Sam's Golden Kegety
Sam came to me on the recommendation of a friend who I had built a bike for. It’s always special to get new builds from the good faith of previous ones so I wanted to make sure Sam bike would live up to the hype. As you can see, it may just have done so.
Like many who turn to gravel riding Sam had come from a road cycling background. As more and more people turn to off-road riding, the appeal of custom builders makes sense in a sector which is still changing and yet to settle on any firm standards. Likewise the appeal of steel for off-road endeavours means that custom builders are uniquely placed to make atypical and refined builds for people like Sam who want something different.
For most of my customers who are wanting a pure gravel machine I recommend the Kegety. Honed for off-road, there’s no reason to beat about the bush, it’s the right tool for the job and cuts right to it.
Sam wanted to ride this build for long solid jaunts over rough terrain, often riding 200km at a time, so comfort was key. When it comes to handling rough terrain carbon is a super material that flexes where it needs to and filters out fatiguing high frequency bumps. The Enve G23 gravel wheels are ideal for this sort of endeavour and with their shallow section are lateral compliment soaking up the buzz, while retaining their strength. Similarly the Enve Gravel bars are the comfiest bars I’ve ever ridden and welcome addition to the build. Still Sam was concerned about larger impacts and we spoke at length on various options. In the end we plumbed for the Redshift suspension post and stem. These components use elastomer inserts as an impact absorber, allowing the stem and post to flex, unable to the riders weight. Many long distance cyclist swear by them.
We wanted the design to have a theme of gold and copper throughout, selected components that used these colours. You can see it in the Chris King Matte Bourbon parts with matching headset, BB and hubs. These complimented the XX1 golden cassette and chain but the icing on the cake was using 24k gold leaf on all the frames logos. Beautifully executed by Jack Kingston, the gold leaf shimmers and shines, catching the light is ways paint can’t, such an amazing detail.
To complete the build we commissioned bag-makers extraordinaire Wizard Works to make a custom set of frame packs that bolt onto the frame, capping off a stunning build. All-in-all an excellent one to work on.
Custom Quirk Cycles frameset
Columbus Life and Zona tubing
Columbus Futura Cross+ Fork
Force/X01 AXS Mullet Groupset
Enve Gravel Carbon Bars, Redshift Stem and Post
Chris King Bourbon Headset and BB
Enve G23 Gravel Wheels
Photos by Nikoo Hamzavi