Road testing the Podium 7 on the hills of Park City, Utah.
Words by Brice Minnigh
Photos by Anthony Smith
Diamondback Bicycles has officially unveiled its much-anticipated carbon road bike, the Podium—a lightweight, stiff and responsive race weapon the company has invested a tremendous amount of time and effort to develop.
The Podium—which was formally introduced on the heels of an action-packed mountain-bike launch over the weekend in Park City, Utah—was designed to blend race performance and riding comfort in a durable and functional platform.
Given the optimal weather and magnificent Park City backdrop, the crew of journalists, engineers and Diamondback staff on hand for the launch were compelled to take the candy-red Podium out for a ride in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains.
On a 42-mile ride that encompassed over 3,000 feet of elevation gain, the Podium felt both balanced and stiff—traits that made it feel extremely responsive on the climbs while remaining nimble and maneuverable on the descents. The stiffness of the full-carbon frame—particularly in the bottom bracket—made power transfer instantaneous on the ascents. This was especially noticeable while riding hard out of the saddle on steeper climbs.
The Podium’s carbon frame was designed by Kevin Quan, who previously worked for several years as a designer for Cervelo. Quan said his vision for the Podium was to create a bike with both aggressive race characteristics and stable handling traits.
The new bike will be available in an array of parts specs, ranging from Campagnolo Super Record or SRAM Red components on the high-end Podium 7 model to Shimano 105 componentry on the more affordable Podium 5.
Look for more details on the Podium in future www.pavedmag.com reports, but for now here are some images from Monday’s presentation and ride.
Sweeter than a candied apple, this Podium 7 comes equipped with Campagnolo Super Record components and will have a price tag of around $8,500.
Sleek, stylish lines enhance the Podium 7’s solid utilitarian design.
The headtube and fork seamlessly flow together with impressive symmetry.
The press-fit BB30 further enhances the Podium 7’s stiffness.
The Podium 7 sports sensible internal cable routing throughout the frame.
Getting ready for a short tour of the Wasatch foothills.
If you’re wondering whether the Utah heat was formidable, just ask the Diamondback peloton.
The manageable grades of many roads around Park City make it an idyllic riding destination.
We were given fair warning on this extended climb.
The fluffy feather pillows above our heads kept our minds off the 3,000-plus feet of climbing.
We stuck together on the slow and steady ascent back into Park City.
The Podium 7s in the mirror are closer than they appear.
We definitely didn’t break the speed limit on this climb.
Diamondback mountain-bike pro Eric Porter shows his trail fitness can also translate easily to the road.
After a couple of hours on the road, Park City’s ski resorts are almost back in sight.
Roads like this one meander around all sides of Park City.
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