Bikes & Set Ups: Timo Rokitta
Posted By Kristen Legan
On 9 March 2020
“Would you be interested in featuring my new Moots gravel bike” said the email from Timo Rokitta, with an image of gravel bike heaven attached. Obviously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and everyone has their own preference, whether its for carbon fibre or steel or aluminium etc. but as soon as we saw the image some of Timo’s Moots, some of the Gravel Union staff were instantly doing some mental arithmetic to work out what they would need to sell in order to afford to buy one….
Link to Website
Rider:
Timo Rokitta
Location:
Worms / Germany
Bike:
Moots Routt RSL
Size:
54cm
Drivetrain:
Shimano GRX Di2
Brakes:
Shimano GRX
Wheels:
DT Swiss ERC 1100 DICUT
Tyres:
WTB Byway 700 x 40
Saddle:
Ritchey
Your favourite part?
the Moots RSL Frame
What is next?
Riding, riding, riding (Jeroboam300, Blackforest Gravel Rallye, Nibelungen Gravelride, Ruta de la Plata etc…)
Tell us about your bike/build?
After a serious cycling accident in 2019, the doctor implanted 4 titanium screws into my elbow. In my opinion, this was a ‘sign’ and I started to be interested in titanium frames afterwards. During our “Friday Night Gravel Rides” in Heidelberg I saw the beautiful Moots titan frames in the “Cafe Fahrstil”.
There are a lot of titanium bike makers and then there’s Moots. Known for fine craftsmanship, the Colorado based brand has been producing two wheeled jewels since 1981. The company is known for building the finest quality titanium road, mountain, cross frames, and select components from its facility in the Rocky Mountains. Moots bikes are enjoyed by cycling enthusiasts for their unsurpassed ride quality.
My Moots Routt RSL runs with a Shimano GRX Di2 group with components from Rotor, Ritchey and DT Swiss. The electronic Shimano GRX Di2 group works accurately and can match the shifting speed of the Dura-Ace Di2. Thanks to the 38 tooth cranks and an 11–42 Shimano-cassette I´ll be able to climb any sort of mountain without a problem, while enjoying the excellent feel of the hydraulic shifters. The Shimano GRX levers has made big steps forward in terms of ergonomics. Braking performance is perfect with the 140 mm rotor - I don’t need a bigger rotor.
This bike is made for gravel-events and for gravel-racers who like to hear the rumble of crushed rocks under their tires. The head tube on the Routt RSL is tapered for increased stiffness - providing better control and more precise handling, particularly over rough gravel.
The Routt RSL is extremely stable and confidence inspiring at high speed, low speeds and cornering. On the trail, the bike is precise and very easy to handle while offering good amounts of grip. The 40 mm WTB Byway tires match the DT Swiss wheels nicely. With my 70 kg I found an air pressure of 3 bar (43psi) at the front and 3.2 bar (46psi) at the rear to be the ideal compromise for optimal acceleration, traction, and comfort on all ways.
Now I'm looking positively ahead to hopefully many gravel events in 2020 and later.
