UK independent boutique brand Vielo and Classified have formed a partnership that combines Vielo’s 1x exclusive frames with Classified Powershift technology… ‘to make the ultimate modern road bike.’
Vielo launched in 2018 with a road and gravel bike designed frame that was engineered around a 1x crankset. This unique frame design claims to increase bottom bracket lateral stiffness by 32% compared with an equivalent 2x design. It also provided a lot more freedom in engineering design and efficiency to other areas of the bike frame.
Classified launched its Powershift hub shifting technology in 2021, with the headline ‘The end of the front derailleur’. The product is backed with… ‘some serious investment and the endorsement of ex pro riders Tom Boonen, Andre Greipel, Marcel Kittel, Anna Van der Breggen and Philippe Gilbert.’
Ian Hughes, founder of Vielo, said “When we launched Vielo, we knew we wanted to be brave and a first adopter of a 1x only dedicated gravel bike and road bike frame. We have built our brand, style, and reputation around this, and so far, no other bicycle brand has gone down this route.
“All the press reviews we have received prove we are on the right track. It took a while to convince some traditional cycling fans to accept this, especially road cycling fans. Many insisted they need a wider range and more gears than the current 1x 12 or 13 speed.
“We watched with interest when Classified launched their ‘virtual front derailleur’ Powershift Technology in 2021, to see how long it would take for cycling fans to ‘get it’ and start requesting the system to be built onto a Vielo frames.”
Hughes continued, “We share many synergies with Classified, in that we are brave, dynamic, and forward thinking, It makes sense to join forces and show cycling fans around the world there is a lot more to road and gravel bikes than a standard frame with front mech and double chain ring up front.”
Classified’s OEM manager Steven Wong said “An innovation driven company like Vielo is exactly the kind of partner we at Classified want to work with. With the combined belief that the traditional 2x bicycle is not the most efficient set up available, the partnership makes perfect sense.”
www.classified-cycling.cc
www.vielo.cc
