XMCS: 2026 Aero Gravel bike

[SirBikealot]

That's a great and fast looking frame.
I hope they keep the ST length large enough to accomodate the taller (Dutch ) riders

the olny bike that would suit Dutch would be an aero gravel penny-farthing

[Asco]

Looks good. From the drawing, I'm getting 74 STA, 71 HTA and 1.42 stack to reach ratio. Looking forward to seeing the geo, and hoping it is sufficiently aggressive.

Also curious about chainring clearance if you're willing to reveal that @Requiem84.

[Requiem84]

@Asco, I’m taking note of all your questions. Expecting to share geo by Wednesday / Friday, will then include answers to all questions.

If there are other things you guys want to know, just drop them here.

[choan]

@Asco, I’m taking note of all your questions. Expecting to share geo by Wednesday / Friday, will then include answers to all questions.

If there are other things you guys want to know, just drop them here.

Do you think there will be rivet in the frame to put rack on the chainstay? And holder under the tube and above the top tube.
Pretty indispensable for a good gravel build.

[MartyCroky]

What the plan for the carbon lay-up? Also, which corresponds with this, whats price range we can expect?

[daforce84]

My vote is for no rack mounts since this supposed to be an "aero" gravel frame... one could use an Ortlieb Quick-Rack if they really wanted a rack installed..?

Inserts to allow for a bolt-on top tube bag would be appreciated though (like on Cervelos or the new Seka). Hidden fender mounts would be OK.

What's the expected frame weight? under 1000g? it seems the recent factory-designed/made frames have all been 1200g and up (GR201s, Mondice, etc)...

Lastly, how do the transitions in these red areas look? would you be able to provide front and 3/4 views? the aft side of the fork to downtube transition doesn't look as smooth as it could be, but it's difficult to tell from just this view... and how do the seat stay junctions look?

Have you seen the new Factor gravel prototype with the wiiiiide fork? look for photos from the recent Gravel Earth Series in Spain :-)

[Rolle2k]

Looks good. From the drawing, I'm getting 74 STA, 71 HTA and 1.42 stack to reach ratio. Looking forward to seeing the geo, and hoping it is sufficiently aggressive.

Also curious about chainring clearance if you're willing to reveal that @Requiem84.

Would like a little bit more STR than that.. maybe around 1.46-1.48
And a bit more HTA, maybe around 71.5deg - or possibly more fork offset if 71deg. Would be nice with around max 65mm trail with 2.1' tires. I really hate gravel bikes with slow MTB-like handling.

[warthog]

My vote is for no rack mounts since this supposed to be an "aero" gravel frame... one could use an Ortlieb Quick-Rack if they really wanted a rack installed..?

Agreed. A cargo bike or tourer would be the thing if you want to hang racks off it.
A fast gravel bike with decent tyre clearance is what most will be after I expect. Rack mounts not so much. 🤷‍♂️

[hubba]

Rack mounts aren't that important (using Ortlieb quick rack) but mudguard mounts would be nice. Behind the bottom bracket and under the headtube.
I just hope the seat tube will be long enough or I can't consider it with my long legs.

[Rolle2k]

Rack mounts aren't that important (using Ortlieb quick rack) but mudguard mounts would be nice. Behind the bottom bracket and under the headtube.
I just hope the seat tube will be long enough or I can't consider it with my long legs.

I would say it is fairly important (for me at least) to have two mounting holes/screws on the top of the top-tube behind the handlebars so one can put a top tube bag there also. :-)

[Requiem84]

The two mounting holes on the TT for a TT bag are definitely there. I will answer the rest of the questions with the geo. But please keep in mind xmcs are designing an aero (race) gravel bike and nót an adventure bike, daily commuter etc etc.

My philosophy is that you need to stay focused on what you are making. If you make a bike that ‘has it all’, it kind of loses its identity and will do many things good, but nothing really good.

[Rolle2k]

The two mounting holes on the TT for a TT bag are definitely there. I will answer the rest of the questions with the geo. But please keep in mind xmcs are designing an aero (race) gravel bike and nót an adventure bike, daily commuter etc etc.

My philosophy is that you need to stay focused on what you are making. If you make a bike that ‘has it all’, it kind of loses its identity and will do many things good, but nothing really good.

Well it all depends on what size we are looking at.. me who usually rides medium/small (177cm long) - then around 1.45-1.46 is quite normal, while larger sizes tend to run lower - in range of 1.42 or so, and smaller bikes xs can have higher STR.
The problem with a too long frame is that it is always easy putting a longer stem by 10-20mm, but when you are down to 60mm stem, there is nothing smaller avaliable (half integrated) - and integrated bars is usually not avaliable below 80mm.
So rather make it a little shorter than making the frame to long...

By the way - what is missed in STR is still also seat tube angle, so i usually rather take stack to top-tube ratio, and there you have a better measurement.
I my case my bike today does have 551mm top tube to 574mm stack. Ideally i would have approx 5mm shorter top tube but same stack.

[choan]

The two mounting holes on the TT for a TT bag are definitely there. I will answer the rest of the questions with the geo. But please keep in mind xmcs are designing an aero (race) gravel bike and nót an adventure bike, daily commuter etc etc.

My philosophy is that you need to stay focused on what you are making. If you make a bike that ‘has it all’, it kind of loses its identity and will do many things good, but nothing really good.

Well dylan johnson is racing hard and have mouting hole under the frame et 3 spot inside the frame to mount cage and have bottles.
Racer also drink water =).

[jfcb]

Well dylan johnson is racing hard and have mouting hole under the frame et 3 spot inside the frame to mount cage and have bottles.
Racer also drink water =).

Placing your bottles under your downtube is the worst idea when racing on "dirty" farmer roads (in the dry or the mud). The risk of bacteria intake is huge by doing that . In addition, with the aero benefit of using hydration bladders, the need for packing more than 2L on your frame becomes obsolete in 99% of the races.

[CycOps]

Placing your bottles under your downtube is the worst idea when racing on "dirty" farmer roads (in the dry or the mud). The risk of bacteria intake is huge by doing that . In addition, with the aero benefit of using hydration bladders, the need for packing more than 2L on your frame becomes obsolete in 99% of the races.

I'd say that depends on the length of the race. Under downtube storage can be very useful for tools and spare parts. How aero it is, that's on another page oc.