Racy all-rounder

£2999.99 Swift sportive special

As a brand that’s been deeply involved in both domestic and Continental road sport since its revival in 2009 under the ownership of Northern Ireland-based Chain Reaction Cycles, Vitus’ road line has always been focused on racing. Unlike its stablemates the ZX-1 (CP384) and Vitesse Evo, the Zenium CRS is aimed at sportive and endurance riders rather than out-and-out racers. That said, the Zenium still bears a UCI certification sticker so it can – and is – raced at the highest level.

For an ‘endurance’ bike the Zenium certainly falls very much in the sports, rather than recreation, camp. The 608mm stack height on my XL test bike is low for the genre, and the 393.4mm reach certainly adds