Sabbath Silk Road

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Sabbath Silk Road

April 2013

Handsling Racing team rider, Tim Granshaw, recently took delivery of a Sabbath Silk Road titanium ‘sportive’ bike for review, but being Tim, a racer through and through, he thought he’d take it off for its first ride at no less than a crit on Eastbourne sea front…

Tim raced in America previously on an Elite licence, but was given a 4th cat licence by British Cycling… All we could think is ‘Oh dear’. Sabbath mounted Tim quickly broke away from the pack, gaining a 20 second lead on the tight, twisty Eastbourne circuit. But as it was his first ride on the bike, the seatpost slipped, so Tim spent a lap trying to borrow a 5mm allen key from the crowd and fixed his seatpost. This lost him his lead and left him 1-minute down on the bunch. Undaunted our hero and the Sabbath Silk Road set off in pursuit and caught the bunch. He then attacked and won the race!

Its fair to say that he is slightly impressed by this bike – and the Silk Road is Sabbath’s sportive bike! We can’t wait to test one of their race frames! Anyway, back to the matter in hand; a Preview of the Sabbath Silk Road…

We featured the Sabbath range recently. The Silk Road has their Sport fit Geometry which is sportive specific with a taller head tube. The frame is made of double butted 3al 2.5v titanium.

Sabbath reworked the tube profiles over the previous version, giving it an over-sized and bi-ovalised down tube, and ovalised seat tube, to get a 10% weight saving and a stiffer main triangle for better handling and improved responsiveness.

At the rear concave seat stays offer some vertical compliance to cope with the worst of British roads and the replaceable Sabbath custom drop outs are of tough CNC machined 6Al 4V.

Sabbath have built in discreet, seatstay mounted mudguard eyelets allowing for full mudguard mountings with a 23c tyre, making the Silk Road an all year bike; light and fast enough for summer riding but, with the mudguard mounts, perfect for winter.

As we previously concluded its ‘A machine to see you through winter training and commuting and more than up to a summer of sportives.’

Proof that you don’t need to break the bank or have the latest, top flight electronic-hydraulic bits to win races, our machine came modestly equipped with Shimano 105 kit, Ritchey WCS Zeta wheels, a CSN Blackstorm carbon fork, Pro LT bars, stem and seatpost, a Selle Italia SL XC saddle, and Schwalbe Durano S tyres.

Obviously Tim has already gotten the review well under way so expect to see the full test soon. Having recently ditched his carbon fibre race bike in favour of a steel Ritchey Road Logic, it’ll be interesting to see what Tim makes of titanium, as its the first bike he’s ridden made of this wonder metal. Will Tim be left wishing he’d chosen titanium over steel? With a win already under its belt, initial signs are favourable for the Sabbath…

For more information see the Sabbath website.

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