Race SL Nano Light
Race SL Nano Light

Airstreeem Race SL Nano Light

Preview

 

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Airstreeem Race SL Nano Light

 

March 2013

 

Austrian super lightweight hits the UK

 

Last seen at the London Bike Show, we’ve got our hands on one of the first Airstreeem bikes in the UK. We loved their bikes at the show especially the Race SL Nano Light, Airstreeem’s super lightweight race bike and its made our winter hacks feel positively agricultural by comparison. The matt black lacquered frame, with bright yellow panels and highlights, looks very purposeful.

 

Airstreeem Race SL Nano Light

Airstreeem Race SL Nano Light

 

With a small frame weighing in at 821g, the Race SL Nano Light should tackle the Sussex hills with ease and the compulsory ‘heft’ test that all cyclists must submit any new bike to, resulted in me almost throwing the Race SL Nano Light across the road! This is a very light bike.

 

A massive down tube and deep chainstays suggest plenty of stiffness, whereas the seat stays are pencil thin presumably to provide some degree of comfort in conjunction with the 3T Doric Ltd seat post and Airstreeem’s own all carbon saddle – maybe not that comfortable then. Upfront there’s a tapered headtube and straight forks, with 3T supplying the Rotundo carbon bars and Arx stem.

 

Race SL Nano Light, beefy chainstays and SRAMs chaincatcher

Race SL Nano Light, beefy chainstays and SRAMs chaincatcher

 

The Airstreeem’s groupset is SRAM’s top of the range Red, with the exception of the chainset, which is by Rotor. Wheels are Airstreem’s own Carbon Team SL’s, which are their lightest competition wheelset. At 1170g and shod with Tufo Elite Jet tyres, which weigh in at a 160g each, these are serious race wheels, perfect for blasting around a crit circuit or taking you up Alpine cols in the shortest possible time.

 

Airstreeem saddle and 3T Doric seatpost

Airstreeem saddle and 3T Doric seatpost

 

We are champing at the bit to get the Race SL Nano Light out on the road, but with freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions outside it may have to wait a while, at least until most of the road salt has gone. Our decision to miss out on a warm weather training camp this year is beginning to seem foolhardy…

 

Full review to follow.

 

Airstreeem Website

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Written by

Simon Whiten (London and Northumberland, UK) has been riding for over 20 years and raced the road and the track extensively in the UK and Europe. He is obsessed with the turbo trainer and the ‘shortcut to race fitness’.

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2 Responses

  1. 25/09/2013

    […] liked them a lot, so have a look back at our previous articles on the brand’s history, the Race SL Preview and the full Review, and our test of the very light Team SL33 […]

  2. 10/04/2014

    […] well as producing a range of 8 top end carbon framed bikes, such as the Race SL Nano Light we have on test, Airstreeem also manufacture 8 wheelsets in carbon, carbon and aluminium and […]

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