Bristol’s Engineered Bicycles launches new Blits steel Gran Fondo road bike

Bristol-based Engineered Bicycles has launched its latest model, the Blits, a bike made from Columbus Spirit HSS tubing with a full-length carbon seat tube. It's designed for long distance cycling. 

The new Blits fills a gap in the young company’s range, sitting beside the Donder race bike, Zondag cyclocross model and the Gezel all-road bike. Like those models, the new Blits is available with a full bespoke service, including the geometry, sizing and paint finish. Standard sizing is also available. Frames are handmade in Italy, before being finished in Bristol.

- Review: Engineered Bicycles Gezel

Founder David Fong says the new bike was designed to meet requests from customers asking for a more relaxed and comfortable version of the Donder race bike, along with his own demands of a bike. 

 “I did my first big Gran Fondo last year, the Maratona, and rode it on a Donder race bike," he says. " While tolerable, a more easy-going ride would have been better. We’d also had a few customers asking if we could do a road machine more suited to long rides. Blits is this bike.”  

The Blits is constructed using a Columbus Spirit HSS tubeset and features a full-length carbon fibre seat tube. That’s something we’ve seen before; Italian bike brand Scapin used to be known for this style of carbon and steel fusion.

The pictured bike is David’s own and was built up for the London Bike Show, where it was launched. It’s finished in a Ferrari-inspired paint job and equipped with a Campagnolo Record groupset and Fulcrum Racing Zero wheels. The 57cm size bike weighs a claimed 7.6kg, which is a decent weight for a steel frame, especially one of this size. 

- First Ride: Engineered Bicycles Donder

The extended seat tube can be cut down and a regular 27.2mm seatpost can be fitted. Cables can be internally or externally routed, can it can be compatible with Di2, EPS and even new SRAM eTap. There’s a choice of threaded or pressfit bottom brackets.

The name follows the company’s penchant for picking Dutch and Flemish names, and it’s also a nod to David’s South African roots. He explains: “The name “Blits” translates from Dutch as “lightning” and also “cool” – so compliments our road race machine “Donder” which translates as “thunder” (or, in Afrikaans, to inflict pain). A bit of fun really.”

The Blits is available now and costs £1,950 for the frame and fork, with delivery between 8 and 12 weeks. The pictured bike would cost £5,800 if you wanted the same build.  More at http://engineeredbikes.co.uk/

- 15 of the best steel road bikes