Cinelli King Zydeco

£2749

SMART DESIGN

The King Zydeco keeps Cinelli’s famed sharp design, bright colours and bold liveries alive. It’s clever, too, with its dual-response design. If you draw a line from the head tube down to the rear dropout, everything below that line is built stiff to ensure pedalling efficiency and optimal power transfer. Everything above this line is designed to offer compliance and increase rider comfort. A bonded section of Kevlar on its down tube and under the bottom bracket protect the carbon from stone strikes and dropped stays ensure chainline and max tyre clearance, meaning 47c in 700c to a massive 2.1in in 650b.

FORK OFF SET

The (Columbus Futura) fork has adjustable dropouts, switching from 47mm to 52mm offset, so you can tune the handling. The build is all basic alloy: Cinelli VAI bar, stem and post, and Cinelli Monza saddle. The cockpit is a road bar/stem. It's nicely shaped with ovalised tops and a mid-compact drop. The drivetrain is all Shimano – GRX 810 1x chainset, 600 levers, 400 brakes, a long cage mech and a wide (SLX) 11-42 cassette. Standard steel rotors work well off-road and stayed noise free.

STIFF & LIGHT

It’s at the speedy end of gravel off-road and its position is aggressive with a low 599mm stack and 400mm reach (XL). The Smart Sam tyres impressed in winter conditions with the block tread offering secure bite. The Vision Team 30 wheels are built strong and recommended for gravel and cross duties, which means they aren’t light at a claimed 1900g. Add big tyres and tubes and it all contributes to the sluggish-on-tarmac feel. Nevertheless, the King Zydeco has a lot going for it.

ONE THING WE’D CHANGE BAR & POST

The ride is firmer than we expected even with big tyres so an upgrade to the bar and seatpost wouldn’t go amiss.