Australia is a long way away – every child knows that. It’s therefore unlikely that you’d come across a bike from the other side of the world here in Europe. Australia has an active gravel bike community and a thriving frame-building culture. Bastion, Curve, Gothic and Prova are four examples of the craftsmanship of Australian gravel bike manufacturers. From titanium to 3D printing and carbon fibre, the Australians know how to work with a variety of materials and conjure up unrivalled gravel bikes for the gravel tracks of the Outback.
Conclusion
I’ve been to Australia twice myself and love the Aussies’ laid-back way of life. As my enthusiasm for unusual bikes has grown, however, I’ve also come to appreciate the fifth continent for its stunning gravel bikes. The Australians seem to have not only wild natural landscapes and a penchant for Vegemite, but also a knack for exquisite frame-building. - Jan Timmermann, TOUR editor
1. Bespoke manufacturing without compromise: Bastion
Bastion Cycles has a clear mission: its bicycles should embody the fusion of precision engineering and bespoke design. That is why even the Crossroad gravel bike is not built to a standardised blueprint. Instead, Bastion develops the bike in close consultation with its future owner. Body measurements, riding style and personal preferences are directly incorporated into the design. The result is a geometry that is uncompromisingly tailored to the rider – and a bicycle that adapts individually to its owner in terms of both fit and handling.
The demand for customisation goes far beyond mere geometry. Even during the development phase, the expected handling characteristics can be simulated and the frame visualised as a virtual 3D model. The company’s technical roots lie in the automotive industry: the founders bring their experience from this sector to bear, as well as the relevant high-end equipment – including their own 3D printer for titanium components. After all, at Bastion, individuality doesn’t stop at the technical specifications. The design of the bike can also be customised almost entirely to your liking. From bespoke paint finishes to personalised engravings, every gravel bike becomes a truly one-of-a-kind creation.
Bastion Crossroad in detail
- Intended use: All-road / Gravel
- Ground clearance: 43 mm
- Frame material: carbon (tubes) / titanium (joints)
- Weight of the complete bike: approx. 7.8 kg
- Price: N/A
- Special features: Bespoke hybrid frames; geometry and appearance can be customised; manufacturing a single frame requires >130 machine hours and >70 hours of manual labour
2. Titanium-carbon hybrids: Curve
With its gravel bikes, Curve Cycling aims to set new standards in the high-end sector. The frame, developed and manufactured in Melbourne, combines carbon and titanium in an unusual blend of materials that is as technically ambitious as it is visually spectacular. The bottom bracket area, seat stays, dropouts, as well as the head tube and top tube are made of titanium, whilst the chain stays, seat post, cockpit, fork, down tube and seat tube are made of carbon.
As a result, Curve promises noticeably stiffer handling in the drivetrain, without completely sacrificing the compliance typical of titanium. The aim is to appeal to a correspondingly affluent clientele. Yet the CarboKev gravel bike is far more than just an exclusive showpiece: behind this extraordinary concept lies extensive development work, which has been put through its paces in numerous tests and follows a clear technical and design philosophy.
Curve CarboKev in detail
- Intended use: Gravel
- Ground clearance: 56 mm
- Frame material: carbon / titanium
- Weight: N/A
- Price: from approx. 21,700 euros
- Special features: Carbon-titanium hybrid frame; custom geometry, components and paint finish available
3. The dark side of gravel biking: Gothic
At the heart of Gothic Cycles lies the belief that bicycles should, above all, be designed for those who actually ride and maintain them. Accordingly, Gothic’s design philosophy is not guided by trends or marketing imperatives, but by function, performance and the specific requirements of the rider. Geometry, cable routing and component selection are coordinated and consistently tailored to the intended use.
Every bicycle is hand-built and individually tailored to the rider’s style, terrain and personal preferences. Gothic places great importance on uncompromising craftsmanship down to the very last detail. The brand also forges its own path in terms of design. The name Gothic refers to the interplay of contrasts – such as between light and shadow, form and function, or beauty and ruggedness. In this way, the brand combines technical precision and bespoke customisation with a deliberately striking and distinctive aesthetic.
Gothic Aix in detail
- Intended use: Gravel
- Ground clearance: 50 / 45 mm
- Frame material: carbon
- Frame weight: approx. 1120 g
- Price: from approx. 3,680 euros
- Special features: Custom build and paintwork available
4. 3D-printed titanium statements: Prova
For Prova, the gravel bike is designed to let you leave the traffic and hustle and bustle of the city behind. At the heart of every model is a lightweight yet robust titanium frame, which, combined with a carbon rigid fork from specialist manufacturer Enve, is well-equipped for challenging rides off the beaten track. Luggage mounts on the fork further expand the bike’s versatility for longer rides and bikepacking adventures.
A 3D-printed chainstay yoke provides sufficient clearance for gravel tyres up to 50 millimetres wide. The dropouts are also 3D-printed and made entirely from titanium. For use with derailleur gear systems, Prova employs a horizontal dropout, which allows the chain tension to be adjusted with precision. These complex components are manufactured by fusing titanium powder layer by layer according to the developers’ specifications. The 3D-printed components are then meticulously hand-finished to achieve their final shape and a distinctive, glossy finish.
Pinion Prova Mostro in detail
- Intended use: Gravel
- Ground clearance: 50 mm
- Frame material: titanium
- Frame weight: from 1,500 g excluding the gearbox
- Price: N/A
- Special features: Custom tube set and geometry, 3D-printed titanium parts
Tell us: what do you know about Australian cycling culture? Let us know in the comments!
Jan Timmermann
Editor