Nope, the Velobuild is a size to small for me so completely different position making a proper combination not really possible.

The GRT and me did a 160km Gravel race in Belgium with lots of climbing and descending.

On the descends and downhills it really is a weapon. I was picking up people left and right. Shame there is no magic bullet for the climbs  😄.

Can someone convince me why it would be a terrible idea to use this frame for the tour divide 2026?! Ive been hunting for something that can handle 2.2” tires and build it myself. Im a fan of the Ari Shafer 3.0 but this seems interesting.

I guess racks and fenders are less ideal with the GRT.

Anything else it will handle for something like that. It’s a very rugged frame, not a svelte one like the Xmcs VRT.

Maybe geo a bit sporty for those ultra’s, but the riser handlebar is then the way to go.

If you search Alixpress for ‘frame storage bag’ or ‘frame storage pouch’ you get all the options. It’s a few euro’s.

Jesse Coyle from the Nero show got the full report.

He summarized it well in their episode on the VRT, noting that it was quite a complicated report to wade through and to understand.

Starting a the 7minute mark.

https://youtu.be/wM52UEleG7Y?is=gIXdatqZNhSwyMc9

Do note: not a single brand shares the full direct wind tunnel report. They all get a similar report, but then process it in a white paper. They can add / take out stuff in their white paper as they see fit.

I completely agree.

Hence why we worked on a new (high end) brand identity. There is a complete branding book, linking all Xmcs core principles and values to the AERYS concept. It was much more than a name, it was a lot of hard work and iterations to position Xmcs brand identity.

It was validated in the trademark database, trademark was filed, until just prior to the acceptance deadline a competitor notified us of his objection because he felt the name was too similar to a (non racing) bike range of his.

You cannot imagine how disappointing it was to see all these months of hard work, creativity and passion to be put down the drain with one letter.

That happened late, so not a lot of time to go through the same process again before the release pf the new frames. There needs to be something in terms of branding with the go live. There now is, and there are multiple options.

Perhaps in the future there will be something else like Aerys as a proper evocative high end brand identity, but exactly as you say: xmcs cannot keep on changing these things.

Simultaneously the half cut logo is a sales banger. GRT and VRT frames are selling incredibly well. Telling me the typical xmcs customer isn’t in this particular discussion on Chinertown.

Also makes me question why I engage so much here, as I don’t sell frames, parts, nor get any commission on xmcs sales. I’m - as a xmcs partner - just here because I am very much passionate of the product. I ride our GRT as often as I can. Every time I get of the bike I can’t wait for my next gravel adventure.

But I take all your feedback to personal ;-). In the end, the branding is now clarified. Don’t like it? Send Peter a message.

In the meantime I will focus on my own customers.

And another logo option released today.

110, steers a bit lazier than the VRT, but even on the road it works for me. You can throw it into corners. Wouldn’t want faster steering, would impact the stability on gravel. I’m pretty ‘on the nose’ in terms of fit. Even with the 74 degree STA, my saddle is in max forward position. That also impacts the handling obviously.

What’s the HTA on your current frame and what is the fork offset? Or maybe better, which frame is it?