Time Alpe d'Huez X Frameset

The Time Alpe d'Huez X Frameset is a road frameset built for conditions that conventional road geometry has always negotiated poorly. Named after one of the most iconic climbs in professional cycling, the Alpe d'Huez X takes TIME's core road frame construction — Braided Carbon Structure, Dyneema reinforcement, Resin Transfer Molding — and expands the package for wider tires, rougher surfaces, and mixed-condition riding. This is not a gravel conversion or a compromise platform. It shares the same premium carbon layup as TIME's Alpe d'Huez Disc and accommodates up to 700×38c tires from a frame that still handles and rides like a TIME road bike.

The BCS (Braided Carbon Structure) at the core of this frameset integrates Dyneema fibers into the carbon layup. Dyneema's strength-to-weight ratio is exceptionally high, and TIME uses it to improve both impact resistance and vibration damping within the carbon structure without adding meaningful mass. Resin Transfer Molding processes the fiber preform under controlled pressure, ensuring consistent resin distribution and precise fiber orientation throughout the frame. The dropouts are forged carbon. This construction package is shared with the Alpe d'Huez Disc — the specification hasn't been stepped down to reach the X's price point. The difference is geometry and tire clearance, not material grade.

TIME redesigned the chainstay specifically to create volume for wider tires, and the result is meaningful: the frame accepts 700×28–38c road tires on slick or file-tread rubber, and 700×32–35c with low-profile knobs for mixed surfaces. The optimized range sits at 32–35c, where lower pressures become practical and rolling resistance on imperfect asphalt drops noticeably compared to 28c setups. Geometry follows the tire spec: a longer wheelbase, head tube angles that range from 70.5° at XS to 73° at XL, and a 74mm BB drop that lowers the center of gravity compared to a pure road setup. Chainstay length holds at 418mm across all five sizes. The frame tracks predictably with wider rubber mounted — the geometry was designed around the tires, not adapted to them.

The Alpe d'Huez X runs flat-mount disc brakes with 12×100mm front and 12×142mm rear spacing, accepting 140mm and 160mm rotors. The PF BB386 shell covers a wide range of crankset options. The tapered fork steerer (1-1/8" to 1-1/2") with internal routing compression ring supports both semi-integrated and fully-integrated cockpits. Drivetrain compatibility spans electronic and mechanical groupsets; the included single cover and drivetrain conversion kit handles 1x or 2x configurations without additional hardware. The 27.2mm seatpost diameter is a deliberate choice — slimmer than most current road frames, it adds vertical compliance at the post without requiring a dedicated flex seatpost.

The frameset includes thru-axles, alloy bottle bolts, integrated seatpost clamp, front and rear derailleur hangers, and a headset compatible with semi- and fully-integrated cockpit setups. Five colorways are available: Gloss Carbon, Brilliant Silver, Carbon Shift Cyan, Carbon Shift Green, and Carbon Shift Magenta. Sizes run XS through XL. The Alpe d'Huez X is the right frame for riders who plan routes that cross rough chip-seal, connect short gravel sections, or cover the kind of roads that look fine on a map and feel otherwise under 25c tires. The BCS carbon ensures the ride quality is unmistakably TIME. The tire clearance ensures the route isn't the limiting factor.