Verenti Rhigos.03 Review

Reviewer: Mike Hawkins

16-Nov-2010 | 3 Reviews

Rating:

£1,400.00 (at time of review)

Pros

Stiff frame
Great component selection

Cons

Head-tube length may not suit everyone

See verdict and spec

Verenti's first carbon bike, the Rhigos.03, is squarely aimed at the sportive market

Verenti's first carbon bike, the Rhigos.03, is squarely aimed at the sportive market. So is it the sort of machine to whose handlebar the aspiring sportiviste will eagerly zip-tie their laminated number?

Price-wise the Rhigos.03 sits right in the middle of the Verenti range. Below it are the alloy-based Millook and Kilmeston and above it, the platform-sharing .02 and .01 Rhigos.

To keep life simple, Verenti bikes use SRAM groupsets exclusively and the .03 is based around the Rival family (third from the top), but with a few key changes to help it hit the price point. A compact Truvativ Elita crank and own-brand Verenti Me2 brake calipers are the most noteworthy. The brakes match nicely with the other Verenti products - namely the Me3 stem, bars and saddle.

Mavic Aksium wheels complete the ensemble with Vittoria Diamante ProTech tyres, which show that corners haven't been cut.

From the first look the Rhigos looks muscular and well built, thanks to the oversize tubes, but with a nod to the past as the tubes are joined with lugs. This style of manufacture allows Verenti to offer six sizes without a sky-high price.

It's when you hit the corners hard that you discover just where Verenti's designers have spent a lot of their time and effort. With the diameter of the head tube it's not a surprise that the Rhigos's front end is stiff, but that fact gets away from the subtle feel it can impart.

There is plenty of information coming through, which allows you to really get the most out of the corners, and it does this without giving a harsh ride - impressive stuff. At the same time the rear end is stiff, which is good for drive, but I'd like to see a little more comfort built in for our ever-deteriorating British roads.

It's worth checking the head tube length suits as it's one of the longest we've seen, but due to the subtle design this is easy to miss.

Verdict

With the Rhigos.03, Verenti has come up with a great handling, very affordable, lugged carbon, sportive machine; a great opening gambit in its bid to become a major player in the sportive market.

Full specification

Frame

Full HM 3K SL carbon frame

Group Set

SRAM Rival

Size Range

XS to XXL

Size Tested

Weight

17.6lb

Supplier

www.verentibikes.com

User reviews

Add your review

pete coomber

December 20 18:21

My first carbon bike has not disappointed. The rhigos 03 is light in weight but no lightweight with an excellent geometry. The Sram shifters take a bit of getting used to with opposite shifting, but that is Sram. The wheels are deceptively strong as proved when forced into a series of large potholes by a vision impaired motorist. The brakes are of the caliper type and very efficient. With eyecatching well designed artwork the Rhigos is also easy on the eye. Ride postion is a little high for some but suits me fine. General handling and roadholding is faultless. Would I buy anotherone. Not arf. pete

Tee Eff

December 30 22:59

Actually purchased the Rhigos 04 from Wiggle. After discounts, refunds and freebies I actually paid £525.00 for it, eventhough it retails at upto £1350.00. Great bike all round, Pro Lite wheels a bit heavy, but for a non-competitive cyclist such as myself, in no rush to upgrade. Recommend to all .... great build quality, nice looking and fully loaded for the dough.

CycleLove

November 19 14:41

This was also my first carbon bike and saw me through my first Sportive (the Etape Caledonia) very nicely... in fact I was in the top 300 for the KOM stage which really put a smile on my face. It feels nippy as hell compared to my steel road bike, the compact setup makes it really comfortable on longer rides, and the black/red/white colour combo is a head turner as well.