- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
First Look video: Fairlight Strael 2
We were paid a visit by Dom Thomas of Fairlight Cycles recently - and as much as we were pleased to see him, we were even more pleased that he brought along their new Strael 2. The first Strael was one of our 2017 Bikes of the Year, so we were keen to see how it could have been improved.
Review: Fairlight Strael
Bike of the Year 2017/18
Competition: Win a Fairlight Cycles Strael 2
The tubeset has stayed the same, with Dom saying it was pretty much impossible to improve without falling foul of ISO testing procedures. The headtube has changed from a 1.2mm down to a 1.1mm wall, saving a tiny bit of weight. It's a custom part specifically for Fairlight, made in Birmingham.
The bike is now optimised for flat mount disc standards with a thru-axle at the rear. It's allowed Fairlight to remove some weight by designing new, smaller dropouts. They're asymmetric, with a shorter one on the non-driveside to save a few grams.
Fairlight are now using a 3D-printed cable guide, as opposed to braze-on. While Fairlight say the braze-on solution was never a huge problem it could look a little untidy with Di2, so the new guide allows you to run the Di2 cable down the brake hose, making it look clean and without the extra weight of ports. The plastic has been tested extensively and Fairlight insist it's near-unbreakable and doesn't move.
The bike can be bought with various groupsets from Shimano and Sram, and is also available as frameset-only. We'll be testing the Fairlight Strael 2 over the coming weeks - check back to read the road.cc verdict soon.
If you haven't already spotted, we've got a mega comp on the site at the moment in which you could win a Fairlight Strale 2, worth £2,600! Entries close on the 19th February, get yours in now by entering here. You've nothing to lose, except perhaps a very nice bike indeed!
Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story).
Latest Comments
- chrisonabike 5 min 24 sec ago
Ah - yes, they've got an American Star the wrong way round (means the child carrier needs rearranged though). Or it could be a Facile but inverted?
- MrSimonMills 15 min 18 sec ago
I have one, it is lovely to ride - easily my favourite bike (although pretty useless on anything techy due to quite a steep head angle)
- Legin 1 hour 2 min ago
The earlier version of this camera was branded by Chilli-tech and I purchased one of those. Delighted with it, a cracking camera with a good light....
- lesterama 1 hour 58 min ago
What a bunch of ases
- GMBasix 2 hours 13 min ago
Well, naturally: I thought that was a given
- quiff 2 hours 51 min ago
It was only your comment in the carousel that first brought me here, and yet I still managed to read most of the page before remembering this isn't...
- quiff 4 hours 19 min ago
That comparison might work in answer to the ill-considered "you can't bring your bike in, it's got dirty tyres" but not sure it's apposite here as...
- gazza_d 4 hours 58 min ago
Acts like this should be regarded as domestic terrorism, because that's what it is.
- eburtthebike 6 hours 23 min ago
The Daily Mail, Telegraph and GB News.........
Add new comment
12 comments
When is the full review due to be published??
I'm lucky enough to have the original (now classic!) Strael in the putty colour. Its been an absolutely fantastic bike; practical, fits me like a glove, the ride is sublime, really tough paint finish and zero problems - can't recommend it enough.
Feeling that I've found my perfect bike, I would only consider changing it for a Strael 2.....I do like that deep grey finish and I already have some orange hope parts and hubs....
Does this mean I have to start referring to my original Strael as the Strael 'Classic' now
?
I think standards have settled to the point that I can consider a nice disc braked road bike.
Question is...
Do you bolt your H11 groupset to a Strael or a Definition?
Really lovely looking bike, I've been saving for one for a while, but the updated version just makes me want one even more. That grey colour is great, it'd look brilliant with some brightly coloured (say orange) hope parts to add a little bit of contrast. Nice to see some real thought and attention going into the design.
Now if you can just arrange for another ten or so as competition prizes that'd be great...
Dom will likely let you spec headset/seat clamp colours. My Faran (dark blue/gray) looks great with orange parts. Possibly took things a little too far with orange DMR V12s though
If I'd had the budget I'd have gone with silver/chrome Nitto bars/stem/seatpost and a silver crankset.
If only Shimano would do a modretro proper chrome group....
Absolutely gorgeous. Was very taken by the putty coloured version last year, but that new dark grey one looks ace. Thankfully I'm skint so don't need to make that decision right now....just waiting on a lottery win or another unexpected windfall of some "disposable" and I'll be joining the queue.
I assume I'd be right in thinking no one else has bothered to enter the competion for one...
Right?
So if you could just organise the delivery for next Monday I'd be very happy.......
No, it's mine, mine, MINE, I say, MINE, mwahahaha!!
Seriously, this has just gone right to the top of my wish list... If only it didn't mean a trip to London for a test ride...
Is this one of these videos where one actor plays two characters?
Looks really great. I really like that Dom has taken on board all of the feedback given for the last model
Looks fantastic, some proper joined up thinking on that frame.
I wish more manufacturers would offer two height options. Easier on steel and alloy bikes than with carbon, but with some clever machining you could probably craft some inserts for a carbon frame mould to convert it down from a tall to a short. Might need a different set of bladders, but that's the cheaper bit.