Cycling Weekly — December 07, 2017

Bike test

Tested by: Simon Smythe | Miles ridden: 273 |

Size tested: L | Weight 7.15kg

NeilPryde Nazaré

SL £4,800

he Nazaré is the
aero frame from the
Scottish-based bike
division of the Hong Kong
brand that started out making
windsurfi ng equipment. So
although the Nazaré intends
to cheat rather than harness
the wind, designing an aero
bike represents a return to its
roots of sorts for NeilPryde.

Frame

The regular Nazaré has

a frame weight of 1,100g

whereas NeilPryde clams

940g for the Nazaré SL in a

size L, the one we have

on test. The SL uses

C6.9 Toray UD high-

modulus carbon-fi bre,

which is 18 per cent

stiffer for the same

weight than the

C6.7 used for the

standard Nazaré

— meaning less

material can be

used for the SL.

However,

as well as low

weight, the

Nazaré SL offers

a low coeffi cient

of drag — all the

tubes have teardrop

profi les to make

it as aerodynamic

as possible. There are

dropped seatstays to reduce

frontal area and the rear

wheel is shrouded by an

oversized BB86 shell and

seat tube cut-out. In addition,

NeilPryde specifi es a one-

piece NP Aeroblade bar and

stem. The stem, which has a

lower rise than most non-

integrated models, requires its

own teardrop-shaped spacers

which cannot be stacked

above it: if you want to lower

your bar height you have to

cut the steerer.

On our test model, the

underside of the bottom

spacer skimmed the top tube

and took at patch of lacquer

off. NeilPryde said this could

be a paint thickness issue.

The internal cable routing

is relatively traditional for

an aero bike: the front end is

not as clean as that of some

disc/Di2 aero bikes that route

cables and hoses completely

internally, but it’s certainly

easier to work on.

Specifi cation

This is the top-spec Nazaré

SL — NeilPryde does not offer

an electronic version, though

it does sell the Nazaré as a

frameset that is Di2 ready

with the battery mount in

the seatpost. However, the

latest mechanical Dura-Ace

is phenomenal: lightning fast

with accurate shifting from

both front and rear mechs.

The Dura-Ace direct mount

brakes are great in theory,

offering extra power thanks to

each half of the caliper having

its own pivot point, but paired

A

B

C

D

E

H

F

G

SIZE TESTED: L

ABCD E F G H

56cm73 ̊73 ̊16cm 38.8cm 40.5cm 56.4cm 98.5cm

Distributor http://www.neilprydebikes.com

Frame C6.9 carbon

Fork C6.9 carbon

Size range XS, S, M, L, XL

Size tested L

Weight 7.15kg

Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace 9100

Gear ratios 55/42, 11-28

Wheels Fulcrum Racing Quattro CF

Tyres Schwalbe One 25c

Stem NP Aeroblade

Bar NP Aeroblade

Seatpost NP Aeroblade

Saddle Fizik Arione

NeilPryde Nazaré SL

£4,800

Ride ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 9/10

Value ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 8/10

Specification■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 9/10

Frame ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 9/10

36 | December 7, 2017 | Cycling Weekly