Just in: Eastway Zener D1 Ultegra

Eastway has been relaunched by online retailer wiggle and we’ve just been sent this Zener D1 disc-equipped carbon fibre road bike to review. It’s packing a Shimano Ultegra mechanical groupset with BR785 hydraulic disc brakes and costs £1,800.

- wiggle unveils brand new Eastway 2016 road bike range priced between £950 and £2,200

Eastway is a British brand that launched in 2012 but has been completely relaunched this winter with a new direction by its new owners, wiggle. The range features competitively priced bikes with a focus on carbon fibre models that will appeal to sportive and endurance cyclists.

This one here is the top-end model in a range that consists of three bikes. Each one uses the same frame, fully constructed from carbon fibre with regular quick release axles at both ends. There’s space for up to 28mm tyres between the rear stays and fork blades - it comes fitted with 28mm Continental UltraSport 28mm tyres.

The frame features internal cable routing, there’s a tapered head tube and it has a 27.2mm seatpost for extra comfort. It uses a BB86 press fit bottom bracket and the down tube is reassuringly oversized with a rounded square profile.

- Buyer's guide: 2016 sportive and endurance road bikes + 15 of the Best

Geometry has been designed for endurance and sportive cycling. Our 54cm bike (of six available sizes) has a 51cm seat tube, 53.5cm top tube with a 72.5-degree head angle and 74-degree seat. The chainstays are just 40.8cm and the wheelbase is 98.1cm, perhaps not as long as other endurance bikes, it’s a smidgen shorter than a similar sized Cannondale Synapse.

The Eastway bikes look to offer a lot of kit for the money. This model has a full Shimano Ultegra 6800 mechanical 11-speed groupset with hydraulic disc brakes, a really good package in our books. It’s branded kit everywhere else, with Mavic Aksium One disc-specific wheels with Continental Ultrasport 28mm tyres, and Ritchey Comp aluminium handlebar, stem and seatpost. The saddle is similarly from a reputable brand, in this case, it’s a Fizik Aliante.

- Buyer's Guide — Bikes from £1,500 to £2,000

There’s a lot of choice in the £1,500 to £2,000 price range, as this buyer’s guide proves, and the Eastway looks to bring a really good package to the table. It’s being tested at the moment so be sure to check back for the full review soon, and see if it delivers on its promise.

More at www.wiggle.co.uk/eastway-zener-d1-ultegra-2016/