Van Dessel Sports continues to shift production of its alloy bikes back to the United States, including its long-standing Hellafaster road racer. This latest iteration – made by Zen Fabrication in Portland, Oregon – carries a premium price tag but the workmanship is superb, with performance to match.
- Highs: Pleasantly direct and communicative feel, sprightly personality, sleek and subtle finish, excellent attention to detail
- Lows: Somewhat expensive
- Buy if: You love the unmistakable personality of bikes made of metal
High-end alloy bikes are unquestionably making a comeback and the Van Dessel Hellafaster is a good example of why that's happening. Although slightly heavier than most carbon frames with an actual weight of 1,250g for a bare 53cm frame (plus 362g for the matching all-carbon fork), the Hellafaster rewards you with a direct and unfiltered road feel that many composite chassis simply can't match. It's communicative without being unduly harsh or buzzy, comfortable without feeling sluggish or squishy, and sufficiently snappy under power while still possessing that elusive sensation of liveliness that often only comes with just the right amount of inbuilt flex.
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It doesn't matter where something is made as much as how it's made – and in this case, the Hellafaster is made very, very well
That flex doesn't overly detract from high-speed handling precision, either. Although there's a touch of wag from the rear end (seemingly from the spindly seatstays), the middle and front end of the bike are reassuringly solid thanks to the oversized main tubes and meaty all-carbon fork. Handling is unabashedly agile with a refreshingly quick turn-in that requires little more than the subtlest flick of the bars when entering a tight corner at speed but yet still with a reasonable amount of stability thanks to the relatively low bottom bracket.
It might be a little too quick and edgy for riders coming off of something geared more toward endurance riding but it's certainly a natural for the criteriums and circuit events that dominate the racing scene in its native US. We did plenty of longer, all-day rides on the Hellafaster and still found it a willing and able partner for more casual outings provided you're not one to let your mind wander while on the move.
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