The British-designed bike brand have updated their lines and in the case of the all-new Monsal, have created a whole new ‘grit’ category: plenty of tyre clearance and versatility yet fast and nippy for winter road training too.
The updated Flash is an aero road bike first and foremost, but is optimised to provide enough comfort to make it an all-rounder suitable for endurance riding too. Sales director and former pro cyclist Adam Biggs says of the new design: “most road bikes are defined as being either “aero” or “endurance”, so our mission was to create a bike that delivers the best of both. When considering the likely ride conditions and rider type we wanted to ensure the bike was a consistent performer in real world conditions. The Flash provides stable acceleration and tracking with exceptional agility and comfort. Engineered using optimal modulus T800 and T700 carbon fibre to a size specific lay-up, with carefully pinpointed resin positioning and intelligent tube design to create a frame that can take a true British hammering!”
Forme also provide their own custom Tailor Build service including a fitting via their retailers, including two different types of frame material, various wheel options, specs from Shimano 105 and up plus any combination of gear ration and finishing kit you could want. The bike also takes up to 28mm tyres, and has thru-axles and flat mount discs.
The brand new Monsal is described as a ‘grit’ bike, able to take on gravel, road and leisurely mixed-terrain rides equally. The frame is manufactured using Torayca 700 & 800 carbon, with 12mm thru axles, full integrated cabling, and a shortened dropped chain stay for a responsive, fast ride with 35mm tyres, though the clearance is such it can take up to a 45mm. The Monsal can also accomodate a 650b wheel, and is shown in the photo above with a Sram 1x drivetrain, Kenda Flintridge tyres and American Classic wheelset. Just behind is a fully loaded Monsal to show off its bikepacking suitability.
The Calver is a dedicated cyclocross racer, designed for the specific demands of a CX race. Biggs says of the bike: “The refined Calver frameset is the lightest aluminium disc-brake equipped frameset on the market and lighter than most carbon framesets at less than 1.2kg. Developed with the assistance of some of the UK’s most experienced and successful cyclocross racers our ambition was to deliver race-winning performance at an affordable price point.”
The bike has a reinforced rear triangle which means there is no chainstay bridge, and paired with a heightened seatstay bridge this gives the bike better clearance according to Forme. The fromt derailleur hanger is removeable to accomodate 1x or double chainring systems, the top tube is flattened on the underside for more comfortable carrying over the shoulder and it supports flat mount discs and thru-axles as standard.
While the bikes are in their final protoype forms, they will be ready to buy before the end of the year with Flash builds starting from £2300, Monsals from £2600 and the Calver frameset available for £525. A full list of UK Forme dealers are listed on their website, and we’ll hopefully be testing soon…
5 thoughts on “Forme unveil revamped bike range”
Shame there isn’t an
Shame there isn’t an Aluminium Monsal. Bokeh still top of my wish list. Similar prices but tending to favour metal for an “adventure bike” frame and am not convinced 1x will suit all my riding requirements so Shimano 2x for me. Shame really, they look great.
Why design a gravel bike in
Why design a gravel bike in 2017 with just enough room for 35mm tyres?
Johnnystorm wrote:
Maybe with a 650 wheel, it can use larger tires. Perhaps 35mm is the limit for 700 wheels.
Looks remarkably like a Whyte
Looks remarkably like a Whyte Wessex
Sheck wrote:
That it does, especially where the headtube meets the forks. The Flash, the Wessex and the Monsal all borrow a lot from the GT Grade. Some people think that’s beginning to be a bit dated now, but from the bikes coming out including Giant’s new defy disc it seems GT were literally years ahead of the game.