Time is back with a new performance gravel/all-road bike called the ADHX (which stands for Alpe d’Huez X), with a carbon frame incorporating Dyneema fibres.
The brand has a reputation for hand-built carbon bikes that goes back decades, but it’s been the doldrums somewhat since its founder Roland Cattin died in 2014, with the company's pedal business being swallowed up by SRAM and the bike operation now owned by Arkansas-based Cardinal Cycling Group.
However, the ADHX marks Time's latest release, made in the EU and using Time’s original braided carbon construction method, where the carbon fibres are literally woven into the frame tubes, rather than being added in layers of carbon prepreg as is the usual practice.
Time says that allows its carbon fibres to run the length of the frame’s tubes, and a mix of different types of fibre to be used, increasing the frame’s strength over one made using the usual method.
The ADHX is at the sportier end of the gravel bike spectrum, with tyre clearance maxing out at 40mm, but Time says it's a bike designed to bridge the gap between road and off-road.
Added Dyneema fibres
In the ADHX, the frame also adds Dyneema fibres to the mix.
Dyneema is claimed to be the strongest fibre in the world and is the same bio-based fibre used in abrasion-resistant cycle clothing and footwear, such as the Specialized S-Works 7 shoes.
Time says the addition of Dyneema gives the ADHX strength and stiffness without adding to its weight. Claimed weight for a size-small ADHX frame is 1,025g without paint.
There's up to 35 per cent Dyneema fibre added to the weave on the inside face of the junctions between the main frame tubes, where it's under tension and has the largest effect on the ADHX frame’s strength, according to Time.
Time also uses its own resin transfer moulding process, where the resin is injected into the woven carbon fibre structure at high pressure.
Because Time’s curing process occurs at lower temperatures than traditional prepreg curing, it allows Dyneema to be incorporated into its frames.
Time says the usual frame-curing processes are at higher temperatures and beyond Dyneema's recommended range, which might degrade its structure. There aren’t commercial prepreg products available that include Dyneema either, according to Time.
Hidden cable routing an option
The frameset includes forged carbon thru-axle dropouts and there’s a top-tube mounting point for extra load-carrying capacity.
It’s designed to handle 1x and 2x groupsets and uses the Deda S-DCR headset, which enables you to add Deda’s bar and stem to route cables completely internally. You can also use a conventional bar and stem to run cables and hoses externally from the bars into the stem.
Head tube angles are quite steep for a gravel bike, starting at 70.5 degrees for the smallest XS frame and rising to 73 degrees for the largest XL size, with mid-sized frames at 72.5 degrees.
Tyre clearance is up to 40mm, dependent on the rims and tyres you use. That’s a little narrow by modern gravel bike standards, with 45mm about standard and bikes such as the new 3T Exploro Ultra capable of handling gravel tyres up to 61mm.
However, Time claims the ADHX balances speed, low weight and a broad enough tyre profile for fast gravel riding.
The Time ADHX is available frameset-only, in five sizes from XS to XL, at a price of £3,149 / $3,799 / € 3,499. It comes in four colours and also as a bare frameset ready to paint.
Time ADHX frameset specs
- Frame: HS/HM Carbon/Dyneema BCS, Forged Carbon Dropouts
- Fork: HS/HM Carbon BCS, Forged Carbon Dropouts
- Bottom bracket: BB386
- Weight: 1,025g (size S, unpainted)
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Price: £3,149 / $3,799 / €3,499
