Diamondback

Podium Vitesse Shimano Ultegra Di2 Complete Road Bike - 2015

When you think of Diamondback bikes, dirt lots and your neighborhood streets are probably first and foremost on your mind. But did you know that Diamondback's Equipe road frame is the bike of choice for the best men's and women's teams in the US? The Podium Vitesse is designed with the same technology as the Equipe, in a slightly heavier layup that's ideal for the weekend warrior or touring rider who demands the best in terms of durability, strength, and low weight. And, the Vitesse features Shimano's Ultegra 11-speed Di2 for flawless electronic shifting.

Diamondback's Podium Vitesse frame is hand laid using an AMMP carbon technique. This Advanced Monocoque Molding Process hand wraps individual carbon fibers around a core so that each piece is laid precisely where the engineers want it. The core uses a polystyrene pre-form core, with a plastic bladder that has been designed in the shape of the frame. Additionally, to ensure that the mold is precise, the emerging product is surrounded with a plastic cavity. Now, even though the AMMP process allows the frames to be designed with specific load designs in different regions, silicone mandrel shells are placed at critical joint areas so as to create smooth overlapping fibers and additional reinforcement at vital junctions — such as the head tube and the bottom bracket.

Once the frame is placed in the final mold, a proprietary Optimized Resin Compound is used for optimal adhesion of the carbon fibers. Resin is essentially the "glue" that adheres the fibers together. Use too much and the bike will feel sluggish or soft when ridden, but use too little and the carbon is brittle. Diamondback has optimized the resin so as to provide an extremely durable finish that also enhances the responsive properties of the carbon.

Now, not all carbon fibers are the same. They are designated by both tensile strength and modulus, and high tensile strength doesn't always mean high modulus — the same is true in reverse. Therefore, Diamondback used several fibers by two industry leaders. The MR40 and MR60 fibers were sourced from Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd., and T700 fibers are from Toray Industries. Higher strength fibers are more difficult to manipulate and require highly skilled carbon fiber designers, but once in place they allow the creation of frames with thinner walls. Following along these lines of logic, thinner walls equate to lighter weights.

Once the monocoque portion of the frame is formed, the front triangle, seatstays, and chainstays are bonded using a dynamic co-bonding technique to create the final product. Before the frames are released to the public, however, they are tested extensively by Diamondback's professional riders. Feedback provided allows Diamondback's engineers to modify the molds if necessary to create frames that have a balance of stiffness, compliance, and durability. This is especially important in the Vitesse, which is designed for every level of rider, not just a racer who may be concerned primarily with aggressive handling.

Paired with Shimano's Ultegra Di2 component group, the Vitesse will take you to new distances and new heights, literally. The combination of compact 50/34t crankset with an 11/25t cassette provides enough gears to get you up and over that category 1 climb you've been scoping. The Vitesse rolls on a set of HED Ardennes wheels with Michelin Pro4 tires. The cockpit is a combination of Easton Handlebar with Diamondback stem, and a carbon seatpost. Finishing the build is the sit bone-supporting Prologo Zero II saddle.

The Diamondback Podium Vitesse Shimano Ultegra 11-Speed Di2 Complete Road Bike is available in even sizes 52 to 60cm and comes in the color White.