BMC Racemaster SLXO1
If ever there could be a great cycling-themed question for Trivial Pursuit, guessing the roots of the BMC brand would definitely be a stumper. Over the years, we’ve heard a lot of entertaining stories regarding the rise of certain bike companies, but by far, one of the best we’ve heard recently was regarding the roots of BMC. Here’s a bike company that, aside from their eye-catching, high-tech road bike frame designs, their Tour de France stage glory from a few years ago and now their recent signing of George Hincapie for the 2010 season, has done a great job portraying itself as the quintessential road brand. And yet, the roots of the company couldn’t be more opposite.
Over the summer, we learned one of the best nuggets of cycling history-that BMC wasn’t an acronym for something like Beautifully Machined Creations or Big Momentum Conspirator. Nope. BMC, the brand that was once used by the Phonak team to finish second overall in the UCI Pro Tour rankings and that’s currently ridden by the powerful domestic BMC squad, was originally started in 1986 as a mountain bike company called Bob’s Mountain Company.
From its start as a mountain bike assembly operation, BMC grew and changed. It was in 2000 when the BMC brand took a decidedly different direction when Phonak executive and cycling enthusiast Andy Rihs entered the picture. That’s when the brand made its first steps to the ProTour. And although BMC still makes some exciting mountain bikes, following the creation of the Phonak ProTour team in 2002, the brand became best known for their skinny tire effort.
BMC bikes and frames are currently brought into America through QBP. Of the four BMC road frames sold, we were the most impressed-flabbergasted, really-over the entry-level Racemaster SLX01.
THE FRAME
The Racemaster SLX01 is a price-beating evolutionary step down from the high-end carbon Team Machine SLT01. The Racemaster frame stands out from its racy contemporaries as much for its clever design details as it does the frame material. Swoopy shapes not withstanding, the Racemaster is actually a beguiling mix of frame materials. Leave it to those crazy Swiss engineers to create a frame that left more than a few test riders shaking their heads to find that half the frame (basically all the tubes emanating from the bottom bracket) are actually hydro-formed, triple-butted, 7000 series aluminum with the head tube, top tube and seat stays made with the magic black plastic. (The downtube is a mix of both materials with the seamless joint located almost a third of the way down.)
Without a doubt, it’s the joining of the tubes that’s the most impressive detail here. You won’t find any lugs or joints, as they have their proprietary process of mating the materials where the seat stays and top tube meet the seat tube. In fact, the only place you’ll find any welds on the bike is at the bottom bracket. In the end, we’re told by the BMC’ers that by virtue of the material mix, the Racemaster in intended to be the team’s ‘classics bike’ for its stiffer, ‘more efficient’ ride quality.
As you might expect from a company with Swiss roots, the Racemaster enjoys impeccable frame finishing. From the graphics and finish coat to the internal cable routing, the frame is as clean as they come. The Racemaster frame is available in six sizes (49, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 61 cm) and runs a BMC carbon fork. You’ll find a 72-degree head and 73.5-degree seat angle combo.
THE PARTS
What can you say about a bike that is spec’d with Campagnolo’s Record 11-speed drivetrain other than ‘Mama Mia!’? Fabulous ergos and shifting performance. We have to say, though, it’s been a long time since a seatpost (of any kind) could upstage the benefits of a Campagnolo drivetrain. However, BMC’s unique Streampost did just that. Trickled down from their TT race bike, the seatpost represents another one of those typical ‘head-slapping’ designs that, upon first impression, has you slapping your head asking, ‘Why didn’t anyone think of that before?!’ Once again, leave it to those crafty Swiss guys! The simple quarter-turn adjust relies on an internal quill to internally tighten the post to the aero-shaped seat tube without the usual binding of the more standard external clamp designs. Very nice.
THE RIDE
We’re not sure exactly what performance tendencies a ‘classics bike’ is supposed to have, but whatever the ride quality as intended by the genre, we’d have to suppose that the ride must be somewhat more neutral in overall performance (as opposed to, say, a ‘crit bike’), and that’s a good thing.
As impressed as they were with the Racemaster’s construction, the real racy types among the RBA test squad thought the bike was too heavy at 17 pounds. However, to a man, each also said that if the bike lost at least two pounds, aluminum frame parts or not, the BMC would be an awesome bike. The less scale-inclined among us were bewildered simply by how well the bike cornered. The Racemaster doesn’t need to be invited to make any shape corner at speed. So effortless are the high-speed handling traits that the bike will send you a thank you note upon corner exit.
One spirited rider did find some unwanted frame flex and wondered how much stiffer the frame would be if the carbon tubes actually used a wrap design around the seat tube versus the flat surface-to-surface joint they use. Not a bad point.
THE VERDICT
Everyone liked the look and ride of the BMC. However, we were blown away to find out that the frameset is landing in America for only $1999 and a complete bike with Shimano Ultegra SL sells for $2849. That’s a great price for a truly unique bike that can be ridden all day long. Sure, with its mix of carbon and aluminum tubing, the BMC is running perilously close to being sanctioned by the cycling fashionista brigade-a pro-level frame that’s not all carbon? But that’s the price you’ll have to pay for a truly enjoyable ride.
PRICE: $1999 (frame/fork)
CONTACT: www.bmc-racing.com
WEIGHT: 17.1 lb.
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