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review

Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Ultegra

8
£2,224.00

VERDICT:

8
10
An impressively fast machine with razor-sharp handling that really offers good value for money
Weight: 
7,300g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Storck Fascenario.3 Comp is part of its 'Allround' line-up, but don't let that make you think this is some kind of relaxed endurance or sportive machine, it's still a thoroughbred high-speed performance machine with the long and low position to match. It's an absolute blast to ride, and when it comes to price it's not a bad package.

  • Pros: Sweet handling, very responsive frameset, good all-round package for the money
  • Cons: Not the most comfortable bike out there, carbon handlebar is on the flexible side

We first tested the Fascenario.3 back in 2017 when David Arthur put the top end Platinum model through its paces, and while it performed very well indeed, the biggest hurdle to overcome was its massive £10,199 price tag!

> Find your nearest dealer here

This model, the Comp, sits at the other end of the scale, and while at £2,224 it's still not exactly a cheap bike, it is much more affordable to many – and you are getting much of the performance and handling of the Platinum.

Ride

The Fascenario.3's stiffness is pretty much the first thing you notice as you set off. Everything feels so tight, especially through the bottom half of the frame and up front thanks to the fork. The whole bike is so responsive to your input, whether you are riding in the saddle or standing up on the pedals.

Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Ultegra - riding 4.jpg

I had the most fun on the Storck out in the twisty lanes or mixing with the traffic on busy main routes – anywhere where I had to keep changing pace, accelerating out of bends before braking hard to enter the next one, or sprinting for gaps to match the flow of the vehicles around me.

The massive bottom bracket area, down tube and chainstays don't flex at all, and you can really smash as much power through the bike as you want without the feeling of any of it being wasted.

Storck Fascenario 3 - bottom bracket.jpg

The handling is excellent too, so you can keep that pace high as you tackle technical descents, although the steering is quite lively and on the quick side so it pays to be smooth with it. Go into a corner with your upper body tense or not having thought out your line and the bike can become a little twitchy.

All of that stiffness can come at a slight cost, too. If the road surface is broken and rough, the Fascenario.3 can become a little unsettled and kind of skip around a bit. A lot of very stiff race bikes are the same, so it's not something that only affects the Storck.

You don't have to ride the Fascenario.3 like a loon all of the time, though, as it is a very competent mile-muncher.

Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Ultegra - riding 3.jpg

Looking at the geometry, I'm kind of in between the small we've got here and the medium, so the lower front end and slightly shorter top tube still give me quite a racy position but it's a comfortable one and I could happily tap out the hours at a fairish pace.

Again, the stiffness of the frameset means you do feel rough road surfaces as they vibrate and resonate through the tubes, but I wouldn't say it ruins the ride. I'd take performance over comfort any day of the week, and I wouldn't say the Fascenario.3 is uncomfortable. Being able to run so much seatpost helps too, for a little added flex.

Storck Fascenario 3 - seat tube junction.jpg

This Shimano Ultegra-equipped package weighs in at a pretty decent 7.3kg (16.1lb) so climbing on the Fascenario.3 is as enjoyable an experience as it ever is likely to get for me; I climb purely so that I can descend.

Again, it's the stiffness here which brings the fun as you can really attack short, sharp climbs with plenty of out-of-the-saddle action. If things are going to go on a little longer, sitting in the saddle and tapping out the rhythm works too.

Frame and fork

Storck uses a slightly different carbon fibre grade and layup throughout its different models, which is why the Comp frame is slightly heavier than the Platinum. The smallest size has a claimed frame weight of 1,050g with the fork starting at 390g depending on the length of the steerer.

Storck Fascenario 3 - top tube decal.jpg

There are lighter, but for this money I'd say it's still pretty impressive, and weight is never the be all and end all anyway.

Geometry-wise, things aren't massively aggressive considering how well this thing rides and handles at speed. The head angle is just 72.5 degrees, but Storck uses just a 38mm fork offset rather than the more usual 45mm found on a road bike to keep things exciting.

Storck Fascenario 3.jpg

I mentioned earlier that this isn't an endurance style bike despite its Allroad moniker, and the stack to reach ratio certainly shows that. This size small comes in at 1.39 which is pretty aggressive – an endurance bike normally comes in at around 1.5 to 1.55 although this does tend to fluctuate a bit between sizes.

Aerodynamics is one of the key things about the Fascenario.3, which is why the whole frame and fork doesn't have a single round tube in its construction. It's what Storck calls 'Advanced Sectional Aerodynamic Shaping'.

Storck Fascenario 3 - UCI sticker.jpg

The down tube stands out the most with its teardrop shape: a rounded edge underneath before flaring out, but rather than going for a full traditional tapered profile the tail end is cut off square, also known as a Kamm Tail.

Storck Fascenario 3 - down tube.jpg

The seat tube also has a squared-off trailing edge at the rear which, according to Storck, 'improves hysteresis flex behaviour combined with stable torsion stiffness and a positive aerodynamic effect'.

Storck Fascenario 3 - seat tube.jpg

If the engineering aspect (something that Storck bikes have always been pushing the boundaries of) is of interest, then you could check out the website or pdf of the 2018 catalogue, which goes into full details of the design and explains hysteresis flex. There is way more insight into this bike on there than I could possibly go into here.

I've mentioned the size of the bottom bracket junction, which blends in perfectly with the massive chainstays and the large cross sectional area of the down tube. It's no surprise to see a press-fit bottom bracket either as it allows a wider bottom bracket shell, having the bearings inserted into the frame rather than threaded externally while maintaining the same q-factor (the distance between the cranks).

The bowed legs of the fork when looking from the front may appear odd compared with a lot of earlier thinking about aerodynamic forks, which were quite narrow, sitting close to the tyre and wheel. Storck's design basically prevents aerodynamically unfavourable vortices of the airflow, apparently.

Storck Fascenario 3 - fork.jpg

Whether it all works without seeing the results in the wind tunnel is hard to say, but there is a reason that this bike is so damn fast and feels so stable at high speeds.

Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Ultegra - riding 2.jpg

Storck also uses proportional tubing on the Fascenario.3 where the tubes take into account the difference in weight and leverage for taller and shorter riders. The shaping, wall thicknesses and diameters of the tubes are adapted to create the same levels and stiffness and comfort whether it's an extra-small or an extra-large. It can create quite a different looking frame from the smallest to the largest.

The Fascenario.3 has a clean looking frame with internal cable routing throughout and an integrated seatpost mount – you stop the seatpost from slipping by tightening the bolt underneath the top tube.

Finishing kit

The Fascenario.3 Comp comes in two builds – this one with the excellent Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset, and the other with Dura-Ace. Or you can buy the Storck as a frameset-only option.

Storck Fascenario 3 - drive train.jpg

Suiting the performance on offer from the Fascenario.3's frame, the build comes with a 52/36 chainset and an 11-28 11-speed cassette. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I could get full use out of every ratio across the range and Shimano offers plenty of cassette options if you want gears either side of this.

Storck Fascenario 3 - cassette.jpg

If you've read the Ultegra review you'll find that I think the updates over the 6800 previous iteration make a massive difference to overall usability and its crisp, quick shifting suits the ride of the Storck.

Storck Fascenario 3 - front mech.jpg

The dual-pivot brake callipers offer huge amounts of stopping power too.

Storck Fascenario 3 - front brake.jpg

Storck provides the stem and handlebar, with the former being alloy and the latter carbon fibre.

Storck Fascenario 3 - bars.jpg

The ST115 stem looks the business with its white on black logos and it's certainly stiff enough.

Storck Fascenario 3 - stem.jpg

It's impressive to see a carbon fibre handlebar on a bike of this price, too, and the Storck RBC220 bar is a nice shape. It has a round central section either side of the stem so you can fit computer mounts and lights before the tops become more of an aero shape.

Storck Fascenario 3 - bars 2.jpg

It gives a wider platform to rest your hands on, plus there is a slight sweep back towards you as it heads towards the top bend. It brings the bar just a little bit closer to you at the point where you want to sit up in a more relaxed position.

The drops have quite a shallow bend with an anatomical shape, a flatter angled mid-section rather than a more traditional curve.

Storck Fascenario 3 - bar and lever.jpg

The only downside I can find is that it is quite flexible. Yes, it works to take some of the stiffness out of the ride, providing some relief for your hands, but when you are out of the saddle really giving it some, the movement can be quite disconcerting.

The carbon SP92K seatpost uses Selle Italia's Monolink design, compatible with its saddle range. It was developed back in 2010 and, as you can no doubt guess from the name, uses just a single central rail with a slot which lets you slide the saddle fore and aft over the seatpost clamp. The thinking behind it is that you have much more adjustment than the clamping area of traditional saddle rails.

Storck Fascenario 3 - saddle and post.jpg

The obvious issue is that you are tied into using Selle Italia's saddles, the SLS Monolink in this case. I got on okay with it; it's quite firm and I wouldn't say it is exactly my favourite shape, but as we well know, saddles are a very personal thing.

Storck has specced DT Swiss PR 1600 wheels on the Comp, which have a 23mm rim height and an inner width of 18mm, which isn't massively wide compared to a lot of other wheels on the market. It means that the 25mm tyres fitted come out at pretty much their nominal size.

Storck Fascenario 3 - rim.jpg

Hub-wise you get DT's 350s which run smoothly and offer quick engagement when going from freewheeling to pedalling. We've had a decent amount of rain lately so they've seen some dirt and there doesn't look to be any ingress in the cartridge bearings.

Storck Fascenario 3 - front hub.jpg

The braking surface of the rims are machined, which offers consistent stopping power in the wet and dry.

Storck Fascenario 3 - rear brake.jpg

With a claimed weight of 1,519g it's a pretty decent wheelset to suit the Comp's performance and wouldn't require upgrading too soon.

Storck Fascenario 3 - rear hub.jpg

For the tyres Storck has gone for 25mm Continental Grand Sports, which are a decent choice. They don't have the same grip levels or fast-rolling attributes of the GP4000 race tyres but they're not a bad compromise.

Storck Fascenario 3 - tyre.jpg

Grip is still okay in the dry, although I found them a little bit twitchy on damp surfaces, and puncture resistance has been good, what with it being hedge cutting season.

Value

With the quality of the frameset and the finishing kit, I don't think the Fascenario.3 Comp is overpriced at all. A 7.3kg build is impressive for the money and with an upgrade to a set of lightweight carbon wheels you could get that even closer to the UCI's 6.8kg weight limit if you really wanted to.

It is up against some tough opposition, though, from the likes of Canyon's Ultimate, a very similar style of bike.

The Ultimate CF SL 8.0 is the closest model, and comes with Ultegra R8000 and Canyon's carbon cockpit for £1,999. It also gets a slightly higher spec of DT Swiss wheels, the P 1800s, plus better tyres.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best Ultegra-equipped road bikes

One of my favourite rim-braked race bike frames from this year is the B'Twin Ultra CF, so good that I'm still hooning around on the test bike with some upgraded test parts on it.

Riding the two side by side, the B'Twin gives away a little bit of stiffness to the Storck, but when it comes to comfort the Ultra CF wins hands down.

An Ultegra-equipped B'Twin, the Ultra CF 920 with Deda finishing kit, Mavic Cosmic Carbon wheels and Fizik saddle, will also set you back £1,999.

Of course, with the Storck you are getting exclusivity over the larger, mass-produced brands, and lots of technology being handed down from the more expensive models. I would pay the £2,224 (based on current exchange rates) without question.

Storck Fascenario 3 - head tube badge.jpg

Conclusion

Overall I think the Comp model is probably the best bang-for-buck entry into Fascenario.3 ownership, only giving away around 600g to the ten-grand-plus Platinum offering.

If you are happy to compromise some comfort over outright performance, you won't be disappointed.

Verdict

An impressively fast machine with razor-sharp handling that really offers good value for money

road.cc test report

Make and model: Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Ultegra

Size tested: Small

About the bike

List the components used to build up the bike.

Frame Storck Fascenario.3 Comp

Fork Storck Fascenario.3 Comp

Color Matt Black

Material Carbon Fiber Reinforced (CFR)/Unidirectional (UD)

Cable Routing Internal Cable Routing Braking/Shifting

Bottom Bracket Pressfit™ Diameter 41x86,5 mm

Headset Acros 1 1/8" - 1 1/4"

Stem 31,8 mm Storck ST115 Alloy

Handlebar 31,8 mm Storck RBC220 Carbon

Handlebar Tape Storck

Seatpost SP92K Carbon

Saddle Selle Italia Monolink SLS

System-Wheels DT Swiss PR1600 Spline

Tires Continental Grand Sport Race 700x25mm

Rear Derailleur Shimano Ultegra

Front Derailleur Shimano Ultegra

Shift Levers Shimano Ultegra 2x11

Brakes Shimano Ultegra

Crankset Shimano Ultegra 52/36, 172,5 mm

Chain Shimano Ultegra11-speed

Cassette Shimano Ultegra 11-speed, 11-28

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 feelings about the bike?

Storck says, "Our dynamic all-rounder! Fascenario.3 is the result of the rigorous and continuous further development of existing Storck qualities and has features that elevate a road bike to an all-new level. 'Advanced Sectional Aerodynamic Shaping,' the aerodynamic F.3 fork and the 'Flat Section Impact' standard minimize aerodynamic drag, enhance comfort and have resulted in a true all-rounder with exceptional riding qualities. F.3 – aerodynamic, lightweight, with outstanding comfort."

Compared to a lot of 'all-rounders' on the market I'd say the Storck is more race orientated than most and the outstanding comfort is questionable. Whether that is more an issue with the UK's roads than the bike is another question.

Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options

This is the entry level to Fascenario.3 ownership with the Pro sitting above and then the range-topping Platinum model. As the price increases there is more refinement when it comes to carbon fibre selection and layups to increase performance.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
9/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Pretty much faultless. I've seen a few expensive frames that are rough around the edges when you look close, but the Storck has an impeccable finish.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

Material: Carbon Fiber Reinforced (CFR)/Unidirectional (UD)

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

It's a racy setup with a low front end. Geometry details can be found here.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

The whole setup is very much race orientated; this small model has a stack of 541mm and a reach of 388mm.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

The ride is firm; fine on smooth sections of road but you do get a fair amount of road buzz when the surface is a little broken.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

You certainly can't criticise the stiffness. This is a performance bike and everything you put in you get back.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Impressively efficient.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

No.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Lively.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

It's pretty much a race bike so the handling is quick, and if you are a confident bike handler you can really exploit that to carve beautifully smooth lines through the bends.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I found the saddle a little harsh.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

I'd like a slightly stiffer handlebar.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

Lighter wheels would bring a slight increase to acceleration and a benefit to climbing, but it isn't something I'd look to change straight away.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
9/10

You have to be relaxed and smooth to get the full benefit.

Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
8/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

The latest Ultegra is one of the best groupsets out there and totally suits the riding style of the Fascenario.3.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for value:
 
6/10

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so what for?

DT Swiss wheels always offer a solid ride and decent performance, and these 1600s are no different. Aesthetically, the frame is screaming out for something deeper but performance-wise there's no need for a wheel upgrade at this price.

Rate the tyres for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so what for?

A little bit sketchy in the wet, but on the whole decent performers.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

I found the handlebar a little too flexible for my style of riding, but other than that I wouldn't change anything. It's a good all-round package and the handlebar is a very user-friendly shape.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Similar builds are achievable for less from the bigger brands, but the Storck does offer a heap of design and engineering to back up the price. I'd still say it represents good value for money.

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
7/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Comp delivers a lot of the qualities of the more expensive models in the range at more a sensible price. I loved its eager and buzzy ride for short blasts, but it can be a little unforgiving on our rough British roads. Overall, though, it's very good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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3 comments

Avatar
Mathias | 5 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for this review! I'm thinking about buying this bike. I wonder if Size S fits. Your tester ist 180cm and tested framesize S. I'm 173cm. Would you recomend XS?

Avatar
Orbea1967 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Are they available in the UK, and where can you buy either the Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Ultegra or Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Dura Ace?

 

 

Avatar
Tass Whitby replied to Orbea1967 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Orbea1967 wrote:

Are they available in the UK, and where can you buy either the Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Ultegra or Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Dura Ace?

 

 

You can buy them online from Storck World (link above the review), but if you want to buy in the UK, use the 'find a dealer' link in the review. (Link also shows email and phone number for the distributor.) Hope that helps!

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