Ever get a thing so \u201cnew,\u201d it\u2019s hard to find feedback on it? A new plasma TV, a new car (hello, Tesla truck), some right-off-the-shelf headphones, a new brand of cycling kit? We\u2019ve all been there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Us too. The Quintana Roo V-PRi fits in that realm. It\u2019s only been on the market for a few months, meaning a precious few have had the pleasure of riding it. So who do you go to for feedback? We like the pros\u2014the ones on the bike all the time<\/em>. If anyone understands the nuance of new things, it\u2019s a pro triathlete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So we went to French pro Arthur Horseau. One of the world\u2019s top long-course triathletes, he rides his bikes hard. On the flats of the Cote d\u2019Azur, or the hinterland hills, he puts his gear to the true test. With several months of hard training (and one race) under his belt, we asked: what does he notice about the new V-PRi? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Handling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the first thing we wanted to know; how does the V-PRi roll? Can it navigate a big, open course like Roth, and move with deft handling on a technical tight course, capable of navigating traffic circles and hard corners? Horseau says yes to it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/strong>Everything is smooth,\u201d he says. \u201cThe bike is light for a TT bike, so it makes it very easy to handle while going through a downhill\u2014even the most technical ones that you can find in the Pyrenees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnce on the aerobars, that\u2019s when the magic happens,\u201d Horseau adds. \u201cThe V-PRi, is probably the most stable bike I\u2019ve been on when the speed starts to increase.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, aero is king, but is weight really a thing, and how does the V-PRi fare there? <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cit\u2019s a pretty light bike for a TT bike,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve already done some of my long and hilly rides here in France (with over 3,000 meters of elevation) and it felt great all day long! The fact that the handlebars are “angled towards the rider” is a big plus while riding uphill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Travel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also the issue of travel. How easily can the V-PRi travel, whether on a plane or made to fit in the back of the car for the drive to the venue? With a size large frame, it\u2019s an issue for Horseau\u2014and he says it ticks the boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI<\/strong> haven\u2019t used a bag to travel with so far,\u201d he says, \u201cbut I\u2019ve been playing with the cockpit for a while and I can tell that it\u2019s very easy to get everything into a \u201cpackable\u201d position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Race Day Nutrition Practicality<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we think about practicality on race day, we look at how a bike to aid your fueling experience, and how few \u201chang-ups\u201d it has. Can you access your food and drink with ease, and refill without issue? All while maintaining a clean, aero profile? Horseau was pretty firm on this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n