What others merely promise, the Tulipp Adventure A65 actually delivers. Gravel bikes have long since evolved from a niche product into versatile all-rounders. They aim to combine the speed and efficiency of a road bike with the off-road capability of a mountain bike, thereby offering an enormous range of uses. The Cycles Tulipp Adventure A65 takes this a step further: it is not simply an off-the-shelf production bike, but is individually tailored to each rider using a carefully considered ‘do-it-all’ approach.
Conclusion
A gravel bike is at its most enjoyable when it is tailored to its rider down to the very last detail. The Tulipp Adventure A65 opens up a world of possibilities for bespoke solutions. The Canadians’ high-quality steel frames and forks can even accommodate unusual special requests. Thanks to its generous tyre clearance, the Tulipp is the ideal robust touring bike for almost any terrain. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
The Tulipp Adventure A65: a fact check
- Intended use: gravel bike
- Ground clearance: 57 mm
- Frame material: steel
- Fork material: steel
- Weight: from approx. 9.5 kg
- Price: N/A
- Special features: made in Canada, custom geometry and paint finish
Bespoke steel frames: customised geometry and details
At the heart of the Adventure A65 is its steel frame. Tulipp manufactures this by hand in Montreal. The Canadians generally favour steel as a frame material, citing the material’s high durability and comfortable ride quality as the reasons for this. Durability, comfort, customisability and off-road capability are the key priorities. This is by no means a simple, off-the-shelf frame. Tulipp manufactures each one individually. Tube diameters and selection are tailored to factors including the rider’s weight, the desired stiffness and the intended use. The geometry is also adapted to the rider’s body shape and riding position.
At Tulipp, it’s not simply a case of customers choosing from a range of frame sizes. Every frame is made to order. Naturally, customers can also decide on the paintwork, finish and specifications of the complete bike. They also determine the positioning of mounting points for luggage and accessories. Whether their bike should be fitted with a hub dynamo, how many bottle holders it should have, and whether it needs mounts for mudguards are all decided by Tulipp riders themselves, based on their own preferences and needs. This opens up interesting possibilities for multi-day tours. There are no fixed prices at Tulipp. Prospective buyers can make an advance payment of 640 euros for a custom frame, or around 350 euros for a custom steel fork. A personal consultation then takes place to determine what the bike should be capable of and how much it should cost.
Space for tyres up to 57 millimetres wide
The design of the rear triangle on the Adventure A65 is particularly interesting. Tulipp uses a 3D-printed stainless-steel yoke, which provides plenty of space around the tyres and drivetrain. Custom-shaped seat stays are also used. The frame utilises thin-walled chromoly steel tubes, which are designed to absorb some of the bumps. According to the Canadian manufacturers, tyre sizes of up to 700 × 57 millimetres or 29 × 2.1 inches are possible, depending on the drivetrain configuration.
The generous tyre clearance significantly expands the Adventure A65’s range of uses. Fitted with narrower tyres, the A65 can be used as a fast gravel bike. With larger, more deeply treaded tyres, it becomes a much more off-road capable adventure bike. Tulipp therefore recommends this steel gravel bike above all to riders whose routes do not end at the end of the road but are intended to continue even over rough terrain. It is not the bike that should determine where the journey takes you, but the rider.
What do you think: would you even look as far afield as Canada for a bespoke steel gravel bike? Which custom frame builders can you recommend? Let us know in the comments!
Jan Timmermann
Editor