full custom builds are available, and the frameset price of the 600SL is £2,999.
