XMCS: 2026 Aero Gravel bike

[wintermute]

We're still talking gravel though. Speeds are significantly lower than road, except for descents, and guess what, you hardly need to pedal for those. I agree that it would be nice to have some reserves for larger chainrings, but that this frame is "dead" for race gravel use is still quite the hyperbole.

If you don't need more than a 42 on an aero gravel bike then you have no need for an aero gravel bike and are wasting your time racing.

Which is why the suggestion is so preposterous that it can't be true.

[Zrader]

If you don't need more than a 42 on an aero gravel bike then you have no need for an aero gravel bike and are wasting your time racing.

Which is why the suggestion is so preposterous that it can't be true.

Yeah, honestly a fair point. Perhaps some folks don’t want to hear that but it’s true.. I have a 46/10 on my bike and sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough but I can’t go much higher due to the climbing ratio issue. I’d never go to a 42T chainring. With that I would spin out way too often.

[Asco]

The, probably, most used cassette will be the 13 speed 10-46. For my gravel races, I don't need anything easier than 1:1, so I run a 46t front. And I'm not actually fit. Give me one more year of training, and I can probably get away with a 50t front ring for 1.09 gearing. It would still be a way easier gearing than the commonly used road 54/40 + 11-34, where the easiest gear available is 1.18.

Tucked in the pack on a false flat downhill or with a serious tailwind, saving watts by not being maximum cross-chained into the 10 tooth chain torturer seems important.

When comparing to road, it does start to matter to take wheel size into account. That 50T ring with a 50mm tire is roughly equivalent to a 53T chainring with a 30mm tire. The 50/46 is still a slightly easier gear than the 40/34, but just barely.

I still agree with what's been said about chainring clearance though.

[akira11]

A max chainring of 42T would make no sense on this type of bike. Let's wait for confirmation

[svedkoko]

More accurate reply:

"You can use GRX 2x  48T max on this frameset, and you can use XPLR 1x 46T on this frame too, but I don't think you would be able to run 57C max tire when you use 1x 46T."

Im trying to visualise the construction of a chainstay. How would it be possible to not be able use 46t with 57C tires.

[Requiem84]

Yes, something lost in translation here.

A bit more patience people… a frame is on it’s way to us. We can give the real life information soon
I have - 42/44/46 and 50 lying around here.

Tires clearance will be checked too. Will start with a 2.4 tire on 32mm int rim. Then we know the max directly .

[Bobinski]

Can we have a bit more information about frame finishes? What is standard and what will cost extra? For example is the gorgeous frame finish on the Aero bike "standard" ?

[Requiem84]

Can we have a bit more information about frame finishes? What is standard and what will cost extra? For example is the gorgeous frame finish on the Aero bike "standard" ?

1 simple color is standard. The aero road frame is YS 3067 afaik. I understand you can choose any YS color.

But best to check with XMCS directly, as I’m only taking orders again when we have arranged the selling from stock model.

[TommyGun]

Yes, something lost in translation here.

A bit more patience people… a frame is on it’s way to us. We can give the real life information soon
I have - 42/44/46 and 50 lying around here.

Tires clearance will be checked too. Will start with a 2.4 tire on 32mm int rim. Then we know the max directly .

Would be great to get some info for tyre clearance fot the 2x in the front.

[Evaso_CC]

Does anyone ride 2x on a gravel bike in 2026? 

[FlorianS]

Does anyone ride 2x on a gravel bike in 2026? 

People who use it as their n=1 bike, I guess.

[rolypoly]

Does anyone ride 2x on a gravel bike in 2026? 

Alexey Vermeulen, perhaps you’ve heard of him

He rode 2x at sea otter

And yes people who use Grav for road

[TommyGun]

Does anyone ride 2x on a gravel bike in 2026? 

My next gravel bike will still be 2x, as it is also my winter road bike. And perfect cadence on climbs means a lot to me!

[Requiem84]

Dear customers and bicycling fans,

We have an important update to share with you. Recently, another company in the bicycling industry has notified us that they are concerned about the XMCS trademark application of ‘AERYS’. They have asked us to withdraw the application as they are of the view that their trademark, whilst different and whilst used in a different bicycle segment than road/gravel racing is ‘too similar’.

We are of the view that we have good arguments should it result in a legal matter. However, given the uncertain outcome and potential very high costs involved - with pain in our hearts - we have decided to not use ‘AERYS’ any further.

We have developed the concept and branding of AERYS with a lot of passion and dedication to create a powerful platform for XMCS’ current and upcoming premium road and gravel race line-up. Although saddened to let AERYS go, we are committed to keep on building the high end products our customers enjoy every day. With that same commitment we have a developed a new premium line-up brand name. It will take a while before we can share it and use it.

Until we are there, we will be offering our frames without branding or with the new XMCS logo as pictured above.

[tmhbrl]

XMCS as a decal on the frame is fine in my opinion.
But the font, size and placement on your picture/mockup is not really well done (in my opinion) and does not reflect the expected quality of the frame…