Rose Blend Road 105 Di2: With its versatile aluminum frame and electronic shifting, the new Rose Blend is aimed at anyone who wants to get into cycling with top-of-the-line equipment. This bike has everything you could want – and if you do, it offers a welcome opportunity to upgrade.
Anyone currently considering getting into cycling should listen up: With new versions of the Rose Blend, the Bocholt-based manufacturer is launching a price-performance offensive, presenting what is probably the most affordable bike with electronic shifting currently available on the market. The Rose Blend Road 105 Di2 costs a cool 2.000 euros, and anyone with even a little knowledge of electronic shifting knows what the abbreviation stands for.
Rose Blend Road 105 Di2: Electronic, practical, affordable
The Shimano 105 Di2 may only be the third-tier group in the Japanese manufacturer's lineup, but even professionals have to admit that its performance is extremely close to that of the more expensive groupsets. Differences in shifting precision and braking performance are only really noticeable in a direct side-by-side comparison – and that means for beginners: with the Blend Di2, they get a road bike whose operation is almost indistinguishable from that of top-of-the-line bikes.
From the outset, the Blend was designed to blur the lines between road and gravel. The frame geometry is optimized for straight-line stability and an upright riding position, making the bike easy to control right from the start; seven frame sizes make it simple to find the perfect fit. With clearance for 40 mm wide tires, you can choose whether you prefer riding on asphalt or off-road, a choice reflected in two new Blend variants: the Blend Road (€1.300) with Shimano Cues 2x10 and 32 mm road tires, and the Blend Gravel (€1.400) with Shimano GRX 2x10 and 40 mm gravel tires. It should be noted, however, that the road version has an easier climbing gear and therefore seems better suited to some applications – but the main difference lies in the tires.
Di2 model with an extra-beautiful frame
The Blend with electronic transmission features a small extra detail: smoothed welds on the aluminum frame, giving it an even more elegant look. The bike already impresses with its clean lines and details like discreetly integrated fender mounts. Two bottle cages and a small top tube bag can be mounted; fork-mounted racks are not included – this gives the bike a significantly sportier appearance, but it's hardly less versatile.
Rose states a weight of approximately 9,4 kg for the Blend Di2, which seems quite realistic for a small frame size. In this respect, the new bike is also satisfactory; those just starting out in cycling shouldn't overemphasize this aspect anyway. In any case, it's clear that the Blend Di2 delivers practically everything a modern road bike needs – with the added benefit of ample tire clearance and at an unbeatable price. The only thing one could criticize is the wheelset with its relatively narrow rims by today's standards. But after the first few months of road cycling experience, this could provide a welcome opportunity for an upgrade…