Redline made a few subtle changes to its widely successful carbon Conquest Pro and Team frames for 2014, and the biggest news is that the company will be offering the option for either 130mm or 135mm rear spacing through a neat interchangeable dropout that the company is calling MSD (Multi Space Design).
The Redline Conquest Pro carbon disc brake cyclocross bike now features MSD dropouts to accommodate 130 and 135mm rear wheel spacing. © Cyclocross Magazine
When the company initially launched its disc brake-compatible frame for the 2012 model year, it smartly decided on 130mm rear spacing since the complete models came with rim brakes, racers needed to use existing race wheels and the jury was still out on rear spacing for discs.
Now that the dust has settled, 135mm is the clear disc standard, and the company has adapted, inventing a new interchangeable dropout design that both allows 130mm and 135mm rear hub spacing and also repositions the rear derailleur for optimal shifting for the appropriate rear wheel. It’s not an entirely new concept, as we saw BH Bike’s Carbon RX Team frameset at Dealer Camp 2012 with different dropout inserts to accommodate both 130mm and 135mm rear wheels, but Redline takes it a step further by repositioning the rear derailleur.
The 2014 Conquest Pro comes without cantilever posts, Shimano 105 componentry, an FSA Gossamer PF30 crankset, and Novatec’s new tubeless compatible CXD wheelset that features a tubeless compatible 23.5mm wide rim. The frame now features Di2 drillings, and the MSD dropouts. The MSRP is expected to be $2899.
The 2014 Redline Conquest Pro carbon disc brake cyclocross bike. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Conquest Team will come as a complete bike with Ultegra Di2 and cantilever brakes, but also will be offered as a frameset only, with your choice of canti or disc brake carbon Redline cyclocross forks. The frame will feature rear cantilever post drillings, which can be plugged or left empty if you’re running discs. Compare the 2014 Redlines with Redline’s 2013 cyclocross bikes in our cyclocross bike directory.
The Conquest Team frameset is expected to retail at $1495 and 1090g in a 54cm, with the fork weighing 480g uncut.
2014 Redline Conquest Pro and Team Carbon Cyclocross Bike Photo Gallery:
