Gallery: Two Of The Best Gravel Bikes We've Ever Customized, Part 1

September 02, 2020

[Don't miss the other half of our custom Breed duo, featuring a more subtle paint job and SRAM parts.]

We love custom bikes. There's nothing quite like finding that perfect frameset, picking out your favorite parts that complement your riding style and fit needs, and then building up a truly unique dream machine. That's why we offer so many different models as framesets (also known affectionately as "frame kits"), due to the feedback and interest we've received from riders over the years.

However, we don't offer the Breed gravel bike as a frameset—at least, not yet. We've been humbled by the success of the Breed, which we measure not in sales numbers but in the stories we receive from cyclists who have taken their riding to new heights, terrains, and locales thanks to the Breed's ability to get off the beaten path. We've heard your tales of chasing the sunset across the open countryside, linking up sections of your favorite road route with a few mountain bike trails, and swapping out a few stock parts to make your bike uniquely yours.

So we've been thinking, maybe it's time to try our hand at creating a custom Breed bike for ourselves. And then we thought, why stop at just one? So we designed and built two custom Breed gravel bikes—the Shimano-equipped rainbow beauty you see below, and a more subdued, SRAM-equipped version that you can see here.

If you're looking for tips on how to build your own custom bike, click here. And hit us up on social media and let us know what you think about custom bikes, and whether or not you'd like to see the Breed available as a frameset. For now, though, feast your eyes on our latest creation below.

THE SPECS

Frameset: Felt Breed gravel bike

Groupset:  Shimano GRX 810, 40t chainring and 172.5mm crankarms, 11-32 cassette, 160mm/140mm rotors (front/rear).

Cockpit: Shimano Pro Vibe alloy stem and Pro Vibe carbon seatpost; Shimano Pro PLT alloy handlebar

Saddle: Prologo Scratch M5 hardblack TIROX

Wheels & Tires: Shimano GRX wheels, Vittoria Terreno Dry tires, size 38C

THE PAINT JOB

"Okay," you're wondering. "What's up with that radical paint job?!" Good question. In preparation for the upcoming launch of our newest collection of gravel bikes, we wanted to experiment with a wide array of new color palettes, designs, paint types. And with so many to choose from, we decided to have some fun and throw a bunch together onto a single frame, then mix and match the various options until we found something that stood out. While this Breed is a truly one-of-a-kind creation, don't be surprised if you happen to spot its likeness in future iterations of some of our bikes. Interested in checking out a custom paint job with the boldness turned down a notch or two? Check out our other custom Breed build.

CLICK HERE FOR SOME TIPS ON BUILDING YOUR OWN CUSTOM BIKE.

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