XMCS: 2026 Aero Gravel bike

[CycOps]

What @BadIdeasMakeGoodStories says is right in general.
For exapmle, while normal bidons probably do not giving any aero gains, ausually aero bidons do, like a faring between frame tubes.
That's why unter UCI regulation for time trialing, if you have bidons on your bike, they have to be at least half full.

[Noladutch]

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

[warthog]

Josh would appear to disagree

https://silca.cc/en-au/blogs/silca/why-aerodynamics-matter-at-all-speeds?srsltid=AfmBOoqSSWEge8LbHGbVXTxWxTnQ5OwFl99U8i5c_VHwNR_7OwAeqxJf

[Daviddavieboy]

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

 No more of a joke thinking 200g saving on a frameset is going to give them any performance gains, It's all about bragging rights. To me the "aero" thing is more about the looks anyway - to a point. My aero bikes (even the XM one I have) are definitly faster then my old race bike from the 2000s. I was MUCH stronger and lighter back then and continue to get faster average speeds on the same segments that I have been riding for 30+ years.

[jfcb]

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

Fender mounts, unused, are invisible to the wind and add a great deal of utility to the frame without adding any meaningful weight.....

It's quiet ironical, because with the bike you show, you prove exactly unnecessity for screw mounts: that bike has zero mounts for storage or fenders!

[lidation]

Josh would appear to disagree

https://silca.cc/en-au/blogs/silca/why-aerodynamics-matter-at-all-speeds?srsltid=AfmBOoqSSWEge8LbHGbVXTxWxTnQ5OwFl99U8i5c_VHwNR_7OwAeqxJf

Thanks! Good point that Silca raised about the Air Speed rather than Ground Speed is what matters and those headwinds is something everybody will experience.

[kbernstein]

It's quiet ironical, because with the bike you show, you prove exactly unnecessity for screw mounts: that bike has zero mounts for storage or fenders!

I don't see any irony in this. It only points out loaded bikes can be more aero. And so are (front) fenders. In what world would one prefer straps to mount accessories over screw mounts? I'm not sure. The only mounts I really really don't want on an aero bike are fork side mounts

[Requiem84]

The biggest thing I’m learning from the entire discussion is that people have different preferences and perspectives.

There is no right or wrong and nobody will actually convince someone else that his/her viewpoint is better.

My point of view is that you need to stay true to the type of bike you intend to design. For all features / shapes etc you need to ask yourself: does it stay with the philosophy of the design? Otherwise it’s not really clear what type of bike it is. So even if fork mounts would only be 0.3 watts slower, I wouldn’t go for them. Because the end product will be unclear. Is it meant to be an aero bike, travel bike or in between?

[kbernstein]

Pinarello might have had a point with their weird new gravel segmentation. Both are marketed for racing but one for shorter races with far less mounting options, essentially just a road bike with wide stays. And one still aero for marketed towards long distances with aero yet practical mounting options

I really don't think I'm in the minority when I say I like versatility and the potential to do 10 hours unassisted. I very much want aero and until fender mounts and top tube bosses are proven slower (hint: never), I want them even if I'm not using them most of the time

[Rolle2k]

The biggest thing I’m learning from the entire discussion is that people have different preferences and perspectives.

There is no right or wrong and nobody will actually convince someone else that his/her viewpoint is better.

My point of view is that you need to stay true to the type of bike you intend to design. For all features / shapes etc you need to ask yourself: does it stay with the philosophy of the design? Otherwise it’s not really clear what type of bike it is. So even if fork mounts would only be 0.3 watts slower, I wouldn’t go for them. Because the end product will be unclear. Is it meant to be an aero bike, travel bike or in between?

I kind of agree with you most here - but as i said earlier, dont make the frame reach to long for each size, its easier adding longer stream/handlebars rather than going shorter. Many bikes goes far to long, which limits possible users. I would say in that case here - look at 3T with RaceMax2 Italia, they kind of nailed it there.

[Requiem84]

I kind of agree with you most here - but as i said earlier, dont make the frame reach to long for each size, its easier adding longer stream/handlebars rather than going shorter. Many bikes goes far to long, which limits possible users. I would say in that case here - look at 3T with RaceMax2 Italia, they kind of nailed it there.

We’re finetuning a few very small things, so there won’t be any real geo changes.

I get everyone is trying to exercise some influence on geo snd features, but you’ll simply have to wait a week or so and you’ll get the bike XMCS wanted to design, taking into account many different perspectives. Just as an example, another guy asked to make sure the bike was long and low because ‘otherwise it wouldn’t be a success’.

We get bombed with opinions, and they are often 180 degrees apart.

As for the 3t, it has a STR of 1.53 in size L (eTT of 552) which is on the very extreme end for aero gravel bikes. The STR range for these sizes are from 1.40 (Astr, Able, Noah) to about 1.48 (ExAero, Rave). In the comparable size the xmcs will just be a bit below the average.

I’ll shut my mouth here and will ask you all to simply wait a little bit longer and then decide if this is the bike for you or not.

[apphex]

We’re finetuning a few very small things, so there won’t be any real geo changes.

I get everyone is trying to exercise some influence on geo snd features, but you’ll simply have to wait a week or so and you’ll get the bike XMCS wanted to design, taking into account many different perspectives. Just as an example, another guy asked to make sure the bike was long and low because ‘otherwise it wouldn’t be a success’.

We get bombed with opinions, and they are often 180 degrees apart.

As for the 3t, it has a STR of 1.53 in size L (eTT of 552) which is on the very extreme end for aero gravel bikes. The STR range for these sizes are from 1.40 (Astr, Able, Noah) to about 1.48 (ExAero, Rave). In the comparable size the xmcs will just be a bit below the average.

I’ll shut my mouth here and will ask you all to simply wait a little bit longer and then decide if this is the bike for you or not.

Does the S/M feel any more relaxed, or is it just as aggressive as the S?

[spud]

We’re finetuning a few very small things, so there won’t be any real geo changes.

I get everyone is trying to exercise some influence on geo snd features, but you’ll simply have to wait a week or so and you’ll get the bike XMCS wanted to design, taking into account many different perspectives. Just as an example, another guy asked to make sure the bike was long and low because ‘otherwise it wouldn’t be a success’.

We get bombed with opinions, and they are often 180 degrees apart.

As for the 3t, it has a STR of 1.53 in size L (eTT of 552) which is on the very extreme end for aero gravel bikes. The STR range for these sizes are from 1.40 (Astr, Able, Noah) to about 1.48 (ExAero, Rave). In the comparable size the xmcs will just be a bit below the average.

I’ll shut my mouth here and will ask you all to simply wait a little bit longer and then decide if this is the bike for you or not.

All that said, it's pretty easy to use a shorter stem and spacers, rather than trying to fit a negative rise super long stem to make up for fit shortcomings.

[Requiem84]

Details are live on Instagram.

Geometry: 57mm clearance without compromises
•⁠  ⁠Unpainted frame size M (incl. mount bolts and hangers): 1035g +/- 30g. Fork 450g +/- 10g. Seat post 190g +/-5g
•⁠  ⁠Gearing: 1X and 2X, electronic & mechanical
•⁠  ⁠UDH
•⁠  ⁠In frame storage
•⁠  ⁠T47 85.5mm
•⁠  ⁠Mounting points on top tube and down tube

2 new handlebars:

•⁠  ⁠GR: AERO
•⁠  ⁠GR: RISE

Same geometry, but GR: RISE adds 25mm stack for riders who prefer a higher position without many spacers.

•⁠  ⁠72mm reach
•⁠  ⁠-8° stem angle
•⁠  ⁠90mm extra width in drops
•⁠  ⁠105mm drop

Price:

•⁠  ⁠Frame USD 1490 (incl 1 custom color, or standard XMCS paint scheme).
•⁠  ⁠both handlebars: USD 330

Package deal 1: Frame + Handlebar USD 1690.

Package deal 2: Frame + Handlebar + 32.5/41mm wheel set (830 USD) for USD 2390

Expected delivery:
•⁠  ⁠Size M in May/June
•⁠  ⁠Size S and L in June/July
•⁠  ⁠Size XL July/August

Pre-order:
If you want to secure a frame as early as you can, you can pre-order with 50% downpayment.

[Rolle2k]

What reaches will be avalible for the handlebars? The small could actually work for me, if handlebars are avaliable in 60mm length.
A bit pricier than i hoped for, but who knows - maybe for 2027