I’m Steve, and today on Bikes We Ride we’re diving into the Time ADHX 45. I built this bike for myself and have been riding it through the fall. So far, I’m loving it and wanted to share the full breakdown. We’ll cover the frame, drivetrain, wheels and tires, cockpit, my specific build choices, and wrap up with my overall thoughts now that I’ve put real time on it.
Video review
History & setups we’ve tested
Races ridden on this bike:
Wheelsets used:
- HED Emporia GA Pro (current)
Tires we’ve ridden:
- Vittoria Mezcal 44 (current)
Drivetrain configurations:
- SRAM Force XPLR derailleur
- 10–44T cassette
- Force Wide crank
- Older Force bolt-on power meter spider
Longest ride / biggest day:
Photo gallery:
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Frame
This bike is built on the Time ADHX 45 frame. It fits a 45mm tire, and I’m currently running 44s. Compared to something like a Niner RLT 9 RDO, the head tube on the ADHX is noticeably steeper. I’m on a medium—normally I ride 56cm bikes—and this fits really well.
The frame is fully routed through the headset, and inside the bottom bracket area Time includes housing stops so you can still run mechanical. That’s helpful since I’m building a Campy Ekar version for a customer right now.
Mounting points are minimal: two bottle cages and a top tube bag mount. No fork mounts, no rack mounts, no fender points. This is not a bikepacking or adventure platform. This is a sporty, racy-feeling gravel bike.
My frame does NOT have a UDH. Time recently updated the ADHX 45 to include one, but this particular frame predates that change.
Because I knew this bike would eventually go to a customer, I left the cables exposed at the top and kept extra housing so I can reroute it properly for the next owner.
Wheels & tires
I’m running HED Emporia GA Pro wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 44s. This is my first time on the Mezcal in a gravel size, and honestly—they’re fast. My son has been pushing these tires, telling me how good they feel, and I agree. If you’re in the 44–45mm tire range, these should be on your short list.
The Emporia GA Pros continue to be one of the most popular wheelsets in our shop for the money. Light, reliable, and very good ride quality.
Drivetrain
This build uses SRAM Force XPLR: a 10–44T cassette, Force Wide crank, and the D1 Force hoods and brakes. I personally prefer the D1 hood shape over the D2. I’m hoping SRAM updates Force ergonomics to match the newer Red at some point.
Bottom bracket is a Wheels Manufacturing thread-together BB with CeramicSpeed bearings I had left over from my RLT 9. They’re smooth, easy to service, and basically impossible to kill. I pressed those bearings into the new shell and haven’t looked back.
The power meter is the older SRAM Force bolt-on spider. Works great and keeps things simple.
Cockpit & touchpoints
Seatpost is the Easton EC70—a favorite for our custom builds. I love that the saddle angle can be adjusted independently from the rail clamp.
Bars are the Easton EC90 AX, which we run on a ton of gravel builds. Slight flare, comfortable tops, great drops. Bar tape is basic Shimano Pro cork tape—cheap but surprisingly good.
The saddle shown is just a Selle test saddle I put on for a ride; not the one I’ve ridden most of the time. I’ve also got a couple bags mounted, both of which can fit an extra bottle when needed.
Ride impressions
I really like this bike. It quickly became one of my favorite gravel bikes to ride. It has that sporty, racy feel—more road-bike-like than adventure-bike-like—and that’s exactly what this platform is intended for. It’s fast on gravel, smooth on pavement, and comfortable without giving up responsiveness.
But it’s important to be clear: this is not the bike for racks, fenders, or bikepacking. If that’s your goal, you want a different model. For a high-quality, performance-oriented gravel bike, though? This thing is fantastic.
And if you’re comparing something like a Cervelo Áspero-5 or a top-level Bianchi gravel bike, the ADHX 45 absolutely deserves to be in the conversation—especially as a custom build.
We’ll be showcasing more of these soon: a red one with Campy Ekar 13-speed, and a blue small frame (last of the closeouts) that we’ll build up before it goes out the door. The newest frames now include a UDH, which opens the door for future SRAM Transmission builds.
Final thoughts
If you want a fast, sporty gravel bike—not an adventure bike, not a bikepacking rig, but a road-bike-feeling gravel platform—this is it. The ADHX 45 is incredibly fun to ride and has quickly become one of my personal favorites. If you’re interested in having one of these built up, let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll put options together.