AVALANCHE GRAVEL TITANE

MANUFACTURING DATE : AUGUST 2026

CYCLIST : Men , 1m90

PRESENTATION :

Some of you may have seen this bike featured in certain media outlets, such as The Radavist, since we showcased it at the 2026 Bespoked Europe Show. This project stems first and foremost from a friendship—the one we share with Tim, the founder of the Copra brand, whom we met when our workshop first opened. We’re all united by our shared profession as designers, our love of cycling, and the proximity of our workshops. A year ago, Tim told us he wanted to buy one of our bikes, and soon after, the idea for a joint project—one that would also showcase his work—was born.

GEOMETRY

Tim loves gravel roads—preferably with lots of rocks—and small, winding, bumpy roads, and he wanted very wide tires for his rides. So we took advantage of these specifications to evolve our titanium Gravel model into a sort of “Gravel+,” featuring a new fork and the addition of a yoke.

We had already developed a titanium road fork (seen here), and the idea was to adapt it for a similar model, but in an oversized version. The steerer tube and dropouts were redesigned to accommodate 2” tires, as well as wider fork legs, which we ovalize in our workshop using a new mold. Like the road model, it’s equipped with a carbon pivot manufactured in France by the brand “Sample.” The fork also features integrated routing for hoses and lights, as well as three side eyelets on each side. Since Tim seems to have developed an aversion to very tall head tubes (which are often unavoidable for tall riders like him), we intentionally lengthened the fork steerer tubes. This allows us to raise the handlebar and riding position while gaining a few centimeters on the head tube. It’s one of the many benefits of custom-built bikes.

In addition to the signature features found on every Avalanche titanium bike (such as the hidden seatpost clamp thanks to the 3D-printed connector and the rear dropouts), we designed and had a custom yoke 3D-printed to allow the tire to pass through while maintaining a fluid and cohesive design. Since Tim is also a designer, the bike’s aesthetics and lines are just as important to him as its functionality.

COMPONENTS

For the wheels, as is often the case, we opted for a pair of carbon wheels from the French brand Duke, whose quality we no longer doubt. Here, their new high-end gravel model, the “Sierra,” is fitted to this bike, offering greater durability with an even lighter weight. The front wheel is laced with the latest Son dynamo hub, the 29S, which has a higher power output than the SON 28 and is therefore particularly well-suited here, since the chosen front light also allows for charging electronic devices. The Ultradynamico tires perfectly round out this setup and provide the ideal blend of “comfort and responsiveness” for Tim’s rides.

Here, the Avalanche rear dropout incorporates the Supernova light into its design, both showcasing it and protecting it within this titanium housing.

As for the drivetrain, Tim opted for a cable-only setup—for both shifting and braking—in pursuit of simplicity and reliability. The brake calipers and levers he chose are from the Japanese brand Equals (Growtac), which you’ve already seen on some of our bikes. This is the first time we’ve used these levers, which were recently released and feature friction-based shifting without indexing. The idea of combining the power of disc brakes with the simplicity of cable-operated shifting is ideal for Tim’s riding style, as he often goes on cycling trips. The drivetrain is complemented by components from the Italian brand Ingrid, which we really like, including an aero single-chainring crankset—chosen here to spare Tim the laborious cleaning that’s normally required after rides in the woods. The derailleur from the same brand is a perfect match for this drivetrain. With its raw, straightforward mechanical design, it allows for the replacement of many individual parts separately in the event of a breakage. The silver-and-black color scheme of these two components was also the perfect finishing touch for this bike (which I’ll discuss further below).

Finally, this bike also features titanium components made in our workshop, such as a seatpost and our titanium stem model, which you’ve seen many times on our bikes.

PAINTJOB AND BAGS

It’s impossible to talk about this bike’s finish without mentioning the luggage, since the two are closely linked. It’s pretty rare for our customers to make their own luggage, so we might as well take advantage of it.

Several years ago, we’d already created a paint job inspired by “Dazzle-razzle” (you can read the story here). Tim had particularly liked that finish, so we decided to create continuity between the bike’s designs and those of the luggage—especially the frame bag—for his bike. So we held a collaborative “coloring” session to work out the bike’s overall graphic design together, taking each other’s technical constraints into account. The patterns visible on each bag aren’t printed—they’re sewn—using a combination of black and gray fabrics. The fabric Tim chose, “Ultra 100X,” is more durable than Cordura, while being twice as light and 100% waterproof. The two fabrics were sewn together, heat-sealed on the inside, and a nylon lining was added. (Thanks, Tim, for the reminder :) .

Here, the white of the Dazzle design is replaced by titanium—raw and finely brushed—which contrasts beautifully with a slightly pearlescent black. The patterns on the frame bag extend onto the frame itself, ensuring seamless integration and a beautiful visual cohesion throughout. Secured by eyelets welded to the frame—rather than straps—the bag fits perfectly, with no risk of damaging the paint over time. A saddle bag and a food pouch round out this set.

Thank you, Tim, for your trust. This project was particularly smooth and enjoyable to work on with you :)