Rory Townsend's Rose Shave FFX: A National Champion's Ride
The Irish National Road Champion, Rory Townsend, has been making waves in the cycling world with his custom Rose Shave FFX bike. After a successful two-season stint with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Townsend has signed a two-year deal with the Unibet Rose Rockets, a French-licensed, Dutch-owned ProTeam. The team's bikes, including Townsend's Rose Shave FFX, have been a hit with fans, especially at the Opening Weekend in Belgium.
Townsend's bike is a stunning work of art, with a unique design that combines the team's color scheme with the colors of Ireland's flag. The all-white canvas is adorned with green and orange accents, featuring shamrock glyphs on the handlebars and fork, and a green barber-poled design on the fork and seatpost. This attention to detail is a testament to the craftsmanship of Rose Bikes, which has recently returned to the UK after a six-year absence due to Brexit.
The Rose Shave FFX is constructed from Torayca M40X carbon, a material known for its stiffness and low system weight. This makes the bike an ideal choice for all-out performance, as evidenced by its 7.5kg weight in the M/L size in Classic trim. The bike is equipped with a SRAM Red XPLR AXS 1x13-speed groupset, featuring a 54T aero chainring and 165mm cranks that drive a 10-46T cassette. This gearing choice was popular among teams during Opening Weekend.
The cockpit of the bike is a one-piece affair, measuring 380mm center-to-center, and paired with a 130mm stem. The build also includes Tacx Ciro bottle cages, Time XPro pedals, and the Selle Italia SLR Boost Pro Team Kit Carbonio Superflow saddle. A Wolf Tooth chain guide ensures chain retention over the cobbled sectors of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
Townsend's Rose Shave FFX is a true masterpiece, combining performance, aesthetics, and a personal touch. It is a testament to the craftsmanship of Rose Bikes and the talent of Rory Townsend, who continues to make his mark in the world of cycling.
