{"id":607582,"date":"2025-12-02T14:45:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T14:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/607582\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T14:45:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T14:45:57","slug":"lukas-postlbergers-rose-backroad-ff-a-gravel-bike-outlier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/607582\/","title":{"rendered":"Lukas P\u00f6stlberger\u2019s Rose Backroad FF – a gravel bike outlier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lukas P\u00f6stlberger was one of a few retired WorldTour road racers on the start line of Gravel Burn<\/a>. The Austrian is a former Maglia Rosa<\/a> jersey wearer and stage winner at the Giro d\u2019Italia<\/a>, known for his huge engine, and was naturally a marked man at the race. While he attempted a few breakaways, nothing stuck, leaving the Rose Racing Circle rider to contend with bagging a top ten on the general classification instead, something he secured on the final stage.<\/p>\n

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\"Lukas\n<\/p>\n

His white Rose Backroad FF was one of two models at Gravel Burn<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)<\/p>\n

With only a brace of Rose Backroad FF<\/a> gravel bikes at the race (the other belonging to P\u00f6stlberger\u2019s teammate, Luis Neff), they proved a rare commodity amid the quotidian mainstream brands. Lukas\u2019s bike proved a welcome contrast to his rivals; its white frame provided the ideal canvas for graffiti-style decals to make an impact. The Backroad FF is a lightweight racing gravel bike<\/a> known for its all-round ability on mixed terrain.<\/p>\n

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\"Lukas\n<\/p>\n

To add some character to his bike, P\u00f6stlberger plastered his bike graffiti-style stickers<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)<\/p>\n

P\u00f6stlberger\u2019s choice of white bar tape was bold, given the nature of Gravel Burn, but it complemented his bike, which was black or white. While the Backroad FF has a suggested maximum tyre clearance of 45mm, the Austrian squeezed in a pair of 50mm Schwalbe G-One RS Pro tyres wrapped around a set of 1,245g Newmen Advanced SL X.R.36 Vonoa with carbon spokes and Fade hubs \u2013 a popular choice tyre among the European pro riders.<\/p>\n

Best picks for you<\/p>\n

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\"Lukas\n<\/p>\n

A SRAM Red XPLR AXS rear mech handles shifting duties at the rear, while a rubberised chainstay protector keeps the chain from damaging the paint<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)<\/p>\n

Given the flat, open roads of Gravel Burn, as well as the stretches of tarmac, Lukas opted for a SRAM Red AXS XPLR groupset<\/a>, set up in a 1x configuration, complete with a 48T and 10\u201346T cassette. Closer examination reveals a Wolf Tooth LoneWolf chaincatcher to ensure chain security over the rough, corrugated roads that underscored much of the Gravel Burn route.<\/p>\n

As was the overarching theme at this year\u2019s event, the Austrian favoured road bike pedals<\/a> over off-road-specific hardware, in this case, a pair of Shimano<\/a> Dura-Ace R9100 SPD-SL carbon pedals.<\/p>\n

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\"Lukas\n<\/p>\n

A pair of Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 SPD-SL carbon pedals provide a better aerodynamic advantage over the off-road equivalent, not to mention a better pedalling platform<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)<\/p>\n

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\"Lukas\n<\/p>\n

A stock Rose integrated handlebar is adorned in white bar tape, a bold yet confident move by the Austrian pro<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)<\/p>\n

The remaining touchpoints include a Selle Italia Flite Boost S1 Carbon perch and a Rose integrated one-piece carbon handlebar.<\/p>\n

Image 1 of 5<\/p>\n

\"LukasP\u00f6stlberger fitted his Backroad FF with a SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset with 48T up front<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)\"LukasThe carbon spokes of the Newmen Advanced SL X.R.36 Vonoa are laced to Fade hubs(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)\"LukasWhile tyre clearance is rated at a maximum 45mm, 50mm were squeezed in at bith the front and rear(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)\"LukasThe Selle Italia Flite Boost S1 Carbon balanceds low weight with comfort(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)\"LukasThe Back Road FF is Roses’s racing gravel platform, a bike that has won Unbound two years in a row(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)Specs<\/p>\n