GREEN MACHINE - 3D PRINTED DROPOUT - GRAVEL MONSTER

After 12 months of design and testing we are now using 3D printed 5-15 on all gravel monster frames. This allows a super strong connection that is corrosion free. It allows the shop to continue to stay at the forefront of the industry pushing the limits of technology and performance. Even though it is a large cost, It saves time on the overall build which means I can build more bikes and get your bike out to you faster. Big thanks to Steven Bukowski for his help with prototyping and printing. One of the best parts of working in Brooklyn is being able to collaborate with such talented people who also love bikes. Check out some of the process photos below and a few glam shots of this new Gavel Monster in Land Rover Green.

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DEAN'S "OC" GRAVEL MONSTER: HOT ON YOUR TRAIL

Shiny now… not for long. Dean grew up riding with his dad and soon got deep into the roots of the road racing scene in Orange County. After years on the road and with a passion to expand his riding pallet, he turned to the growing mountain bike circuits of Southern CA. Racing primarily cross country, Dean grew an affinity for what the dirt had to offer.

Enter the GRAVEL MONSTER. “A true race machine.” Not built for the peloton or the technical rock garden and NOT a cross over. From fire roads to single track, built for speed and for the likes of Grinduro and the Dirty K. The Monster is the purest gravel rig.

This is what Dean was looking for, starting with above platform: the lightest selection of tubes available, optimized power transfer, hand turned tapered head tube, T47 bb, and ENVE-G fork. Dean added both internal hydro cable routing, custom paint and deducted weight by dropping cable routing and opting for SRAM’S newest wireless electronic shifting, AXS etap. Top it off with Enve AR hoops and cockpit and this is one light machine.

As well as a seasoned racer, Dean also works in the bike industry and I was super stoked when he got in touch for a build. It’s certainly an honor to build bikes for people who clearly love to ride, and this build truly came out lovely. A shiny lady only once, calling for dirt and speed. A visual from the old westerns I grew up on comes to mind - a dusty plume only seen in the wind above the trees, created by a man on his horse. A single rider, maybe hot on your trail. Better giddy-up.

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LOST AND FOUND + KEVIN'S GRAVEL MONSTER

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Sierra Trails puts on a number of events every year. This past weekend was the 2019 Lost and Found Gravel race, where they do a great job of hosting an event that is across-the-board a super fun time. It focuses on the natural beauty of the NorCal wilderness while putting emphasis on supporting the maintenance, creation and restoration of trail systems we love to ride and hike.

One of the entries this year was Kevin McClelland riding his Custom Gravel Monster. Kevin is a good friend and avid rider, and I was super stoked knowing he was pushing his limits entering the 106 mile category. No small feat.

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Starting and finishing this year in the town of Portola allowed more of a community vibe. Camping in the town park along the lazy river and immersing in the community is part of what gravel races are about. A lax environment geared toward getting out in the woods and putting miles on your rig. Take it as fast or slow as you want, hang with friends or push your limits.

Out side of Portola the race takes you deep into the the wilderness of the Sierras where you can find your self riding isolated miles through a mountainous pine tree landscape on some amazing trails. This year with the rains the night before and combined with the snowmelt of the late spring season made for mixed conditions and challenging wet terrain.

Kevin said his rig performed beautifully and made for an amazing race. For this ride Kevin slapped on a set of 27.5 x 2.25 Continental Speed Kings. The higher volume fast rolling mountain tire proved to be a great choice for the mixed surface gravel race. The light, plush characteristics at 22psi made for a more enjoyable 106 miles. “From the wet and wiled climbs through the eroding and rutted single track to the high speed descents on slippery kitty litter gravel, the bike rode like a dream. The tire choice for the day worked out great too, and I’m super happy with the extra tire clearance this rig allows,” says Kevin.

Getting out in the wild, hanging with friends and giving back is what its all about. Sierra Trails does a great job of setting up a platform to accomplish all of these things. All the proceeds from the race go back into the community and into the wilderness. Connected to the race is a raffle called Builders for Builders. All the proceeds again go back to the community that continues to allow access to existing trail systems and fund the development of new trails. If you're interested in giving back and the opportunity to win one of five amazing handmade bikes follow this link and enter the raffle. Thanks to the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, the builders for donating bikes, Kevin for ripping his Horse and Ian Matteson for these amazing photos.

LUCUS'S 18LB. GRAVEL MONSTER

18.2 lbs is pretty light for a steel bike for sure, and extra super duper light for a gravel bike. How did we get it so light? We use the very lightest and strongest tubes possible without compromising durability; the frame utilizes Columbus Life and Dedda heat-treated alloy tubing. We drill out the tube intersections to reduce weight wherever we can. This bike being around a 55cm frame also helps keep the weight down. We are able to chose lighter tubes for lighter riders and get the same end performance. The main reason for the weight savings are the components, namely the carbon components. The marriage between the ride quality and durability of steel and the beneficial characteristics of carbon is ideal.

If the frame and fork weigh 3lbs, then most of the total weight is the components. 15.2lbs in fact. Nothing special about the sram force group, and though the White Industries G-30 cranks are my choice over any other, they are not the lightest out there for sure.

The Enve Gravel fork, G-bar, stem and seatpost rule for performance and are a huge factor in keeping weight down.

The biggest advantage in weight savings and the one component that really adds to the performance of this Gravel Monster are the wheels. Keyed up with Enve G27 - 650-b front and rear really complete the picture and allow this bike to perform at the front of the pack wherever you may ride. The Wheels are the first and best upgrade I recommend when helping chose gravel components for customers. if those are out of the question, the G-bar is my 2nd.

If you can roll with the cost of carbon components i would highly recommend it. Lighter is better because you feel more connected to the road or lack there of. Most noticeably it offers an advantage while climbing. It’s pretty special to come out of the saddle and feel the acceleration as you rock back and forth; less poundage to hold you back, allowing you to float as you climb.

This custom Gravel Monster for Lucas Dowers (his 2nd Horse) is a gem. This rig pushing the boundaries of the modern steel machines made in the U.S. today and we couldn’t be more happy to be making rad bikes for amazing people.

GRAVEL MONSTER FOR ENVE

Kevin McCelland over at Enve asked us to Build him a gravel monster to help launch and hi-light their new Gravel bar and Fork. Ummmm yeah?!!. First, Kevin is a ripper. I love building bikes for a super strong rider who pushes the boundaries on two wheels. Kevin wanted a monster gravel ride that could handle most single track but also endure on longer gravel rides. Something that would be at home in Quincy, CA at Grinduro and also handle the DK 200.

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The bike was built around the New ENVE fork and Bars, the style of riding kevin would be doing and the tires he would be shredding on. In this case maximum clearance to show the capability of the new carbon fork. Using a 27.5 x 2.25” WTB Riddler tire makes this a MONSTER of a gravel bike. I think the spec on the site is 60mm width tire complicity but i’m pretty sure you can run a 2.5” on this fork and the rear end would be happy to see something that large.

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A hand stamped brass BB badge for a special touch. Horse X Enve.

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The new fork is super sick. Maximum clearance / clean lines / internal cable routing / fender mounts and offered in 50mm rake with a 47mm rake to be released in the near future.

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Fender mounts! YEAH!!

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The new Gravel Bar is a game changer. The added width creates stability in the drops and allows confidence at speed under the most challenging terrain. Also they are super comfy. I’m all about that comfy comfy!

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A few specs on the build: Tapered hand turned head tube, full Columbus Life and Zona Steel tubing, flat mount disc brakes front and rear, 1X drive train. We used a 73mm T47 Bottom bracket and an M30 White industries crank to achieve the rear clearances for a 2.5” tire. Three sets of Water bottle mounts, Enve bar, stem, seat post, fork and G27 rims laced to White hubs. Also a polished White ind Headset. We used the New Paul Klamper flat mount disc brakes and Paul thru axle skewers wich rule and really add to that bling.

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The Paint work from Horse Cycles Paint is simple but meaningful. Appropriating the minimal look of the Fast Boy Assless bike is a homage to Ezra. A New York builder who is no longer with us but lives on through his amazing spirit.

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All and All this was an amazing build for me. It allowed me to push the boundaries of building, work with wonderful people and do some great riding. Thanks so much to Kevin for his vision and trust in me as a builder. I hope to build many more MONSTER GAVEL bikes like this in the future, as always putting my heart and sole in to each frame. I’d also like to thank Ian Matteson who took these amazing photographs and everyone at Enve Composites who made this pretty rad stuff.