Pros
- Fast
- Agile
- Lightweight
- Well priced
Cons
- Not much to say!
Price as reviewed:
£2,999.00
The Cube Agree C:62 SL is the surprise bike of 2018 and offers all the comforts and stability of an endurance bike with a super speeding agile ride feel that other endurance style bikes just can’t match. The bikes quality feel and what was on offer for the price blew me away, a great Editor’s Choice find.
Disc brakes dominate the endurance bike market, so for those people who prefer the old-fashioned way of stopping it’s nice to see that the Cube Agree C:62 SL still comes as a rim-brake option.
However, if you want to follow the trend of disc brake bikes then Cube does offer the Agree C:62 SL with discs too, so it has all bases covered.
This is one of many endurance-style bikes from the global German brand, but there is nothing to suggest that Cube regards the Agree C:62 SL as an all day, slowly-does-it, relaxed machine. In fact, it has some aero trinkets that would put some racing bikes to shame.
Aero style rear end is compliant also
Details like the integrated seat clamp paired with a dropped rear stay, CLS Evo fork and tuned down tube help airflow according to Cube, while a tapered head tube, beefy BB shell with a Pressfit bottom bracket should help cornering and out-of-the-saddle bursts.
The CSL Evo Aero fork uses C:62 technology so should be light and stiff. It has been shaped to help aerodynamics and with those direct-mount caliper brakes, which are slightly more aerodynamically efficient than your standard single-bolt dual-pivot brakes, you should be seeing some marginal gains over other endurance framesets.
Cube calls this geometry “race-inspired” and comparing it with geometry from its race-orientated Litening you can see the differences. A longer top tube, head tube and wheelbase allow for a higher front end while a shorter seat tube helps keep the frame compact.
Quality components to go with the great bike
Comfort has been built in via two sections at the rear: Cube has shrunk the width of its carbon seatpost, which it says will help absorb the worst of the road buzz – and it does. Secondly the dropped, slender rear stays add to rear end compliance.
Another bonus of the Cube Agree SL is the price of £2,999: amazingly for this sum you get a full Shimano Ultegra R8050 Di2 groupset, which sets this bike apart from many at this price point, especially with such a good-quality frame. It comes with the classic endurance gear ratios of 50/34 and 11-28, which should get you up anything.
For an endurance bike I’ve been thrilled by the Cube Agree C:62 SL. It has sharp handling and feels nimble despite being slightly higher at the front. Riding in Devon for part of my testing it was a delight on the undulating terrain of that part of the world.
Direct mount brakes are a very welcome addition
Kicking up the sharp hills it responded very well and, despite claiming to be an all-day comfort machine, the Cube Agree C:62 SL raced hard when I wanted to kick it. Cube has got the layup right to ensure a good level of compliance at the rear, also helped by the geometry of the dropped rear stays.
For its £2,999 price tag I would say it’s worth every penny. In summary, great job Cube!
Verdict
The Cube Agree C:62 SL isn't the most glamorous bike on the market, I must admit, but it is for sure one of the best endurance-style bikes out there. It is fast, agile and comfortable – what more could you want?
Details
Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 RD8050
Wheels: Fulcrum Racing 44 Aero, QR/QR
Bar: Newmen Advanced Wing Bar, Carbon
Seatpost: Newmen Advanced, 27.2mm, Carbon
Saddle: Selle Royal Asphalt
Weight: 7.4kg
Sizes: 50, 53, 56, 58, 60, 62
Contact: www.cube.eu
