Fairlight Secan 2.5 gravel bike in review – When dreams come true

Fairlight Cycles aren’t a household name, but the fledgeling company from the UK have stood for exceptionally beautiful steel bikes with clever details from day one. We put their gravel bike, the Secan 2.5, to the test to see if it’s more than just good-looking. Read on to find out how it fares!

We all have those moments and experiences after which nothing is the same as it was before. Things happen that throw us completely off the track and fundamentally change our entire outlook and actions from then on. For some, it’s meeting their soulmate, for others the birth of their first child. But for us, hopelessly lost bike enthusiasts, it can simply be the first ride on a bike we long lusted for or the mere sight of one that leaves us stunned. A bike that encompasses everything that we love and appreciate about this hobby – bordering on a calling – and attitude to life: limitless possibilities and freedom, aesthetics and form, adventures and distant lands, daily means of transport and faithful companionship … The list could go on forever. Have you had this experience before, seen a bike that triggered this kind of longing and desire in you? A bike that turned your head and gave you sleepless nights? If not, this could very well be the day. May we introduce: the Fairlight Secan 2.5 gravel bike.

Never heard of Fairlight Cycles? – The background story

Not only is England home to Shakespeare and the Beatles, but also to some of the finest steel frames money can buy. So it comes as no surprise that the young company Fairlight Cycles are also based on the island, setting themselves the goal of bringing high-quality, steel frame drop bar bikes to the market and offering meticulous attention to detail. One of the co-founders is Dom Thomas, which should ring a bell or two to those in the know. Dom worked at Genesis Bikes for several years, founded his own bike brand Wold Cycles and is now conquering the hearts of many bike enthusiasts with Fairlight Cycles.

Fit, function, form – What makes these bikes so special?

Thanks to their so-called Proportional Geometry, Fairlight Cycles can cater to riders of all shapes and sizes, offering the next best thing to a tailor-made frame. Each frame size is available in two versions. One is the regular version, which is lower and more stretched out for riders with short legs and long torsos, and the other is the tall version for riders with long legs or those who simply prefer a slightly more upright position. The following video does a good job of illustrating the concept:

The bikes offered by Fairlight Cycles are made to take whatever you can throw at them. They’re tools, not trophies. They’re meant to be ridden hard and never let you down. Therefore, steel is the obvious material of choice, making the frame relatively easy to repair in case it breaks, no matter where in the world the bike takes you. Despite their robust qualities, the frames certainly don’t fall short on looks, either. But see for yourself. In this case, a picture is worth more than a thousand words.

The Fairlight Secan 2.5 gravel bike in detail

The Secan 2.5 is based on a steel frame made from the finest Reynolds 853 tubing, which is manufactured in Birmingham/England and gets welded together in Taiwan. If you want the exact details, Fairlight have all the specs of the various tubes including their wall thicknesses available on their website. Nice! The welds are of the highest quality, showing the work of someone who knows their craft. The paintwork also makes an excellent and robust impression. Speaking of which, the Secan is available in a total of five different colours. Up front, the Fairlight Cempa 2.0 carbon fork features three bosses on each leg for bikepacking use and internal cable routing for the dynamo hub. Those who are planning to build and/or maintain their Secan themselves will be delighted with the classic, threaded 68 mm bottom bracket.

On the updated 2.5 model, the tire clearances of the Secan have been increased to a generous 700 x 50C with a 1x drivetrain or 700 x 47C with a 2x drivetrain. With mudguards fitted, the tire clearances remain at 45 or 42C. The icing on the cake and an absolute eye-catcher of the Secan 2.5 are the Bentley x Fairlight Mk II dropouts. Rarely have we come across such a pretty detail on a bike and it’s one of the reasons why it will turn heads in any living room. But they don’t just look good. If you damage the derailleur hanger in a crash or other accident, it can be easily replaced. This isn’t the case with the predecessor and some other steel bikes, and it proves once again that form and function aren’t mutually exclusive! If you want to delve even deeper into the subject and see more photos, we wholeheartedly recommend checking out the detailed lookbook of the Secan 2.5 and the 89 pages of design notes, which at the moment of publishing were available only for the previous model.

Components and geometry of the Fairlight Secan 2.5

While our test bike came equipped with a mechanical 2x Shimano GRX 800 groupset, the Secan 2.5 is, of course, Di2 ready. For the build, Fairlight rely on premium products from a supplier close to home. As you will have guessed it, the brand we’re referring to is Hope. In addition to the Hope 20Five RS4 wheelset with the SON dynamo hub up front, rolling on 700 x 44C WTB Raddler tires, the headset and seat post clamp are also made in England. Combined with the SON dynamo hub, the SON head- and taillight shine bright and perform convincingly on everyday commutes. However, there’s no getting around using an additional light on your helmet for winding routes and trails. We would also have preferred it if the taillight wasn’t positioned by the dropouts and was placed at the height of the seat post clamp instead for improved visibility. The price of our test bike came in at £ 2,990.84. In addition to the 2x Shimano GRX 800 drivetrain shown here, you also have the option of a 1x setup with Shimano’s GRX 600 and GRX 800 Di2 groupset. To build your own Secan, you can also order a set consisting of a steel frame and carbon fork for £ 1,124.

In terms of geometry, Fairlight go beyond their Proportional Geometry concept mentioned above. Thanks to the online Fit Calculator, it should be a whole lot easier for future Fairlight fans to find the ideal frame size, with the three different options this feature offers. Option 1 is the Fit Guide, which gives you two frame size recommendations including the riding position based on your size and inseam length. Option 2 allows you to upload your bike fitting results from bike fitters, such as Retul, and Fairlight will adjust the bike accordingly before sending it your way. Option 3 lets you measure your existing bike at home and send the data to Fairlight to get a size recommendation based on that. Fairlight are clearly positioning themselves as a very customer-friendly brand and guarantee a perfectly fitting bike. Excellent!

Size	51R	51T	54R	54T	56R	56T	58R	58T	61R	61T
Seat post	490 mm	495 mm	510 mm	515 mm	520 mm	535 mm	540 mm	555 mm	560 mm	575 mm
Top tube	536 mm	535 mm	553 mm	553 mm	567 mm	566 mm	584 mm	581 mm	597 mm	598 mm
Head tube	100 mm	130 mm	120 mm	150 mm	130 mm	170 mm	150 mm	190 mm	170 mm	210 mm
Head angle	70.5°	70.5°	71.0°	71.5°	72.0°	72.0°	72.5°	72.5°	72.5°	72.5°
Seat angle	74.0°	74.0°	73.5°	74.0°	73.5°	73.5°	73.0°	73.5°	73.0°	73.5°
Chainstays	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm
BB Drop	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm	77 mm
Wheelbase	1,021 mm	1,022 mm	1,029 mm	1,030 mm	1,034 mm	1,034 mm	1,041 mm	1,045 mm	1,054 mm	1,062 mm
Reach	380 mm	371 mm	386 mm	383 mm	397 mm	385 mm	402 mm	394 mm	410 mm	405 mm
Stack	538 mm	567 mm	559 mm	589 mm	572 mm	610 mm	593 mm	631 mm	612 mm	650 mm

Riding the Fairlight Secan 2.5 gravel bike

If you look at the Secan 2.5 on the manufacturer’s homepage, you can see the bike in various guises with different bikepacking bags – check out our all-encompassing bag encyclopedia if you’re unsure which setup is right for you. Undoubtedly, the gravel bike is ready to take on any type of bikepacking adventure and it allows you to haul plenty of luggage thanks to the luggage rack mounting points. Around the world on the Secan? We don’t see why not.

When you climb aboard the Secan for the first time after extensively inspecting the frame, you’ll immediately feel at home. It’s like settling down in your favourite armchair at home after a long and exhausting day at the desk in your uncomfortable office chair. It just feels right! The riding position is relaxed and suitable for ultra-long rides. Of course, you don’t get full points for aerodynamics but that’s certainly not the goal of the Secan, which should be obvious to anyone interested in this bike.

In terms of acceleration, there are more lively and nimble gravel bikes out there, though the Fairlight certainly isn’t sluggish. The Hope wheels and wide 700 x 44C WTB Raddler tires naturally take some effort to get going, but once the rider and bike have gotten up to speed, the Fairlight proves to be an efficient gravel steam train, saving you a lot of energy on long rides. If you want to up the cruising speed, we would recommend swapping out the tires for faster rolling models like the Specialized Pathfinder or the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H.

Anyone looking for a gravel bike that instils you with confidence thanks to its balanced handling and lots of control will love the Secan 2.5. We were impressed with the bike’s composure, even when veering off-road and when things get rougher. Nevertheless, tight corners aren’t an issue either and can be negotiated with precision. In combination with the 160 mm rotors front and rear, the Shimano GRX brakes will reliably bring you to a halt at all times.

Regarding the frame material, opinions are usually divided. However, one thing is certain: the damping properties of cleverly designed and combined Reynolds 853 tubes are hard to beat. And so it is not surprising that the Fairlight Secan 2.5 is clearly amongst the most comfortable gravel bikes on the market. Above all, small vibrations such as those you’ll find on smooth gravel get completely absorbed, sparing the rider noticeably. Of course, big hits get passed on unfiltered – you’ll need a gravel bike with a suspension fork to absorb those.

Our verdict on the Fairlight Secan 2.5

For many out there, the Fairlight gravel bike is sure to be the (steel) bike of their dreams. It combines excellent comfort, great versatility and balanced handling with beautiful looks and workmanship of the highest standard. Whether it’s bikepacking, commuting or classic gravelling: the Secan won’t let you down. If you’re not too worried about acceleration, it’s an excellent package at a fair price.

For more information about the Fairlight Secan 2.5, visit fairlightcycles.com

If you’ve still got a minute and want to go deeper into the topic of gravel, make sure to bite into our gravel bike buyer’s guide.

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