This Force AXS-equipped V+1 Race Edition 2.1 from Vielo lives up to its name with a low overall weight, sleek, smooth looks, huge amounts of stiffness and geometry that favours being ridden hard and fast, without alienating those who want to take things just a little bit easier. Whatever the terrain, however technical, this is an incredibly versatile gravel machine that delivers fun and adrenaline giggles by the bucket load!
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Vielo V+1 Race Edition SRAM FORCE XPLR AXS – Technical details
The V+1 line-up is available in two options constructed from different carbon fibre composite grades. The standard V+1 has a frame weight of around 1,100g raw (medium), while the V+1 Race Edition uses a higher grade of carbon and comes in at 880g raw.
The standard version comes with universal cable routing, so mechanical and electronic groupsets are possible, while the Race Edition is for wireless groupsets only, and this 2.1 version has been designed with UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) compatibility thanks to a tweaked rear triangle.
With the brake hoses also being run completely internally, this Race Edition is definitely one smooth, clean-looking bike. It’s worth pointing out, too, that Vielo’s frames are created using their own moulds; these aren’t off-the-shelf-generic frames.
Other frame details to note apart from that 1x only compatibility are that Vielo has gone for a pressfit BB386 EVO bottom bracket, and while there will be some shaking of heads and muttering from some, I haven’t found it to be an issue on this, or other V+1s that I’ve ridden in the past. The creaking and premature issues which plagued early pressfit systems were caused by poor manufacturing tolerances, which have largely been eliminated across the cycling industry now.
This 2.1 version also now gets a titanium-ceramic headset included and some lightweight thru-axles, which weigh just 51g a pair.
For a race-oriented gravel bike, it’s great to still see plenty of mounting positions. You get a couple of bolts on the top tube, another set under the down tube, and the usual water bottle positions inside the main triangle. The downtube one of those gets three bolts instead of two, though, to give you a bit of bottle cage adjustment.
Five frame sizes are on offer with effective top tube lengths running from 505mm on the XS up to 605mm on the XL. All sizes come with 700c wheels, but the V+1 will run with 650b too. 50mm tyre clearance is achievable with both wheel sizes.
The medium I have been riding has a 555mm top tube and a 145mm head tube, which adds up to give stack and reach figures of 572.1mm and 393.1mm, respectively. The head angle is 70.5 degrees while the seat tube sits at a quite aggressive 74.25 degrees – great for getting the power down.
The fork length is 407.5mm with a rake of 48mm, while the wheelbase is 1,056.8mm overall.
Vielo V+1 Race Edition SRAM FORCE XPLR AXS – Componentry
The Race Edition bikes are available as a frameset or three build options, including SRAM RED XPLR AXS for £9,999, the SRAM FORCE XPLR AXS here for £5,999 and a SRAM RIVAL XPLR AXS version for £4,999. The frameset is priced at £2,999 for the frame, fork and headset.
Those prices are for the base builds, and Vielo offers options in various drop-down menus. Mine, for instance, came with an upgrade from the standard DT Swiss GR1600 wheelset to a pair of Zipp 303 XPLR SWs. Vielo doesn’t show these on its website at the moment, but Zipp’s 303 S will add £650 to the price. You can also add a power meter for £440. Other things you can tweak are crank length, chainring size and bar width and stem length.
My bike came fitted with the FORCE XPLR AXS groupset, which was launched back in the summer, and I’m going to be writing up a full review of it in the next couple of weeks, as I’ve used it on three different bikes so far. In a nutshell, though it’s a completely wireless 1x groupset with a 13-speed cassette. Highlights include full carbon fibre cranks and remodelled shifters, which are brilliant in terms of their ergonomics. Braking power is also excellent in all conditions.
On the V+1, you get a choice of a chainrings ranging from 38-tooth to 50-tooth in two-tooth increments and crank lengths of 160mm to 175mm.
The cockpit is Vielo’s own, which is full carbon fibre and has an aero design. Bar widths on offer are from 400mm to 440mm and stem lengths of 90mm to 120mm, so there should be a size on offer that suits you.
I like the bar a lot, it’s very comfortable when riding on the tops and the hoods, and while it’s stiff enough for out-of-the-saddle riding, it has enough compliance to not be harsh. The only slight issue I had was that I found the top of the bar clashed with my wrists when riding in the drops.
Vielo also provides the seatpost, which is 400mm long and 30.9mm in diameter. I’m glad to see that it’s a traditional round post, which means it’s easy to fit lights and all kinds of bags. That would actually be my only criticism of the handlebar, its shape means that you can’t fit most front light mounts, so this time of year, when it is starting to get dark at 4pm, my riding on it has been limited to a lunchtime blast or in daylight at the weekend.
Aero wheels on a gravel bike are a contentious subject for some riders, but I must admit that I think the Zipps look the business on the V+1 and with the Schwalbe G-One Overland tyres fitted, this is one fast bike on hard-packed surfaces. The standard tyres are listed as Continental’s Terra Hardpack 50mm.
Vielo V+1 Race Edition SRAM FORCE XPLR AXS – Performance
Since day one, UK-based Vielo has designed its bikes to be 1x specific, which has allowed the designers to engineer a frame design which has complete symmetry at the bottom bracket area, including the seat tube and chainstays, thanks to the lack of an inner chainring.
Vielo claims this increases bottom bracket stiffness by over 30% compared to the same frame if it were designed to accept a 2x drivetrain. Can I prove that? No, but what I will say is that this V+1 feels as tight as a drum and takes off like a scorched cat when I stamped on the pedals. The fact that it weighs about 8.5kg in this build means that, combined with the stiffness on offer, this is one very responsive, efficient gravel machine.
With a name like ‘Race Edition’, it came as no surprise to me that this V+1 just wants to get a shift on. It’s so reactive to rider input, literally feeling like a road race bike for the off-road genre.
Vielo has very much nailed the geo, I reckon. It’s racy, but not aggressively so, and I could achieve a low, aero position without ever feeling that I had to make any compromises for less pace-focused rides, or when climbing.
There’s enough length in the wheelbase to give some overall stability, and the front end is well balanced so that the handling is quick enough to carve your way through tricky turns at speed while never entering the realms of twitchy. I found the amount of neutrality in the steering pretty much spot on for every instance.
Since I received the V+1, the trails here in the south-west of the UK have changed from fast rolling, dry and dusty to wet, slippery and muddy, which called for a change of tyres as the Schwalbes fitted were on the slick side. With the right tyres for the conditions, this is a great handling bike, and even if you haven’t got the right tyres fitted or you find yourself in those in-between conditions, the V+1 is still easy to ride and generally flattering even when it’s sliding about.
In fact, the V+1 is the definition of why I ride gravel bikes. Mountain bikes have become so capable these days that I just love the unpredictability of riding a rigid bike with relatively narrow tyres in comparison. The way this bike responds to body adjustment and tweaks to the handlebar is a masterclass in regaining relative control.
My gravel routes have some long sections of hard-packed, wide military tracks, which can see me hitting 35mph to 40mph+ on some of the descents, and yet again, this was another place that the V+1 showed its easy to live with nature.
The balance of that geometry, plus the low weight, meant that I could just let the bike fly without covering the brakes, as I knew it would get me out of any situation. A slide on loose gravel could be controlled with a bodyweight shift, and the low weight allows for easy manoeuvring around or over potholes and jagged rocks protruding from the trail. It’s incredibly flickable and responsive regardless of speed.
For this to work well, you need a certain amount of suppleness in the frame to minimise resonation, so considering how stiff the V+1 is, I’d say that Vielo has done a great job of speccing the finished carbon fibre layup.
This comfort also means that the Race Edition isn’t limited to racing or just riding fast. I headed out for a five-hour loop around Salisbury Plain (it was supposed to be three hours, but I got lost) and found that the V+1 didn’t beat me up at all, neither from the frame construction nor the geometry. I arrived home broken from the lack of food and drink to cover those extra couple of hours riding, but my neck, damaged shoulder and lower back – my usual troublesome spots – never niggled me at all.
Overall, the Race Edition V+1 is a true all-rounder, with a nod to the racier side of life.
Vielo V+1 Race Edition 2.1- Verdict
So, how does the V+1 compare price-wise? On the whole, pretty well, especially when you consider how small a brand Vielo is against some of the mainstream brands.
For the same money as the base build of this Force-equipped V+1, you can have a Grail CFR Di2, which uses Canyon’s top-end frame and comes with GRX Di2 (2x), DT Swiss GRC 1100 deep-section wheels and a carbon cockpit.
The Checkmate is Trek’s race-specific gravel bike (as opposed to the do-it-all Checkpoint model) and comes in a handful of builds. The SLR 7 AXS is the closest direct comparison with the V+1, having the Force XPLR 1x groupset. For the £7,000 price tag, you are getting a power meter and Bontrager carbon wheels included. Its frame is heavier, though at a claimed 1,150g and tyre clearance is limited to 45mm.
Specialized’s Crux is touted as the lightest gravel bike in the world, with frame weights claimed to be 725g for the highest spec 12r model found on the S-Works. The Crux Pro is a closer resemblance to this V+1 Race Edition with SRAM’s Force XPLR fitted, which uses the 825g 10r frame.
You get 47mm tyre clearance and Specialized’s own Roval Terra CL 32mm deep wheels for the £6,999 price tag, but you also get a power meter thrown in.
I ride a lot of awesome bikes, but rarely do I ever think that I’d actually buy them, as I always move on to riding something else, which steals my attention. This V+1, though, I seriously would. I could live with this bike without worrying that it’d be overshadowed by the next superbike that came in for review. The V+1 Race Edition blew my mind every time I rode it, thanks to its balance of rider involvement, ease of control, planted feeling and general fun factor. The combination of low weight, excellent stiffness and large tyre clearances also means that this is an incredibly capable machine!
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About the bike
Tell us what the bike is for, and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own :
Vielo say, “Introducing the all-new V+1 Race Edition 2.1 – refreshed, refined, and ready to race. Now UDH-compatible with a redesigned rear triangle for cutting-edge drivetrain tech, this upgrade brings SRAM’s 13-speed XPLR compatibility, featherweight axles (just 51g a pair!), a premium titanium-ceramic headset for ultimate durability, and two bold new colours.”
The V+1 is a very capable gravel machine with mounts and wide tyre clearances, but with excellent stiffness and weight it’s a capable race bike too.
State the frame material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.:
“The V+1 Race Edition – 880g raw frame with fully internally routed cables. Designed for Wireless shifting only. UDH compatible. Full carbon fibre fork.”
| Handlebars | Vielo Carbon Bar-Stem unit. Bar width 40cm, 42cm, 44cm |
| Stems | Vielo Carbon Bar-Stem unit. Stem length 90, 100, 110mm |
| Headset | Vielo by Token – Upgraded to Ceramic / Titanium |
| Wheels | DT Swiss GR1600 Alloy / Upgrade Option to Zipp 303s Carbon |
| Tyres | Continental Terra Hardpack 700 x 50mm |
| Crankset | SRAM Force 1X E1 XPLR Carbon crank arms with Alloy Chainring |
| Bottom Bracket | Token Ninja BB386 Evo Pressfit |
| Chain | SRAM Force E1 Flat top chain |
| Rear Mech | Sram Force AXS XPLR E1 – 13 speed wireless (Max 46T) |
| Cassette | SRAM Cassette XG-1371 XPLR E1 13 Speed – 10-46T |
| Shifters | SRAM Force AXS E1 – 13 speed wireless |
| Rotors | SRAM Centreline 140mm rear, 160mm front |
| Saddle | Selle Italia SLR Novus Boost Evo X-Cross carbon rail saddle |
| Seat post | Vielo Carbon 30.9mm x 400mm |
| Axles | Vielo Thru axle 12x100mm / 12x142mm with 1.0mm Thread pitch for UDH |
| Mech Hanger | UDH Compatible |
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