Rose cycles

[trichens]

Has anyone here got (or is familiar with) a Rose trekking cycle?
We've had the new English language catalogue delivered yesterday and we have been planning to buy a pair if bikes for a long trem tour of initially Europe and then maybe further east.
We've been looking at the normal contenders (Thorn, Santos, Koga) but the Rose bikes look to be very good value and have pretty good level of accessories, and the road bikes seem to get good reviews.
Only real problem is that they have no UK showroom or dealers as they are only mail order.
I'd really like to get some idea of what they are like before we spend our £4500 budget, without having to go to Germany to the their "Biketown" showroom.

 

[vernon]

I too have had the Rose catalogue delivered. This might be the first time it has been published in English as previous versions were in German.

I saw a lot of Rose bikes in the wild as I cycled along the Danube last summer. Visually they resemble Santos bikes.

In terms of quality - most of the components are good quality.

I think that they are a well put together package for an off the shelf bike.

 

[Camrider]

The Rohlhoff equipped Activa Pro II looks a nice bike and fully equipped to go, but like you I would want to test ride one before purchase and Bocholt is not the easiest place to get to.

Apart from that the only other downside I can see is lack of customisation so the 1st thing I would need to do if I bought one of these would be to change the seat post, cranks and chain ring.

 

[trichens]

Well.... Bocholt is actually perhaps not too bad to get to, at least for us.
We're in East Yorkshire so we can get a Hull to Rotterdam ferry then according to Google we're looking at roughly a 120 mile cycle ride each way, so although OH would baulk at 60 miles day (not done much more than 10 miles in one go before) we could do this as a week's holiday?
I'm guessing that a large percentage of the riding is likely to be on the "legendary" Dutch cycle paths, but I'd have to check of course.
Just need a few clothes and a credit card for B&B accommodation.
Test and order the bikes and get them shipped home as per mail order.
We might even be able to do some spec customisation if we actually turn up in person?

 

[robgul]

I believe that Rose will customise any of the bikes they sell ... they have a presence in the UK now (although I think that's just an office or "trans-shipping" warehouse) - worth a phone call.

The Rose bikes all seem pretty good to me from what I've seen of them being ridden in Germany

Rob

 

[willem]

They are very competitively priced, but not in the same league as e.g Thorn or Santos. Many of their bikes have undesirable features like front suspension, integrated headsets, or Hollowtech II cranks with external bearings. Their wheels do not have the same reputation as handbuilt Thorn or Santos wheels. Of German offerings, Fahrradmanufaktur are much better.
Willem

 

[Camrider]

I went through this process last year but was not aware of Rose bikes so my choice was between a Santos or Thorn. Both very nice bikes but in the end went for a Thorn Raven Sports Tour. What swung it for me was the fact that I could have a 165mm crank fitted without having to fork out for an expensive upgrade, and that for 100 days I could get all of my money back if it turned out to be an expensive mistake (sometimes a short test ride is not enough).