OK what about the componentry? Featuring a range of own brand detail such as bar, seat, hubs and then paired with SRAM gears, brakes and dampers, the Straitline is pretty much ready to go. A lot is talked about upgrading with the lower price bikes, and yes a lighter wheelset and better fork will offer more pace and control, but don’t for one minute think that by doing so you’ll advance twenty seconds on a two minute run… because you wont. Even if you spend three grand more your performance wont be getting that far ahead.
On paper the Straitline has good numbers. In terms of wheelbase this bike is longer than both the Trek Sesison and Specialized Demo 8, but the angles are not really that dissimilar being in between a Session and Demo on the chainstay numbers for example. However the bike feels cramped for some reason and there’s definitely weight transfer to deal with when dropping into steep sections or climbing over the bar to drive down a straight. There’s a similar sensation on many production bikes at the minute and there’s certainly a trick being missed in there when it comes to balancing the numbers up. The Straitline would benefit from a slightly longer downtube.
What stands out for me on the Bergamont Straitline is the build 
quality and sturdiness. If the bike came out of the horrors that Ieuan the test rider managed to put it through then it’s deserving of a place in history. More than this, the bike has stood well through many months of brutalizing and come out smiling.
The overall appearance of the bike is balanced and there’s certainly some love gone into the graphics. Pink and blue might not be for everyone, but more importantly it appears to have worn well.
VERDICTWell worth every penny, competitive on many levels, with excellent reliability.
Price: €1999
