10.000km Edelsten R4 Review
Often referred to as the "Most Instagrammable Road Bike", the Edelsten R4 is a race bike with endurance oriented geometry. Manufactured with T800 Toray Carbon and a higher stack than most, the bike provides unrivaled compliance and is the ultimate bike for Grand Fondos.
My R4 setup with Sram Force and Rush Pancho 45mm deep wheels weighs-in at 7,8kg with pedals, power-meter, and bottle cages. The R4 also comes stock with Edelsten's in-house one-piece cockpit. Cockpit sizes can be personalized and range from 100 - 120mm stems and 38 - 42cm handlebars. The Edelsten cockpit is in my opinion a stand-out feature of the R4. The cockpit is by far the stiffest I've ever used and only weighs 305g in my 120 x 400 variation with a Garmin-mount attached.
Aerodynamically the R4 also shines. Due to the higher stack featured on the R4, the bike naturally allows the rider to comfortably hold an aerodynamic position longer than its racier counterparts. In addition, the frame features a narrow head-tube, dropped seat stays, and full-cable integration that further contributes to the aerodynamic benefits. Although no wind tunnel testing has been done on the R4, I would estimate the R4 to land mid-pack among premium road bikes tested by Cycling Weekly in the U.K. and Tour Magazine in Germany.
Starting at 5300€ for the Racing Base Pack and 6600€ for the Racing Plus Pack (featuring Edelsten one-piece Cockpit and Carbon wheels), the Edelsten R4 offers leading class value for a race-ready bike.
With now over 10.000km ridden on the R4, I believe the Edelsten R4 is a hidden gem not known to most cyclists. The bike offers uncompromising stiffness and handling, along with space for 32mm tires. I have found it to be the perfect bike to bring on long rides in the Alps. The R4 shines on 6-7 hour rides on Alpine Passes due to its relatively low weight and before-mentioned higher stack. As a result, I believe the R4 is best suited for cyclists racing in Grand Fondos, ultra-road cyclists, and any cyclist, who enjoy spending long days in the saddle.
Verdict:
The Edelsten R4 offers uncompromising value compared to its competitors. The bike is best suited for a cyclist, who rides in Grand Fondos and enjoys spending long days in the saddle. Complete R4 with Sram Force weighs-in at 7,8kg.
Spec:
Frame - Edelsten R4 (Size 56) - Toray T800 EPS Molding
Weight - 7,8kg
Groupset - Sram Force AXS
Wheels - Pancho Rush 45 Race: 1400g, 21 internal, 28 external
Tires - Pirelli P0 Race RS Clincher Tire 28mm
Bar/Stem - Edelsten R4 Cockpit 120x400: 305g
Seatpost - Zipp Service Course SL 27,2
Saddle - Fizik Antares R1 Adaptive
Geometry:
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