TIME Reprises Its Fluidity Endurance Bike

For years, the Fluidity has been conspicuously absent from TIME’s lineup of bikes, a favorite amongst endurance riders who viewed all-day comfort for Grand Fondo and mass-start events as paramount. Well, adherents of the iconic French brand lament no longer, as TIME has decided to reprise the Fluidity with all of the trappings of a modern-day all-roader.

“Completely redeveloped to meet the demands of the modern performance endurance cyclist. The Fluidity is the definitive expression of everything this category should be: fast, precise, responsive, and comfortable to perform over any distance. When we say comfort, we mean fit. Fluidity’s endurance geometry places the rider in a more upright position compared to a pure race bike – shoulders back, breathing freely, sustainable over 200-kilometer days. This is not a softer ride. It is a more relaxed position. The performance characteristics are equal to those of the Alpe d’Huez, but the difference is how you feel after four hours. The legendary endurance road bike born in the heart of Europe – to be ridden wherever the road takes you,” says TIME.

Unlike many so-called endurance bikes that rely on integrated suspension systems, elastomers, pivots and compliance inserts to chase a comfort, the Fluidity takes the same approach to construction as every other TIME bike, utilizing the company’s intrique Dyneema enhanced Braided Carbon Structure fabrication process to extract the optimal blend of rigidity and compliance to deliver measurably lower rolling resistance, superior vibration absorption and increased stability on fast descents and rough road surfaces. To achieve this, TIME revamped every tube profile and shape of the Fluidity to ensure an ideal stiffness-to-weight ratio.

“Dyneema is not a new experiment for TIME– it is an established part of how we build. For Fluidity, the properties of Dyneema are exceptionally well aligned with what a performance endurance cyclist needs from a bicycle. The ability to incorporate Dyneema effectively into a road bicycle frameset is not available to most carbon bike manufacturers. Most brands build with pre-preg carbon fiber, a process that makes integrating Dyneema extremely difficult without compromising structural integrity or adding significant weight. TIME’s Braided Carbon Structure (BCM) is different. Our process allows Dyneema fiber to be woven naturally and precisely into the layup – delivering its full performance benefits without compromise,” points out TIME.

Equally important, when it came to geometry, TIME once again chose all the right angles for the new Fluidity, carefully dialling in the requisite amount of stack, reach and overall cockpit parameters for the comfort-oriented rider.

Not surprisingly, clearance is also up on the Fluidity, which can accommodate tires up to a hefty 40mm, availing it for light gravel duties as well.

“The single most requested feature from TIME’s endurance road customers was stack. Cyclists want integrated cockpits, but are unable to get them high enough for comfort on traditional race geometry – forced into a fit that hurts rather than helps. The Fluidity solves this definitively. This geometry positions the rider with a greater torso angle – more upright, shoulders back, chest open. The result is a rider who can sustain power output over a full day, breathe freely on long climbs, and descend with confidence from a stable, powerful position. Crucially, this is not done at the cost of handling. The Fluidity’s geometry is tuned for precision and confidence and not the vague, wallowing feel of a purely comfort-oriented bike,” explains TIME.

Additionally, integration also played an important role when developing the Fluidity, which features an FSA Integrated headset that’s compatible with most semi-integrated or fully integrated handlebar and stem configurations, as well as compatibility with the latest electronic 1x and 2x drivetrains.

The Fluidity is available as a frameset only for $3,999.99, or as a complete bike, with builds that span Shimano and SRAM groupsets starting at $6,499.99.

TIME