The Blacktop launched in Australia at the end of September this year, and now it is available in Europe too! Since launching, the Blacktop has been very well received in Australia with buyers commenting about it’s style, perfect urban riding position and simplicity. So let’s take a closer look at some of the features of this stealthy commuter favourite.

Frame and Fork

The frame and fork on this model are all custom designed in house by Reid and are made of heat treated, high grade 7005 series alloy. The frame features impressive smooth welding technology and a stealthy matte and gloss black graphic. The ride position is designed to be sporty, but not racey. Commuters aren’t looking to set a stage record in the Tour de France, but want a fast, comfortable ride, with road damping. The Blacktop is designed to tick all of those boxes, with riders commenting on the bike having “the perfect reach and geo”. It is also very lightweight with the total weight of the bike coming in at under 11KGs*.

Wheelset

One of the primary concerns commuters told us they have with their bikes is the reliability of their wheels. Towns and Cities are notorious for pot holes, broken surfacing, and debris in the road. These can cause puncutres, and worse still, damage to the rims. So we paid special attention to the wheelset when designing the Blacktop. It features lightweight but tough Alex DC19 double walled rims, laced using strong stainless steel spokes to a lightweight Quando front hub, and Shimano rear hub with internal gearing. These are then wrapped in durable Continental Sport Contact 2 tyres with great puncture protection properties as well as giving a compliant ride.

Gearing

The inner city commuters we interviewed wanted ultimate simplicity with just a few gears, that need as little maintenance as possible. This is why we chose the popular Shimano Nexus 3 Speed internal gear system. With just 3 gears to choose from but with wide spacing between the gears, you have a low, mid and high gear to choose from based on the gradient and speed you want to ride at. This is operated by the Shimano Nexus Twist Shifter on the handlebar. There are no derailleurs to worry about, and no external parts to be damaged when locking it up at a bike rack or on the street. We also used a KMC Rust Buster Edition chain, to ensure longevity and durability. The lack of the derailleurs also give this sporty model the style offered by Single Speed Bikes and Fixies.

We think that we have designed a great all round inner city commuter with the Blacktop, but why don’t you see for yourself at your nearest retailer for yourself! For more information on this model please click here.

Please note at time of writing, this model is currently available in Europe including UK and Australia only.

*Weight based on a size Medium. Weight excludes pedals.