Pride II tested by RennRad magazine

RennRad magazine has tested the SIMPLON Pride II twice. After the wind tunnel test, they took the aero racer for a spin on the road. The testers' verdict: The Pride II is the ultimate racing machine and offers agile handling along with high-quality components. Read the test report!

RennRad test report: SIMPLON Pride II 

A UCI-compliant road bike with optimal aerodynamics

When they tested the latest aero road bike by SIMPLON, the testers of RennRad magazine were in for a treat. For the first time ever, they were able to see how designers optimally took advantage of the new UCI specifications for road bike frame geometries and how they transferred them from paper to the design of a real bike. Visually, the larger head tube and the wide, raised bottom bracket area are immediately noticeable, especially compared to the predecessor model.

1. The wind tunnel test

Before taking the Pride II out on the road, the RennRad testers sent it into the wind tunnel. The wattages were determined from all possible air-flow angles and compared to those of the competitors. The result: Regardless of the angle from which the watts were measured, the Pride II achieved the best results across the board. To give you an example: At a speed of 45 kilometres per hour, the Pride II achieved an output of 59.6 watts during frontal airflow. This puts the aero racer well ahead of the runner-up in the rankings – by a whopping 14.1 watts. And not only that: No better results have ever been achieved by a road bike.

2. Road test

The RennRad testers also found out in real-life conditions that the Pride II is extremely fast. When it comes to speed, power transfer plays an essential role. Due to the high stiffness in the bottom bracket area as well as the low seat stays and the asymmetric, voluminous chainstays in the rear, the bike’s propulsive efficiency is impressively high.

The stiff steering head design with a very short head tube and relatively steep steering angle, as well as a total weight of 7.81 kilograms, ensure agile handling.

Special features of the Pride II

Agile handling and a sporty, aerodynamic riding position are the hallmarks of the Pride II. The noticeable handlebar drop results in a particularly low and aerodynamic sitting position. 

The strong focus on aerodynamics is also evident in the wheels: The Pride II comes with DT-Swiss ARC-1400 wheels with 62-mm rims weighing 1,639 grams. In combination with Schwalbe Pro One tyres, they achieve low rolling resistance and plenty of grip.

The disc brakes, which consist of a 160-millimetre disc in the front and a 140-millimetre disc in the rear, ensure optimum braking performance in all situations. The Dura-Ace Di2 groupset is used as the shifting system, which proved to be surprisingly mountain-compatible on an aero road bike. The testers particularly liked the option to configure the handlebar width as well as stem length, angle and saddle position.

Details

• frame: carbon
• fork: carbon
• brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace (160/140 mm)
• shifting system: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• tyres: Schwalbe Pro One, 28 mm
• wheels: DT Swiss ARC1400 Dicut
• saddle: Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow

Conclusion

"Both in the wind tunnel test and in the road test, the SIMPLON Pride II achieved excellent results and impressed us across the board, especially when it comes to aerodynamics. It’s an aero racer for all those who want to take the lead in the next race." – That’s the positive verdict of the testers of RennRad magazine.

With the Pride II, SIMPLON brings the world's fastest road bike onto the market – a prime example of how the new UCI regulations can be optimally implemented.

Go to the detailed test report by RennRad!

Listen up, triathletes! The comprehensive triathlon cockpit, developed in collaboration with FSA, is just one of the unique features of the Pride TRI , specifically designed for endurance athletes.