Category: Road Bikes
Tommaso Bikes have made it their mission to provide the best quality, affordable road bikes and the aluminum Forcella is built for durability and value for money. Born as an upgrade on the brand’s popular, entry-level Imola, the Forcella is next on the pricing ladder.
Some key differences, such as a carbon fork, mean the Tommaso Forcella is the entry-level bike of choice for riders chasing a bit more bang for their buck.
Here is a closer look at what that means for your ride.
By pairing an aluminum frame with a carbon fork, the Tommaso Forcella blends low weight, reliability and a stiff front end, which offers more efficient riding. While the Imola leans more towards the first-bike market, where durability is king, the Forcella is a budget-friendly, performance road bike.
Starting with that frame then, Tommaso have built the Forcella around a 6061-series frame – as with their other road bikes. The composite alloy heart of the bike blends a low weight with the durability associated with aluminum frames. It will withstand some abuse as you get used to the new road bike, but the weight is competitive with top-end aluminum frames.
For more experienced road cyclists, carbon is king for low weight. Aluminum is more durable, however, so the Forcella is both reliable and a light enough to keep you pedalling efficiently on steeper roads.
The semi-compact geometry is typical of a standard, entry-level road bike – comfort-focused and not too aggressive.
Tomasso offer the Forcella in two basic colorways: matte white or matte black.
The HCT carbon-fiber fork is perhaps the stand-out feature of the Forcella, and certainly what makes it stand apart from Tommaso’s cheaper models. If durability is your main concern, then the Imola, complete with a steel fork, might be more your jam and lower in price.
But the performance trade-off with the carbon fiber fork is significant. It is lighter and dampens road vibrations more effectively, making for more efficient riding.
The Forcella’s carbon fork makes this bike quicker while reducing the road buzz keeps you going for longer.
Carbon is stiff and stable too, so pedaling is more efficient. If you want a little more bang for your buck, the Forcella is a worthy upgrade.
Tommaso pride themselves on offering full Shimano groupsets on their entry-level road bikes, whereas other manufacturers at this price point mix and match components.
The Forcella comes dressed in Shimano’s Claris R2000 groupset – the entry-level offering in the Japanese giants’ range.
Claris is typical for entry-level road bikes, and the Forcella is therefore no different – though the 3×8 groupset offers a generous range of gears for mixed-terrain riding.
Road bike purists might balk at the thought of a triple crankset, but they are common among the lower-level groupsets. They offer shorter distances between the gears, for more efficient pedaling, and – as mentioned – a good range of gears for mixed terrain.
By adopting a full Shimano Claris R2000 groupset too, Tommaso have allowed for cheaper and easier maintenance. Every component comes from the same series, so they are built to work most efficiently together, and replacement parts are easier to the source.
Here’s the full groupset breakdown on the Tommaso Forcella:
Tommaso’s Shimano Claris-equipped Forcella pairs the triple crankset (30/39/50T) with an 11x28T cassette. The shifters and derailleurs are also from the Japanese giants’ Claris R2000 lineup.
The 24-speed set-up means less difference between the gears. It is ideal for beginner riders, encouraging efficient pedaling and a good range of gears to get the most out of your ride.
The 3×8 chainset is suitable for mixed rides, with a range of gears to cope with both flatter rides and hillier terrain.
Shimano Claris rear derailleur on Forcella.
Standard Claris Triple crankset.
When it comes to budget-friendly road bikes, the rolling stock is usually the first place to look for an upgrade and the Tomasso Forcella is no different.
Off-the-peg, Tommaso equip the Forcella with their in-house TC-30 wheelset – wider than the TC-20 used on lower-end models. They are competitive for the price point, but that is not to say there are not better options out there if you have the budget and desire to upgrade further.
The TC-30 wheelset is wider than the stock wheels supplied on lower-level Tommaso bikes. They come complete with 20 front spokes and 24 at the rear.
Wider rims offer enhanced aerodynamics though beginners may not notice the subtle differences compared to the TC-20s. It also means greater road-dampening properties (with wider tires improving that further). In a nutshell, they are slightly faster and more comfortable.
The set-up is suitably lightweight for its price point, but when the time comes to upgrade the Forcella, the rolling stock is one of the prime places to start.
Tommaso Corsa TC-30 wheels on Forcella.
Wider rims mean a wider tire capacity, though off-the-peg, the Forcella rolls on Kenda’s all-weather 25c K152 rubber.
Kenda tires are popular on entry-level road bikes and commuter bikes. The K152 – which are also used on other Tommaso models – are widely used at this price point.
The wider rims do offer the option for wider tires if you want, up to a maximum recommended 28c. Wider tires enhance comfort, while at that size will not detract too much from the racier properties of this road bike.
Very high-quality and comfortable handlebar installed on Tommaso Forcella.
Tommaso supply the Forcella with their aluminum Ultralight Sport Series handlebars and stem.
The cockpit is the same used on Tommaso’s higher-end aluminum road bike, the Monza. They are wrapped in Tommaso’s black cork tape.
Tomasso claim the bars offer stiff, dependable control while the Ultralight Sport Series also scores well for comfort. It matches the frame’s comfort-focused, but still slightly racier, geometry.
Another comfort-focused feature is the WTB Volt saddle – badged with a Tommaso logo – but the perch is another ripe for an upgrade.
The padded seat is comfortable, and for beginners will be more than suitable for long rides, but WTB have built the Volt for mountain bikes. Road bikes usually come equipped with something a little stiffer and more aerodynamic.
Finally, Tommaso supply the Forcella with a pair of composite flat pedals. It is another nod to the beginner market, but clipless pedals should be considered moving forward.
Clipless pedals (and the accompanying shoes and cleats) are very much a matter of personal choice and the options are vast. Supplying the Forcella with basic flat pedals is therefore just a time-saver for beginners, saving them from having to source their own.
As you get more confident on a road bike, clipless pedals should be considered as standard – they take some getting used to, but they are so much more efficient.
The Tommaso Forcella weighs in at a claimed 23.8lbs in Small size. It is lighter than the Imola, largely thanks to that carbon-fiber fork, and competitive for its price point.