After spending some time riding the new Aquila Equipe Evo R, I came away genuinely impressed. As someone who currently rides the previous-generation Equipe Evo R, I had a current ride to compare against. The new bike feels like a large step forward.
The first thing that stands out is the stiffness and responsiveness the frame has. It has that immediate, direct feeling when you put power through the pedals, but without becoming harsh.
Despite the stiffness, there’s a surprising amount of compliance built into the ride, which makes a very noticeable difference once you’re spending several hours in the saddle.
The new Evo R is seriously light, and you can tell that almost immediately on a climb. The bike seems to accelerate effortlessly uphill, and it’s the kind of frame that makes you want to keep pushing whenever the road heads upwards.
Not until a couple hundred kilometers in, did I realize was how comfortable it is over long distances. I put in multiple rides of 130km+ during the time I rode the bike and never felt like the bike was beating me up. It manages to strike a really nice balance between being stiff and efficient when you’re putting down power, while still being comfortable and compliant enough for long days on the road.
Coming from the Equipe Evo R Gen 2, the new Evo R feels less like a completely different bike and more like a refinement of something that was already very good. It’s light, incredibly responsive, climbs exceptionally well, and doesn’t sacrifice comfort while chasing performance.
After around 2 weeks of riding it and racing it, I’d be very happy to make the Equipe Evo R Gen 3 my new go-to bike.
