Pete's Gothic Aix
Because founding a bike brand's no fun if you can't ride one, too
The brief
Pete needed a new gravel bike. And seeing as he's the driving force behind Gothic Cycles, well, what better frame to start with?
Besides, why should everyone else get to have all the fun?
The bike
Pete has been riding bikes since as long as he's been able to walk. With countless custom builds under his belt—not to mention several decades as a detail-obsessed bicycle mechanic—he knew exactly what he wanted for his own gravel bike. Every component on this build has earned its place through sheer performance (and sometimes sheer aesthetics).
People often take a long while to decide on their custom colour scheme for a Gothic, but this wasn't a challenge for Pete: green and black, to match BMCR's shop colours. And a sparkle top coat, 'cause if you're gonna go big, you go big.
Shimano Di2 was a non-negotiable base platform. But why do so many mechanics choose Shimano over SRAM? After all, they both offer perfect wireless, reliable, fast shifting, and powerful braking performance.
The answer is brake fluid.
It's as simple as that. When you work with brake fluids every day, mineral oil is a much more friendly product compared to DOT 5.1, not only for the mechanic, but also for the environment.
Overall, if you can avoid DOT fluid, do.
Next, the Garbaruk drivetrain: road/gravel crankset, chainring, GEN2.0 Microspline cassette and silver jockey wheels, all adding lightness and an unmistakable style.
The SQLab 614 Active saddle is just so darned comfortable that it had to find a home on this Gothic.
Pete built his wheelset with carbon Gothic Cycles rims laced to silver Hope Pro 5 hubs. (Yes, those ones. No swarms of hornets here.)
He also had an old AX Lightness seat post lying around—'cause that's the sort of stuff mechanics have in their spares box—so on it went.
More silver? Why the hell not. On went a Hope seatpost clamp and Garbaruk top cap.
Pete also machined the silver headset spacers on the shop lathe.
This man commits.
With a glitter finish to hypnotise the eye and enough silver to kill a werewolf, Pete's Gothic Cycles Aix gravel bike is a thing to behold.
Now, if only he can get some more time to ride it.
Want your own beast? Summon us.
