ICON PRO

Frame Philosophy

The ICON series frame was modeled after our top-level Xenith. Think Xenith in butted aluminum instead of carbon fiber and you have the idea. We attempted to replicate EVERY attribute of the Xenith in the Icon and tested numerous protos on both our machines and the road repeatedly to get it right. From the precise and snappy handling in turns, to the out-of-saddle explosiveness in sprints, to the solid descent manners that inspire high-speed confidence. Combining the proven race-winning geometry of the Xenith with the durability and affordability of aluminum makes this an ideal CRIT bike, capable of delivering as much acceleration as you can provide the kick for.

 

Pedaling Platform

The ICON frame features a larger 34.9mm seat tube, which allows us to spec an over-sized 31.6mm seat post. That larger diameter post flexes less than a 27.2mm post, providing a firmer pedaling platform for faster climbs with less wasted energy. Though the flexy 27.2 post might seem to be a good choice as an offset to the firm ride qualities of aluminum, both the Icon Elite and Pro are spec’ed with 31.6mm carbon fiber seat posts to damp in-saddle road feedback, keeping you fresher, longer.

 

Ride Quality

One of the Xenith attributes we could NOT replicate in the Icon was its ability to damp road vibrations. Aluminum is just not as competent in this area as carbon fiber. But for us, this was a plus. If there is any one word that defines the Icon ride, it’s “immediate”. Step on the pedals and you move NOW. Lean to carve a turn and you’re ON IT like a freight train on tracks. There’s an immediacy in your connection to the road on aluminum. With carbon fiber, you tend to feel a bit more insulated from the road. It’s like listening to music with noise-cancelling headphones instead of LIVE. So while there’s a slight trade-off in comfort in selecting aluminum for the Icon over carbon fiber, many riders prefer that immediate connectedness and the confidence that comes from knowing exactly where you are on the road. We still made sure the frame was designed with just enough “give” for daylong rides. But what you are really going to appreciate is its ruthless efficiency. This is speed stripped down to its essence.

 

Synthesis is Small Batch

The Icon is not just a lighter, faster version of our aluminium Venturas. When we put this project on the design board, we knew we didn’t just want to make a bike that could make a difference. We also wanted to MAKE it differently. Which is what Synthesis is all about: small batch manufacturing. A process that understands a great riding experience begins with a great building experience, one frame at a time.

 

WEIGHT

Scrap the thought that you have to buy carbon fiber to get a bike that’s light enough to race. The beauty of the Icon frame is that it’s lighter than our carbon fiber Xenith Comp (a raw 56cm Icon frame weighs in at 1150 grams!) yet costs much less to manufacture than a carbon fiber frame. So the Icon parts package can be considerably up-spec’ed over a comparably priced carbon fiber bike, ensuring that the Icon will ALWAYS be lighter and faster.

 

TAPERED HEAD TUBE AND STEERER

By enlarging the bottom bearing of the head tube from 1 1/8” to 1.5”, not only are head tube stiffness and steering precision increased, but we have sufficient room in the crown to produce a truly hollow fork from the dropout, up through the crown and steerer tube. It’s significantly stronger and stiffer for precise steering while still providing the perfect amount of vertical compliance for comfort.