Bike we like: Whyte Wessex

WHAT IS IT?

‘This isn’t a gravel bike or a cyclocross bike just because it has disc brakes,’ Whyte’s Chief Designer Ian Alexander told us when we joined him in the Cotswolds for a test ride of the new Whyte Wessex.

‘The Wessex is a 21st-century British road bike built with utility and winter riding in mind.’

Unlike many other bike brands, it’s also built specifically to be ridden in the UK’s particular weather conditions rather than designed for multiple climates and the international market.

The mudguard system, for example, intentionally covers the wheels fully, to combat the amount of surface water we get on roads in this country.

DOESN’T WHYTE MAKE MOUNTAIN BIKES?

That’s certainly where the firm started out, but over the years it’s shifted its focus increasingly to road bikes with remarkable success.

The Whyte Dorset, for example, won BikesEtc's best-value bike of the year award in 2015.

In our experience, the firm's MTB know-how gives it an interesting edge over more traditional road-bike manufacturers and the Wessex is no exception.

It’s crammed full of the latest tech from hydraulic disc brakes through to tubeless-ready rims.

AH, THOSE FANCY WHEELS. TELL US ABOUT THEM

Here’s Alexander’s take on them:

‘Originally, the Wessex was going to have 25c tubeless on 17mm internal width rims but halfway through development, Schwalbe offered 30mm tubeless tyres and Easton came out with the AR21 disc rims, with a 21mm internal rim width.

'We realised that combination would give a completely new level of comfort and performance.’

And he’s not kidding. Being tubeless, those tyres can be run at much a lower pressure (we had ours at 70psi) without increasing rolling resistance.

And being tubeless, they won’t suffer from pinch punctures, which again is handy because nobody likes having to fiddle about at the side of the road especially if it’s chucking it down.

COMFORT I GET, BUT HOW DO FAT TYRES IMPROVE PERFORMANCE?

The science behind it shows that because of the low pressure they achieve a much larger contact patch against the road due to the rubber’s deformation under a rider’s weight.

This allows the rider a lot more control, especially when it comes to riding in the rain.

Which is especially useful for winter riding. It keeps rolling resistance to a minimum because with no inner tube, the tyre experiences no internal friction and so no energy loss as the wheel turns and compresses.

AND HOW DID THAT WORK OUT IN PRACTICE?

Perfectly. The comfort was staggering when we took the Wessex down pot-holed roads.

We found it absorbing everything in its path, dulling even the roughest of road vibrations.

‘And because the supple 30mm tyre contact patch is absorbing all the resonance and vibration as well as impacts,’ Alexander told us, ‘we were able to develop a very stiff frameset, too.’

OH YES, THE FRAMESET. TELL US ABOUT THAT... 

'In terms of geometry, it’s quite traditional,’ Alexander revealed before admitting that the Wessex actually has a slightly longer rear than most road bikes – a design lick nicked from mountain bikes.

It certainly showed, too, when we were out on the road. When holding our line through fast sweeping corners and on long descents the bike felt calm and controlled.

The longer wheelbase guided us smoothly through where a more compact ‘race’ bike might have felt more twitchy.

SO IT’S SLOW BUT SURE?

Not at all – in fact, the sheer speed of the bike will take you by surprise. But the Wessex’s true strength lies in its mix of innovation and practicality.

With a premium carbon frame and full-carbon fork, a tapered head tube, thru-axles front and rear, conservative geometry yet big tyres, disc brakes, internal cable routing, concealed mudguard eyelets, and a round seat tube post ‘so people can attach their light as normal,’ this may be a great winter bike, but it’ll also serve you well throughout the rest of the year, too.

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