Alpe d'Huez
Origin
TIME is a French frame maker founded in 1987 by Roland Cattin and Jean Beal, who left LOOK to build clipless pedals and, later, some of the most distinctive carbon frames in cycling. TIME's defining trait is that it does not cut and lay pre-preg carbon sheets like most brands: it weaves individual carbon (and Vectran, Kevlar and basalt) threads into 'socks' that are slipped over wax forms and injected with resin under pressure — a Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process that yields voidless, highly consistent frames. After Cattin's death in 2014 and the brand's acquisition by ski giant Rossignol, TIME went quiet. The Alpe d'Huez, launched in 2018, was its first all-new bike in four years and a statement of intent: named — via Rossignol's ties to the legendary Tour de France climb — after the mountain, it was conceived as a pure lightweight climber. The line has since passed through further ownership (Cardinal Cycling Group) and evolved into a disc-only race frame and the wider-tyre all-road ADHX.
Specifications
- Frame
- TIME RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) braided carbon; top-tier 01 uses Vectran/Kevlar in the weave, 21 tier adds ~7% basalt; 2023+ frames add Dyneema fibre
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Frameset sold bare; complete builds offered with Shimano Ultegra/Dura-Ace Di2, SRAM Rival/Force/Red eTap AXS 2x12
- Brakes
- 2018 01/21: rim OR disc option; 2023 refresh and ADHX: disc-only (flat-mount, thru-axle)
- Wheels
- Build-dependent; premium builds spec ENVE (e.g. 3.4) or Time-branded carbon wheels
The verdict
- Exceptionally light and stiff climbing frame with a distinctive, hand-woven RTM carbon build
- Sharp, accurate race handling — confident descender and stable out-of-saddle sprinter
- Boutique exclusivity and finish; unusual materials (Vectran/basalt/Dyneema) give a genuinely different ride feel
- Firm, uncompromising ride — early rim 01/21 in particular are harsh on broken pavement
- Conservative tyre clearance on the road frames (~28 mm max); only the ADHX goes wide
- Very expensive and niche; limited dealer/spares network, especially in the Baltics
Generations
2018 launch (01 / 21, rim+disc)
- Pure climber; two tiers; both rim and disc offered. 01 stiffer/lighter, 21 more affordable and slightly more compliant.
- Frame
- Vectran (01) / basalt (21) woven carbon
- Brakes
- Rim or disc
2023 refresh (Alpe d'Huez Disc)
- Modernised: disc-only, standard round post, DEDA DCR headset, internal routing options, slightly softened race geometry.
- Frame
- Woven carbon + Dyneema (first use)
- Brakes
- Disc-only
ADHX (Alpe d'Huez X, all-road)
- Wider-tyre multi-surface sibling built on the same RTM/Dyneema construction; for mixed and rough roads rather than pure climbing.
- Frame
- BCS woven carbon + Dyneema
- Brakes
- Disc-only
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | Alpe d'Huez 21 | Alpe d'Huez 01 | Alpe d'Huez 01 Ulteam | CurrentAlpe d'Huez Disc (2023 refresh) | CurrentAlpe d'Huez X (ADHX) frameset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Frame | RTM braided carbon (~7% basalt) | RTM braided carbon (Vectran/Kevlar) | RTM braided carbon (Vectran) | RTM braided carbon + Dyneema | BCS braided carbon + Dyneema, RTM |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Ultegra R8000 builds | Ultegra/Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM eTap builds | Dura-Ace Di2 / SRAM Red eTap, ENVE wheels | Shimano/SRAM 12-speed builds | Road/all-road builds (SRAM Force/Rival AXS etc.) |
| Brakes | Rim or disc | Rim or disc | Rim (later disc) | Disc-only (flat-mount) | Disc-only |
| MSRP | €3,200 | €4,600 | €13,500 | €6,000 | €3,800 |
| Purpose | Value | Flagship | Flagship | Flagship | Balanced |
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