Diamondback is not a name we automatically associate with performance road bikes – at least not yet. And Diamondback is working hard to make that “yet” come sooner than you think. In 2014, the Optum Pro Cycling (UCI Continental) team started racing on Diamondback Podiums for road races and were incredibly successful with 10 wins and 22 podiums. But when it came to time trials, it wasn’t hard to notice that the team members’ bikes didn’t quite look like any Diamondback you’d see on showroom floors. In fact, they actually looked more like another frame from parent company, Accell Group. For 2015, however, team members will ride a true Diamondback; one designed to compete against the best bikes in the world – The Serios.
When designing the Serios, Diamondback knew they had to set their sights high, and the targets were Trek’s Speed Concept and Cervelo’s P5. Diamondback claims that at 15 degrees yaw, the Serios is up to 33% faster than the competition. That’s a pretty serious statement that we look forward to seeing backed up via independent testing.
To get these performance numbers, Diamondback started under a basic premise – thinner is faster. The initial design goal was to develop the skinniest frame on the market. But initial testing showed that in certain locations, increasing the width of the tubes (instead of decreasing) showed significant performance improvements. Thus, the final frame ended up being a bit thicker than other frames we we’re accustomed to.
The Serios will be offered in three complete models ranging from $3,000 to $8,000, as well as a frameset (fork, headset, brakes, HED Corsair handlebar, stem and seatpost) for $4,000. At the high end is the Serios AF model, spec’d with a Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical, HED Jet 6 Plus front, HED Jet 9 Plus rear wheels, HED Corsair handlebar, and HED Corsair integrated brake levers for $8,000. Next up is the Serios F with Ultegra Di2 6870, HED Jet 6 Express up front, and HED Jet 5 Express at the rear. The entry-level Serios S gets Shimano 105 with a Vision Trimax basebar and Trimax Pro Aero clip-ons for $3,000.
Unfortunately that’s all the information we have so far on the Serios for now. Stay tuned after Kona for a deeper look at the new bike, including both the TT and tri configurations.