German brand Rose Bikes has returned to the UK market with the release of a single bike, nearly six years after halting deliveries to Britain, citing Brexit as the reason for its departure. The Backroad FF Rival XPLR AXS gravel race bike is available now for £3,500, with a small range of Rose cycling apparel also set to launch on its UK website soon.
2026 Rose Backroad Rival XPLR AXS gravel bike (credit: Rose bikes)
Rose is a German direct-to-consumer brand. It stopped sales and shipping to the UK in 2020, citing the lack of a Free Trade Agreement after Brexit and the UK legal requirement for bikes to have a right-hand front brake.
Rose’s international website still displays this Brexit notice: “Because of Brexit, we are immediately ceasing shipment of orders to the UK… If we are able to find an alternative solution through the free-trade agreement, we will inform you here.”
However, its UK website now states, “We’re back in the UK”, a somewhat contradictory stance.
2026 Rose Backroad Rival XPLR AXS gravel bike bars (credit: Rose bikes)
Currently, the only bike in the range is the Backroad FF Rival XPLR AXS including power meter, available now for £3,500. It features Rose G30 wheels wrapped in Schwalbe G-One R Performance 40mm tyres, with space for up to 45mm rubber and has a claimed weight of 8.3 kg. It’s currently offered in three colours, though additional colourways feature on the Rose website.
For comparison, the Ribble Ultra-Grit Rival XPLR AXS costs £3,099, also with alloy wheels and Schwalbe G-One R tyres, but up to 50mm of tyre clearance.
2026 Rose Backroad Rival XPLR AXS gravel bike handlebar (credit: Rose bikes)
The last Rose bike we reviewed was the Backroad GRX RX810 in 2020 which impressed us with its stiffness and responsiveness, performing just as well on the road as it did off.
Gravel bikes aren’t all the same. Some are designed for stability on loaded adventures and bikepacking, while others prioritise speed and performance. The Backroad has always fallen into the performance camp, and that remains true today, with what appears to be an aero-focused frame, D-shaped seatpost, and integrated bar and stem. As Rose puts it, this is “your race gravel bike for performance off the tarmac.”
2020 Rose Backroad GRX – riding 3.jpg (credit: road.cc)
On the Rose Bikes UK site, there is also a small range of cycling clothing coming to its website soon including a long sleeve jersey, bib shorts, aero socks and sunnies.
Rose has been contacted for comment, and we’ll update this piece with any response.
For more information, head over to rosebikes.co.uk.