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What defines a high performance bicycle? Interpretations abound, really something for everyone out there these days. In this the ALUMAX II is exceptional, without being the exception. Gently ask yourself: do i naughtily fantasize the notions of the s-crux, enve mog, allied able, open wide, and the etc, but wince at carbon, internal routing, dropped seat stays, price tags, confusing standards, and *gasp* disc brakes ….? I need to sell 50 of these, so hopefully this query has made some palms sweaty. 100 sweaty palms plz.

Rim brakes on the leading edge of gravel???

Rim brakes offer several advantages in a modern performance platform — there are reasons beyond being a contrarian, not that we all don’t love that aspect. Beyond serviceability, looks, and supreme modulation (when set up properly), rim brakes allow for the use of lighter and more complaint frame materials because you do not need to brace for the loads of discullar braking. this is most notable on the fork, as the further down the blade you place the braking forces, the stiffer that blade needs to be to keep from twisting and diving.

So Frank and I came up with the Grav Traxxx fork using a lightweight steerer paired with tapered unicrown blades capped with his signature drop outs, a nod to the world championship winning accu trax forks Frank used to make for Yeti in the late 80s early 90s. I think you will find the updated version to be a very comfy and attractive fork. I personally don’t think you will miss your disc brakes 95% of the time, whilst all of the time you will enjoy the added ride quality attributed to their remittence.

Designed around 42-55mm tires

Geometry and tires (clearance and actual tire construction), are two aspects of cycling that have made huge leaps in the past 5ish years. The Rons CR1 Country Road platform that clears 700×39 would have been considered a gravel bike 8 years ago, and an advanced one at that! (save for the caliper brakes). Released 3 years ago, the Alumax 1 was and still is an advanced grav bike that clears 700×50, but myself and several others have been experimenting further with lightweight XC tires up to 55mm in width.

After 2 years of testing on the mixed surfaces of New England and the all out american grav of Arizona, the narrowest tire I would run on a purpose built grav bike is a 45. I don’t think I’d go past 55, and that 55 has got to be light, and it can be light, on account of the large volume taking the hits. that light, large volume combo is what makes it rollllllllllll like good dreams on laser beams, a win win.

A grav bike with 45-55mm tires is a much improved 90s mountain bike. And if you were there in the 90s, you probably remember riding dirt roads on your mountain bike getting aero on your narrow ass bars on the bar ends searching for single track. those awkward bar ends morphed into the same position as riding in the hoods of a drop bar grav bike. mountain biking more resembles motorized dirt biking than it’s 90s iteration these days, so I find these newest gravel trends rather appealing as a continuation of the sport I have always loved.

Grav is king!

Set an ALUMAX II up like a racer, or with a positive rise stem. sizing up while shortening the stem will also give you a more relaxed fit, and can easily be tuned into your fantasy 29er dirt drop Cunningham — I know it would be cool if we could make these with roller cams, but thats an expensive project for another time. Set it up with a flat bar and you have a very light hybrid aka 90s mountain bike with 29er wheels.

here is a sneak peak (not if you read the last blog) of our to be released BRÜT in 700×53. It’s light (~600g) and has loads of volume. Out here in Arizona it makes a chunky road into a ride in the clouds

What is so éspecial about the geo?

these photos are all of my prototype. you can watch the video of all that coming together here. the production bike has 5mm longer chain stays, and the bottles move down a little on the down tube. I should note that only the L and XL have 2 bottle mounts on the down tube.

Much like the CR1, the geo of the ALUMAX II features a steep seat tube angle putting you more over the pedals, along with a long front center for a shorter stem. The bottom bracket is low, with 80mm of bb drop. This puts you in a power position right inside the bike, optimized for the contemporary shorter crank lengths. I am running 170 cranks here and report zero pedal strikes.

I ride a large, sized down from an XL for a racier fit. I have short legs and a long torso, so I am always needing a longer stem than most. this is a 120, but most people will be running something shorter to account for the long top tube. the front end on this bike is on the slack side, but not overly so. it does not flop around on steep climbs or when attacking out of the saddle. The long top tube and slack head tube also make room for the big tire, even on the smaller sizes without toe overlap.

Materials, why aluminum?

Aluminum bikes get a bad wrap being sandwiched between steel and carbon. Their decade of high end relevancy was trounced by the marketing pushes of the carbon age. Carbon fiber is an exceptional material, don’t get me wrong, but it certainly lacks the personality of metal. Aluminum is a great way to accomplish something that is less expensive than ti and carbon, but still lighter than steel. People thought it was too stiff, and experienced atop 23mm tires at 120psi, it often times is. On modern tires at modern pressures, however, that harshness is not perceivable. Let’s not forget that compliant steel fork we were just talking about too! Another way to smooth a bike out is with a long titanium seat post, another reason for the sloping geometry.

Our aluminum tubing is of the highest quality, drawn for us by Dedacciai in Italy and welded together by arguably the most storied and experienced welder in North America, Frank the Welder, who once made the era defining race bikes for Missy Giove, Juli Fertado, and John Tomac. I think that is so cool.

ALUMAX II is available for pre order now at RONSBIKES.COM for late spring delivery. Total cost is $2200 for raw like this one, or powder coat will be a $100 up charge. There will be several TBA colors to choose from when the time comes.

Frame: Dedacciai 7005 made in Bellows Falls VT

Fork: Columbus steel made in Bellows Falls VT

Tire Clearance: 700×45 – 700×55

Seatpost size: 27.2

Front der clamp: 31.8

Rear spacing: 135 QR

Front spacing: 100 QR

Headset: 1 1/8″

Bottom bracket: 68mm BSA

Frame: 1750g

Fork: 825g

::::watch the YouTube on the making of here::::

grav, long live!

XXRR