XMCS: 2026 Aero Gravel bike

[choan]

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.

NO YOU HAVE TO PUT A WATER BOTTLE THEIR AND PEDAL IN SHIT SOIL

[warthog]

Here you go;



A bike with mounts included for whatever you want to bolt to it is already available.
Maybe keep this one for a fast gravel frame with plenty of tyre clearance. 🤷‍♂️

[Bambelbie]

please could we not go down that rabbit hole of sarcastic replies? so many threads these days are completely garbaged with immature and wisdom filled nonsense...
Lets wait what the real outcome will be and then each may decide what fits or fits not.

[warthog]

The title of the thread is "XMCS 2026 aero gravel bike".
The fact that it is aero and coming from a company like XMCS that produces fast, light wheels would seem to indicate the bike is designed with speed in mind.
Mounts to bolt racks, mudguards and whatever other paraphernalia may be required did not appear to me to be the design brief.
The frame I pictured seems far more suited to that than a gravel race bike which many of us on here have classed this as.

[Requiem84]

Short update: there are still some last details that need to be validated for the geo. Peter was very kind to make some time for this during CNY, but his technical team also needs to have a look at it, which they can do after CNY.

I know you guys are eager to get your hands on the geo and all the details, but we want to be 100% sure on what we put out in the public. You can only make a first impression once.

[FabianBe]

The efforts are very much appreciated for sure. I think it looks great and am happy to wait for final geo charts. Better not to rush anyone here.

As was mentioned before, the only thing from a features perspective that would elevate this to the next level for me is if the frame came with a shim to choose between the aero post and a standard 27.2mm one if you wanted to. I can't remember which one but I think at least one of the western brands do it that way!?

Anyhow, XMCS and wide clearance gravel bike is definitely hard to resist!

[apphex]

Short update: there are still some last details that need to be validated for the geo. Peter was very kind to make some time for this during CNY, but his technical team also needs to have a look at it, which they can do after CNY.

I know you guys are eager to get your hands on the geo and all the details, but we want to be 100% sure on what we put out in the public. You can only make a first impression once.

Everyone’s dreaming of their perfect build, myself included. I'm looking for 57mm tire clearance but without the back-breaking geo on a size S – my current GR 201 is sitting at a 1.37 ratio and it's pretty rough. Progressive geometry is exactly what I need. Can't wait to see the final look of your frame!"

[BadIdeasMakeGoodStories]

Here you go;


A bike with mounts included for whatever you want to bolt to it is already available.
Maybe keep this one for a fast gravel frame with plenty of tyre clearance. 🤷‍♂️

Plenty of us bikepacking, ultraracing, or even just riding through winter benefit from the extra storage capacity. You add maybe 40g to an already 1000g+ frame by including some hidden fender mounts with an optional seat-stay bridge, ~15-20g for under downtube bolts. They're unnoticeable if unneeded and a massive increase to utility for those of us who do.

[Uberflo]

Plenty of us bikepacking, ultraracing, or even just riding through winter benefit from the extra storage capacity. You add maybe 40g to an already 1000g+ frame by including some hidden fender mounts with an optional seat-stay bridge, ~15-20g for under downtube bolts. They're unnoticeable if unneeded and a massive increase to utility for those of us who do.

I told Peter the same. You can even use nylon caps/bolts for the frame inserts.

[SirBikealot]

why must every aero frame get a gazillion mounting point, which when used, make the bike unaero like a brick wall. If aero is its key feature leave it aero. There are enough bikepacking bikes out there for the handfull riders who really want to put a sh...load of bags on their bike.

[jfcb]

SKS and others offer solid fender solutions for race/gravel bikes with strap-based mounts, making frame bolts irrelevant. Similar for bike backing storage actually. With a bit of protective tape, the mounting points won't damage the paint of the frame.
As mentioned in this tread already, if bikepacking is your primairy goal, an aero gravel bike is not the best solution. If you want a fast bike and still have the possibility to do an occasional bike packing or place mud guards for (winter)training, there is no need for bolts nowadays.

I hope Peter avoids the common trap many product managers fall into: trying to build a product that serves many needs, but ultimately excels at none. It’s usually wiser to focus on what the product is meant to do and make sure it does that exceptionally well.
With that said, I'm going to hold any further comments till I see the geometry or the official presentation of this frame.

[CycOps]

As long as a frame isn't really optimised aerodynamically by solid CFD and/or aero testing, I'd call it an aero looking bike but not an aero bike. IMHO the term aero bike is used in a very inflationary way nowadays.

[lidation]

As long as a frame isn't really optimised aerodynamically by solid CFD and/or aero testing, I'd call it an aero looking bike but not an aero bike. IMHO the term aero bike is used in a very inflationary way nowadays.

I think the "Aero" in Aero Gravel bike frame itself for average cyclists are more for the "look" than "function" anyway.  No matter how Real Aero the frame is, once you put frame bags, water bottles and a not-so-lean human wearing floppy cycling kits, the air drag doesn't really have much to do with the frame any more.

[warthog]

So effectively being "aero" is a misnomer then?
Despite appearing designed for speed, without the aero testing to prove it, it isn't?
Therefore because it has the clearance to allow decent sized tyres we should advocate for all of the mounting points required to enable it to be a touring bike rather than a capable gravel racer.
Mounting racks and bags all over it is the design brief then. Glad that is sorted. I can wait for somebody else to make a fast gravel bike with decent tyre clearance then.

[BadIdeasMakeGoodStories]

Whether you're competing in the TCR or your local 100k gravel fondo CdA gains in the frame benefits every rider, though I share the sentiment that "aero" on Chinertown is generally more of an aesthetic sensibility than the end result of rigorous R&D.

Just for fun, do you think this bike is more or less aero than a naked frame?


How about this one? Faster with or without the bottle?



Fender mounts, unused, are invisible to the wind and add a great deal of utility to the frame without adding any meaningful weight. Downtube mounts and frame storage allow for additional water carry behind the saddle — an aero gain — while preserving secure storage space for tools, tent poles, or yet more water. Because they effectively act as frame fairings or help stop airflow detaching, in many cases a bike equipped for bikepacking/ultraracing is _faster_ than one without.