Hopefully a brand called Heroïn is going to build bikes which are properly addictive. And in the case of the HR, that is abundantly true. It’s an almost weightless, carbon and titanium stealth bomber. The bike has been specifically created for riders in the Haute Route – the first global series of multi-day cycling events, and something of a holy grail for amateurs. And the Heroïn has all you’ll need as you tackle the epic cols of the Alps and the Pyrenees. The most remarkable aspect of this French bike is that all the exposed surfaces feature a dimpled texture, like the surface of a golf ball. This, counter-intuitively, smooths and stabilises airflow which makes the bike cut through the air like a shark slices through water. The serious stiffness of the chain stays and bottom bracket, combined with the relative flexibility of the seat stays and tube top, means that the HR handles really well on steep ascents, while that reduced drag coefficient combined with vented forks which evacuate the air generated by the spinning rims, will help you on the fastest descents. It’s a natural high.
The Haute Route now consists of six separate events across the Rockies, Pyrenees, Alps, Dolomites, Alpe D’Huez and Ventoux. Riders are treated to an unparalleled experience at some of road cycling’s most iconic and visually stunning locations. With each edition featuring timed and ranked stages, riders of all abilities can experience professional-level event organisation, including medical teams, mechanical support, rolling road security, film crews and, of course, massages. Whether you’re a rookie or seasoned expert, Haute Route aims to help you push your physical and mental limits to experience what it’s really like to “ride like a pro”. For more information on Haute Route, and this year’s courses, go to hauteroute.org
Price: frame only £4,730; bike as shown £10,450
Frame: carbon
Hardware: titanium
Wheels: DT Swiss
Gears: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Tyres: Hutchinson Fusion
Saddle: Chambers
Headset: FSA Conic
Weight: 6.3kg
heroin-bikes.com
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter@MartinLove166
