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I discovered the proprietor of the Fast Professional ER:ONE who was prepared to share his expertise with this bike. On this article, we dive into his construct, why he selected the elements he did, his trip impressions from this bike, and extra. Spoiler alert: It is a 1X Campagnolo setup!
KEY TAKEAWAY
The Fast Professional ER:ONE affords top-level aerodynamics and low weight that rival these of the trade’s greatest names. It’s appropriate for individuals who worth distinctive aesthetics, need to trip quick, and are good worth for cash. The primary disadvantages contain those who drag Chinese language manufacturers down (for now), similar to a restricted distribution community or increased value depreciation. However in case you are okay with these, ER:ONE is a strong purchase. Proceed studying for more information, or purchase it right here.
Fast Professional ER:ONE Construct Abstract
Under are the principle specs of Jan’s construct.
Weight (dimension XL): 6.95 kg [with pedals, bike computer mount, and bottle cages], 6.62 kg [without pedals]
Wheels: Particle GCX40
Groupset: Campagnolo Tremendous File 1×13 WRL
Cassette, chainrings: 11-36, 46
Cranks: Campagnolo Tremendous File, 175mm
Handlebar: Fast Professional Zephyr SSL 420mm, 70mm stem
Saddle: PLSELIS PS-3005
Tires: Pirelli P ZERO Race TLR 30mm
Pedals: Garmin Rally RS-200
Total value: $6900 (w/o pedals), frameset $1999
Fast Professional ER:ONE Professionals and Cons
Fast Professional ER:ONE Professionals
Appears elegant and trendy
It’s responsive
Ranks among the many quickest aero frames (Cervélo S5, Winspace T1600)
It has nice consideration to element (sealed axles, paint, contained in the body)
It’s snug to trip
It has unique-looking seatstays
It might accommodate as much as 32 mm tires
A number of handlebar widths and stem lengths can be found
It’s out there in a number of colours
Offset and zero-offset seatposts out there
All elements embody data in regards to the really useful torque
2 geometries out there
Fast Professional ER:ONE Cons
The frameset doesn’t embody a handlebar ($200 further)
Increased value depreciation since Fast Professional is a Chinese language model
Pricey in comparison with some OEM manufacturers
About Jan and His Fast Professional Construct
I’ve been biking commonly since I used to be about 16, beginning with a basic Favorit F1. Since then, I’ve been hooked on street biking as a hobbyist. I even tried just a few triathlons. After an extended break for college and elevating youngsters, I finally returned to driving with my youngsters.
Again then, I purchased my first high-quality bike: an aluminum Šírer outfitted with Campagnolo Veloce parts and Zonda wheels. I nonetheless have it at the moment. As my youngsters grew, I constructed customized 24-inch bikes for them utilizing Fort frames. Since I already had the instruments for Campagnolo, I used their parts once more. Once they outgrew these, I purchased RB street frames and moved the elements over. I even rebuilt the wheels from 24-inch to 700C, as they are saying, “he who performs, stays out of hassle.”
As a result of I trip on a coach through the winter and unhealthy climate, I made a decision to go away one bike completely hooked up to it. This meant I wanted a brand new, trendy carbon bike for the street.
I searched for a very long time. I needed one other bike with Campagnolo, however they’re exhausting to search out. I checked out Czech manufacturers first. Festka was too costly. Duratec solely supplied rim brakes on the time. RB doesn’t make carbon frames. Amongst European manufacturers, solely Colnago supplied Campagnolo, however the value was far past my funds.
I seen folks on boards driving Chinese language frames. Since most main manufacturers manufacture in Asia anyway and simply paint the frames at house, I began researching. Evaluations talked about that the standard varies wildly. You will discover frames for $300, however they’re dangerous. The overall recommendation was that frames priced over $1000 are often prime quality, so I centered on that section.
I checked out Winspace, Elves, Evolve, Fast Professional, Sava, and Java. I finally selected the ER:ONE. Why? I liked the design, particularly the huge fork, the down tube, and the modern rear triangle. Weight was crucial issue, and this frameset hit the mark. Different bikes all the time appeared to lack one thing. Plus, I’m fairly tall, and lots of XL frames look awkward and ugly. The ER:ONE maintained its nice look even in my dimension.
The Construct Course of
The meeting course of went easily general. All elements have been well-labeled, and torque specs have been clearly printed on the luggage, the parts, or the body itself.
The most important delay was the staggered delivery occasions. The body arrived first, adopted by the Campagnolo groupset three weeks later. I purchased the groupset from Šírer; their communication was wonderful, and Mr. Šírer offered immediate, useful recommendation. Two weeks after that, the wheels lastly arrived. I used to be truly anxious I’d misplaced my cash as a result of that store’s communication was so sluggish.
I needed the lightest wheels doable, so I consulted ChatGPT. It offered hyperlinks to varied wheels with verified weights. I selected Particle 40mm wheels as a result of they supplied the very best steadiness between rim depth and weight. Moreover, they have been one of many few manufacturers providing the N3W driver physique for Campagnolo. The wheels weigh solely 1100g. I thought-about constructing them myself to avoid wasting two-thirds of the price, however I merely didn’t have the time.
I already personal all the mandatory instruments, and each bike in our household runs on Campagnolo. It’s easy and dependable. For comparability, a Campy lever consists of simply 9 easy elements, and you should buy each individually as a spare. If one thing wears out, you spend just a few {dollars} on a small half and hold driving. Their chains and cassettes additionally final for much longer. Switching manufacturers was by no means an choice for me.
I needed to construct the lightest bike doable, and a 1×13 setup is considerably lighter than a 2×13 setup. If Tadej Pogačar can win Milan-San Remo on a 1X setup, it’s a fantastic alternative for me, too.
Different causes embody:
Chain Cross-Chaining: On a 2X system, you possibly can’t effectively use the large-large or small-small gear mixtures anyway.
Redundancy: 2X techniques have many overlapping gear ratios. 1×13 supplies all of the vary I want.
Tire Clearance: The ER:ONE body lists a 32mm most tire width due to entrance derailleur limitations. By eradicating the derailleur, I’ve loads of room for even wider tires.
As soon as I had the principle parts, I spotted I used to be lacking a number of small elements. Because the body lacked brake mounting specs, I needed to order a 160mm-to-140mm adapter for the entrance wheel. I additionally had to purchase an olive press and a hydraulic bleed equipment.
One other shock was that neither the wheels nor the rotors got here with Heart Lock lockrings. I visited just a few native outlets to search out them. At one retailer, the mechanic gave me a pair with a smile, figuring out precisely that I’d purchased my elements from China.
I nonetheless want to drag the fork and insert foam dampening sleeves (Miralon) over the hydraulic hoses contained in the down tube. The rattling noise is horrible. Additionally, primarily based on my first rides on steep climbs, I’d swap the 11-36 cassette for a 10-32. I’ve one prepared and plan to check it quickly.
Fast Professional ER:ONE Experience Impressions
The primary trip had a basic “WOW” impact. The mix of the body and the carbon-spoked wheels creates an extremely stiff setup. It felt like the huge leap I skilled years in the past, shifting from my previous Favorit to the Šírer. The trip high quality is superb; the bike reacts immediately to energy, taking pictures ahead the second I step on the pedals.
The stiffness is brutal in one of the best ways doable. Each watt goes straight into pace. The geometry permits for a really aggressive, aerodynamic place. On the Šírer, I couldn’t keep within the drops for lengthy, however on the ER:ONE, I can preserve an aero tuck comfortably. On an 11.4km headwind section, the distinction was placing. Over a 40km trip, I used to be 3 minutes quicker with the identical energy output.
By way of dealing with, the bike isn’t as “twitchy” because the Šírer. Whereas the Šírer would flip on the slightest contact, the ER:ONE’s large aero fork makes the steering really feel a bit stiffer. Evaluations talked about this, and you’ll mitigate it by selecting a narrower fork choice when shopping for the body. One trade-off for the aero design is crosswinds. On the Šírer, I barely seen gusts, however on this bike, you possibly can actually really feel the wind pushing towards the body and wheels.
Transferring from rim brakes to hydraulic discs has been a fantastic expertise. The Campagnolo system is extremely delicate and clean. The modulation is ideal; you get nice stopping energy with out feeling such as you’re going to flip over the handlebars.
Total, I’m very pleased with the bike. It’s stiff, quick within the wind, and a pleasure to trip. For my way of life, driving about 7,000 km a yr for enjoyable moderately than racing, it’s completely excellent. I might positively advocate this frameset. Whereas I don’t have expertise with different trendy aero frames to match if there’s a greater worth on the market, this construct appears like a winner. It isn’t a “fail” in any respect; it’s a high-performance machine that makes driving a blast.
Jan’s Verdict
Jan, how do you charge ER:ONE? Are you happy with it?
In the end, I’m thrilled with the Fast Professional ER:ONE. After years of driving basic and aluminum frames, this construct appears like a large leap into the longer term. It’s a specialised racing machine that’s brutally stiff and unapologetically quick, but it maintains sufficient consolation for my 7,000 km of annual pastime driving.
Whereas the DIY meeting had just a few minor hurdles, similar to the dearth of center-lock rings and the necessity for inside cable damping, the performance-to-price ratio is unbeatable. I efficiently constructed a sub-7kg, aero-optimized dream bike with my favourite Campagnolo parts for a fraction of what a big-name European or US model would cost. For anybody prepared to perform a little analysis and their very own mechanical work, this body is price your consideration.
