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<\/a><\/p>\nFrame<\/h2>\n
The Momsen R355 Gravel is a full carbon frame resembling a road bike but shaped to accommodate a variety of wheel and tyres sizes to take the bike beyond the confines of tar.<\/p>\n
<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe frame comes with a number of practical touches to make long distance adventures somewhat easier. There is provision for three water bottle mounts. Two inside the front triangle and one on the outside of the downtube. There are also mounts for racks and bags on the seatpost and rear axle.<\/p>\n
The R355 gravel borrows technology from the mountain bike world. The axles size comes straight out of mountain biking with a 142 mm rear thru axle and 100 mm front thru axle. This allows the R355 to fit a variety of wheel sizes including 700 X 50C, 27.5 X 2.10, and 29 X 2.10.<\/p>\n
<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSizing<\/strong><\/p>\n When first looking at the centimetre sizing, I was a bit confused by how small the range appeared. However, its is best to ignore that and look to the S\/M\/L\/XL sizing for a better representation. For example, I’m usually a 58 or 59 on road bike measurements but I fit reasonably comfortably on the 54 (Large) R355 frame although one size up would probably have been the sweet spot.<\/p>\n The Momsen R355 arrives perfectly ready to get stuck in, with a well thought out selection of parts. There are no components that are subpar or necessitate an upgrade, except perhaps a tubeless conversion if your conditions require it.<\/p>\n Originally developed for cyclocross racing, SRAM\u2019s single chainring Force1 drivetrain has proven to be versatile across many cycling disciplines including gravel. The Momsen R355 features a SRAM Force crankset, derailleur, and hydraulic brakes\/levers. The X1 cassette is borrowed from SRAM\u2019s mountain biking catalogue while the chain has been sourced from KMC. Momsen have elected to go with a 40 tooth chainring and a 10-42 cassette range. The disc brakes are SRAM Force hydraulic with 160mm rotors front and back.<\/p>\n The wheelset is Stan\u2019s NoTubes gravel specific ZTR Grail MK3 rims laced with Sapim Force spokes to Neo hubs wrapped in Clement X\u2019Plor MSO 40c tyres. The bike arrives with tubes and this is how I tested it, without suffering any punctures or pinch flats.<\/p>\n The cockpit consists of Momsen branded parts. Most interesting is the carbon seatpost which is ovalised near the top to add flexibility to the post. On the large frame the stem is 90 mm with a 44 cm flared handlebars wrapped in shock absorbing bar tape.<\/p>\n Momsen R355 Specifications:<\/strong><\/p>\n Models and pricing<\/strong><\/p>\n The above build is currently the only model in the R355 range. The recommend retail price is R52,500. If that’s a bit rich for your taste, Momsen also have an aluminium GP300 gravel bike with a modest build retailing for R17,500.<\/p>\n I tested the Momsen R355 on a variety of terrain including gravel roads, tar, urban greenbelts, single track, and even the odd mountain bike rock garden.<\/p>\n As is to be expected, the R355 excels on gravel and broken roads. The direct road bike feel coupled with a comfortable geometry and large tyres certainly enhances the experience of disappearing down a farm road.<\/p>\n Putting the power down and surging forward feels great on the Momsen R355 but the rigid frame design does mean some harsh impacts without any suspension to soak them up. The flexible carbon seat post actually worked. I could feel it moving underneath me when I hit big holes but it was never was uncomfortable or distracting. While the large 40c tyres worked tirelessly to soak up a decent amount of chatter and corrugations. Having recently ridden around the dirt roads of L’Agulhas<\/a> on a road bike with 25c tyres, I can attest to the gain in comfort and traction that larger tyres bring.<\/p>\n The R355 is no slouch on the tar either, making switching between the road and dirt seamless and natural. I tested the bike on my regular road group ride around the Cape Peninsula. On tar, the bike feels like a road bike. The geometry made for a comfortable ride without impacting on performance. I even enjoyed the flared handlebars. The larger tyres do add a bit of weight, and a touch of extra drag is noticeable. The low gear range only hindered my progress on the steeper descents which I found myself approaching with much more confidence on the 40c wide tyres (and a higher cadence). There was little compromise on the climbs with the range of the mountain bike cassette. The R355 is a viable road bike for those riding for fun and fitness, and if you really don’t want both a road and gravel bike, the R355 can go a long way to being your road bike. Throw on some skinnier slick tyres and I have no doubts that the bike will be even better suited for the job.<\/p>\n The bike\u2019s handling is predictable and stable. The flared drops proved to be the safest place for your hands on rougher terrain. This did mean that the back wheel can get a bit sideways with your weight far forward, just something to be mindful of when grabbing the brakes. The Clement X\u2019Plor tyres give good grip and I was pleasantly surprised at their resilience when bashed into sharp rocks.<\/p>\n This sense of adventure carries over to more technical riding on what is usually considered mountain biking territory. Much like riding on gravel roads, the Momsen R355 breathed new life into my midweek mountain bike route. (For those familiar with the Cape Town southern suburbs trail network, via the Constantia Greenbelts up Constantia Nek, back down through Newlands Forest, and back to the Greenbelts via the Cork Tree Trail). Riding the R355 on these familiar trails presented new challenges and required different line choices that transformed the experience. Perfect if you\u2019re looking to switch up your riding but not the trails.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nComponents<\/h2>\n
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On the trail<\/h2>\n
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