Fuji Bicycles

Altamira 2.5 Shimano 105 10sp Complete Bike - 2014

In a sport whose penchant for specialized equipment is such that riders have gone beyond just using different bikes for different stages of a race to switching bikes for different gear ratios over the course of a single day's racing, Fuji's Altamira 2.5 Shimano 105 10sp Complete Bike is a refreshingly versatile machine. It's frame is pure racing, laid up according to the same geometry that saw Geox-TMC's Cobo carry home a Vuelta title, but the mix of Shimano 105 and Oval components puts it in reach of the aspiring, self-sponsored racer or serious recreational cyclist. From all-day sportives to competitive hill climbs and beyond, the Altamira 2.5 is Fuji's answer to the cyclist who wants it all.

The bike's drive spine comprises an exaggerated head tube junction, a tapered steerer, an oversized down tube, a generous PressFit 86 bottom bracket, and chainstays that swell to heroic proportions as they approach the crank. We've recently seen bigger tube sizes, but Fuji seems to have hit the sweet spot of virtually eliminating any feelings of a wagging bottom bracket or a mushy front end without tipping into the realm of unnecessary caricature. The Altamira is laid-up to meet certain ride quality characteristics, so it actually plays the part of a throw-down race bike that jumps the hole shot and tracks through sweeping descents instead of just trying to look like one.

As the tubes approach the seat juncture and rear axle, the beefy focus on stiffness gives way to road noise-absorbing comfort, with the usual flattened seatstays and top tube making an appearance. To be clear, "usual" isn't a knock on Fuji for being un-innovative, nor is it a suggestion that the Japanese firm phoned it in by not opting for arched tubes with wavy profiles. Instead, it's an acknowledgment that these shapes appear where they do because they dissipate road noise and help to smooth the bumps — a definite plus considering that, though its build kit means it's a touch heavier than the top end Altamira, the 2.5 is still built from stiff, unyielding, high-modulus carbon fiber.