Whyte Glencoe Adventure Road Bike - 2020

About The Glencoe:

Torn up roads, pot holes, rough tarmac, broken asphalt. Don't worry, the Whyte Glencoe takes them all in it's stride.

When Whyte were looking to make a road bike, they came up aganst a question: why does a road bike have to be delicate? Sure it's nice having a light bike, but when it feels skittery on rough tarmac and was clearly designed for smooth-as-silk Majorcan roads, why would you keep riding it? That's when the Roadplus concept was born.

Roadplus is Whyte's take on a bombproof, durable and, above all, comfortable road bike. The Glencoe fits this bill with a sturdy but light aluminium frame designed around a relaxed geometry. That's not to say it's slow, it's just focussed more on comfort and steady handling than your typical flighty road bike. Steady steering allows you to push through rough roads without hesitation while the efficient riding position is ideal for churning out a high mileage.

Massive tyre clearance allows the use of bulbous 650b x 47c tyres. The smaller diameter but much larger width of these tyres make a whole lot of volume in the tyre. Volume helps in two ways: comfort is increased as the tyre deflects more to the ground soaking up rough roads, and traction increases as far more rubber than normal is in contact with the ground. On the road, this leads to confidence. That means you don't have to worry about that rough tarmac as the tyres grip much better than standard road tyres, leading to better descending, better handling and ultimately happier riding.

The Glencoe is competed with a host of durable and well thought-out components that suit the aspirations of long distance back road riding to a tee. 1x11 SRAM Apex gearing is smooth, wide ranging, and with just one chainring, super simple and reliable. Removing that front derailleur makes for a cleaner looking bike, and chain retention is much increased thanks to the clutch mechanism in the rear mech. TRP Hy/Rd brakes are powerful performers in all weathers and provide predictable control in conjunction with the grippy tyres. Wide 500mm road bars amplify your control further with a much improved fit with your body compared to standard narrow drop bars.

The frame itself is finished with neat internal cable routing, integral seat clamp, mudguard and rack eyelets, and modern flat mounts. The Glencoe is equally appropriate as a hardcore commuter, set up with mudguards and rack for ultimate control and practicality, as it is for long road rides exploring the back of beyond. Load it up with bike packing kit for overnight expeditions or just take it out for a comfortable blast on your local circuit.

All in, the Glencoe is a bike like no other. Incredibly confident, practical and very robust. It has garnered numerous reviews from cycling media publications and glowing feedback from many customers. If you value comfort over outright speed, the Glencoe is a sure fire winner.