XMCS: 2026 Aero Gravel bike

[wintermute]

Thanks for alerting me to the Insta message, I see that all of them went to the message request section, so I didn’t see them  .

Handlebar availability: May/June, some sizes already April (380).we have got the frames live on our website. EU prices incl shipping and taxes are € 1540 for frame, € 1720 frame+ handlebar (handlebar fits in the frame box so does not add shipping costs) and 2480 for frame+HB+the wide gravel wheels (wheels need a separate shipping box).

All frames are monocoque, but I believe you mean ‘one-piece monocoque’, which indeed it is. Raw/naked opinion, I’m sure we can arrange something here.

Pricing: I don’t set the prices for one . I need to see the frames to actually comment on the quality, but suffice to say that Xmcs is spending a lot of time on design, engineering and quality testing. It is a premium product, just as their wheels are. A top wheelset is getting around 1000 USD and they sell well. If you take that pricing point, is a 1490 USD frame steep? For everyone to decide.

I must say that most comments on pricing are at Chinertown though ;-). Which makes sense, as people join this type of community because they want cheeper alternatives to Western brands. In other places or customers I talk too I have had this comment maybe once or twice. So it all depends on perspective I guess.

It's all a bit relative and to a certain extent less about material value but expectation.

How does the pricepoint compare say, to an Ari Schaeffer? A Lauf Seigla? A giant revolt advanced? These are mostly available for around the same pricepoint and offer many of the things that this frame offers. Is it persuasive enough from that perspective?

Is it worth double the price that a tideace GV201 commands? Because I think that's the same market - you aren't taking customers off an argon 18 dark matter or wilier rave.

I think at like 1000-1100 it would be more persuasive, but once you add shipping to Europe onto 14-1500, you get pretty close to the retail of a new Revolt, that comes with dealer support and backup and resale.

[edfungus]

fwiw, I'm pretty excited about this bike simply just due to the tire clearance and geometry. There aren't very many gravel bikes with this tire clearance and a racy geometry that I like. Some others I have considered include Enve Mog, Allied Able, Tideace GV201 and Cervelo Aspero. I have the Aspero and really wished it could fit bigger tires. So while I also wished it was cheaper, this tire clearance + geometry has been a rarer combo to come by imo.

Also added the bike to bikeinsights for comparing the geometry!

[Requiem84]

It's all a bit relative and to a certain extent less about material value but expectation.

How does the pricepoint compare say, to an Ari Schaeffer? A Lauf Seigla? A giant revolt advanced? These are mostly available for around the same pricepoint and offer many of the things that this frame offers. Is it persuasive enough from that perspective?

Is it worth double the price that a tideace GV201 commands? Because I think that's the same market - you aren't taking customers off an argon 18 dark matter or wilier rave.

I think at like 1000-1100 it would be more persuasive, but once you add shipping to Europe onto 14-1500, you get pretty close to the retail of a new Revolt, that comes with dealer support and backup and resale.

Judging by the huge amount of pm’s, insta messages (which I didn’t see at first, catching up guys sorry) and emails on the new frame, I actually wonder if the pricing is too competitive.

I don’t see the examples you give as comparable propositions. The Revolt has such a different geo (1.51 str in comparable size and does not (even) have UDH (?). Just a very different market offering.

The current Xmcs GT frame is 1200 USD and sells quite well from what I can see. The Xmcs proposition is not price driven, but is driven by engineering prowess and a huge passion for what they design and make.

In the end we can keep bouncing our views on the proposition and pricing but it won’t matter. The customers will decide in the end . Let’s see how good it will sell. In any case, the interest so far has been quite big.

[aeroskiii]

this aero nonsense is a joke.

You have to be about 20mph to see gains in aero on gravel. when mvdp won the gravel worlds i was 22mph in that race. 

so it is pretty safe to say none of us aero will matter one bit ever.

 so back to your bickering

at a cda of .35 (mediocre for a optimized tallish gravel cyclist) here's speed (mph) and watts required to overcome drag.
15=65w
16=78
17=94
18=112
19=131
20=153
21=177
22=204
23=233
24=264
25=299
26=336
27=376
due to the cubic nature of aero drag and that so many key sections in gravel racing occur on the flats where speeds can exceed 26mph easily aerodynamics obviously matter.

[aeroskiii]

its worth noting that my cda is .210 in an optimized position on a 2026 s-works sl8 with all the nicest kit, Seka claims that their aero gravel bike vs their road bike is .012m^2. The seka road bike is very close to the sl8 in aerodynamics so one can conclude that a aero optimized gravel bike can come pretty close, if you assume the seka spear is just as fast as the sl8 and account for the drag difference between spear and exaero you can give the exaero gravel bike a tour aero rating 223w

[acwj8rwh]

I wanted to share some calculations I ran for anyone considering the RockShox Rudy XL 60mm on this frame for the size S (unsagged and 25% sagged).

Minor deviation: As the offset is different (55mm frame fork, 45mm Rockshox Rudy XL), I assumed 50mm to simplify the calcs.
Ignore the Front Center value.

Calculator used: https://madscientistmtb.com/sagged-hardtail-geometry-calculator/

[koubek94]

its worth noting that my cda is .210 in an optimized position on a 2026 s-works sl8 with all the nicest kit, Seka claims that their aero gravel bike vs their road bike is .012m^2. The seka road bike is very close to the sl8 in aerodynamics so one can conclude that a aero optimized gravel bike can come pretty close, if you assume the seka spear is just as fast as the sl8 and account for the drag difference between spear and exaero you can give the exaero gravel bike a tour aero rating 223w

I have a stupid question that is with same wheels and tires or gravel setup?

[Bobinski]

Judging by the huge amount of pm’s, insta messages (which I didn’t see at first, catching up guys sorry) and emails on the new frame, I actually wonder if the pricing is too competitive.

I don’t see the examples you give as comparable propositions. The Revolt has such a different geo (1.51 str in comparable size and does not (even) have UDH (?). Just a very different market offering.

The current Xmcs GT frame is 1200 USD and sells quite well from what I can see. The Xmcs proposition is not price driven, but is driven by engineering prowess and a huge passion for what they design and make.

In the end we can keep bouncing our views on the proposition and pricing but it won’t matter. The customers will decide in the end . Let’s see how good it will sell. In any case, the interest so far has been quite big.

I am almost certainly going to order the frame and move on my Vielo R+1. issue for me is to who to order fro. Uk based so makes sense to go through you but also eager to know what paint options Peter and yourself will offer. Options at competitors are legion and options potentially add to the value of this frame as well.
 

[Requiem84]

I am almost certainly going to order the frame and move on my Vielo R+1. issue for me is to who to order fro. Uk based so makes sense to go through you but also eager to know what paint options Peter and yourself will offer. Options at competitors are legion and options potentially add to the value of this frame as well.

For UK (any non-EU) just directly get in touch with Peter. I don’t add any value in that case and no use for me to be involved.

But nevertheless very nice to hear you’re planning to order one. I have a very clear picture on how I will build it up, but I’m curious to see what others will make of it.

[Bobinski]

I see you didnt bite on colour and fit options 

I know also how my build will look. I already have a revenger bar in 38/100 that unfortunately doesnt fit my Vielo and which i will probably use, along with Peter's cranks, wheels already purchased from Peter, and xplr 1X. I just need to match my fit to frame and bar, and if they dont work then choose another bar option at the same time. Oh, and choose a paint/finish option.

[aeroskiii]

I have a stupid question that is with same wheels and tires or gravel setup?

gravel setup iirc

[koubek94]

gravel setup iirc

Thank found it its with g one rs 45 and zipp xplr wheels thats seems crazy... Even crazier if you switch to terra competition which should be more aero, add apidura aero bags that should save 5w and aero watters bootles save some more. And you have comfortable road bike that can do gravel.

[Requiem84]

Gravel Riser bars, 3d printed first.

[rhenders]

Any new info on this? Really curious to see this built up.

Tavelo's new gravel bike looks really good, but if this one delivers on its promises it would be even better imo

[Requiem84]

Any new info on this? Really curious to see this built up.

Tavelo's new gravel bike looks really good, but if this one delivers on its promises it would be even better imo

Nothing new, probably not until May.

First frame, size M, that I was hoping to race at the Traka probably will be ready just a few days too late for us to build it up and take it with us to Spain. But hoping to get my hands on it after I get back from the Traka.