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Redline's top-end Conquest Team 'cross machine is ready to race straight out of the box(Image credit: Marty Caivano)
The reasonable price tag nonetheless includes a scandium alloy frame and intelligent parts spec that will leave few riders wanting for more(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The double-butted scandium frame isn't as light as we had hoped at 1540g (52cm) but it should be rigid enough for even the strongest riders(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
There's no carbon fibre to be found here - just lots of straight forward aluminium S-bend goodness(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
As promised, the new Redline carbon fork is fantastically stout under braking with virtually no chatter(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Even with 34mm tires there's a reasonable amount of room for mud to pass through the fork crown(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The extruded driveside chainstay yoke leaves gob of room for muck and grime. Fender mounts means the Conquest Team will work well for commuting or foul-weather road riding, too(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The head tube uses conventional headset cups(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Aluminum plate dropouts get the job done with little fuss(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The included Ritchey WCS Protocol wheels aren't technically tubeless-compatible but a couple of layers of Stan's rim tape does the trick nicely(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The stock Hutchinson Bulldog tires provide excellent grip on loose-over-hardpack and grass, drift predictably and provide a cushy ride thanks to the generous 34mm casing(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Top-mount brake levers are fitted as standard equipment for more braking options(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur knocked off reliable shifts and you won't get too upset if you destroy it casing a barrier(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The hollow-forged aluminium Energy crankset is an underappreciated player in the FSA lineup with its competitive weight, stiff construction and very reasonable cost(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Redline fits the arms with 'cross-appropriate 36/46T rings(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The tight-ratio chainrings make chain derailments unlikely but it's nice to see that Redline has included a chain watcher anyway(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
TRP's CR950 cantilevers are one of the top choices on the pro circuit and luckily for you, Redline sees fit to include them on a sub-US$3000 machine(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
We know many pros are switching to traditional-bend bars for 'cross but we just never got used to it. Thankfully they're easily replaced if need be(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The Selle San Marco Aspide saddle and Ritchey WCS seatpost are great choices on the road but the saddle had too many sharp edges and too grippy a top for remounts. The two-bolt seatpost head also had to be torqued very tightly to prevent slipping(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Choosing from among the wealth of capable cyclo-cross bikes is no easy task for those new to the scene. Redline’s top-end
While the frame isn’t the lightest, stiffest or sweetest-riding around,
Add in a set of race wheels and you’ll have few
Ride & handling: stable workhorse that's happiest when ridden hard
Redline intends the Conquest Team as a race bike first and foremost and
Overall stiffness is very good with a firm pedaling platform that
However, the Conquest Team is also
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The extra stiffness certainly pays dividends in terms of predictability,
Chassis: scandium-enhanced frame could be lighter but comes in broad range of sizes
Carbon fibre may have taken over the mid-to-high-end segments of the
The double-butted scandium-enhanced aluminium frame weight of 1540g
Ample mud clearance is provided by S-bend stays and a slim extruded aluminium
Up front, Redline has nixed last year’s Ritchey WCS carbon ‘cross fork
Fitted with a superb mix of race-ready componentry, our complete tester
Equipment: unbeatable component spec save
The frameset may be more workhorse than showhorse but the exceptional
The Ritchey WCS Protocol clincher wheels are light enough at 1600g per pair and wrapped in meaty 34mm-wide Hutchinson Bulldog tubeless-ready
The Ritchey name also graces the WCS seatpost, WCS 4-Axis stem and WCS
Even the contact points are finished in matching white, red and black,
We have nothing but praise for the drivetrain, where Shimano Ultegra
Redline pulls no punches in the braking department, either,
