My friend Raffaele rides a TerraForge, one of my steel frames designed to be set up in different ways. In August 2024 he sent me a small photo report of a beautiful sunset ride in the Bavarian countryside, together with a few lines on how the bike changes depending on the tyres.
Here is Raffaele's comment (August 2024):
Good morning Vincenzo, I'm sending you a small photo report of a beautiful ride towards the sunset in the Bavarian countryside.
The TerraForge is now in its light version, the tyres are 45 mm, so it is an agile but very solid princess. With the 55s it is powerful, still decidedly agile and fulfils the aims of the original project, but this is actually, honestly, the most versatile version. 37/38 tyres would give it yet another touch on certain routes, but that narrow they would look ugly on this kind of frame. In short, gravel is a wonderful world that you have to know how to interpret in the most appropriate way for your own needs and ambitions. Have a good day 👋🚲
The light version, with 45 mm tyres
"An agile but very solid princess": I couldn't have described it better. With 45 mm tyres the TerraForge stays light and responsive, and the wider section gives comfort and grip on mixed ground, perfect for long rides.
With 55 mm tyres
With 55 mm tyres, Raffaele says, the bike becomes "powerful, still decidedly agile" and does exactly what the original project was meant for: more stability and control on rough ground, without losing the handling of the frame.
And with 37/38 mm tyres?
Raffaele also thought about narrower 37/38 mm tyres: they would give yet another feel on some routes, but on a frame like this he finds them less attractive. A good reminder that choosing tyres is not only about performance but also about how the bike looks.
Interpreting the world of gravel
Raffaele put it perfectly: gravel is a varied world, and everyone has to interpret it according to their own needs. That is exactly why I design the TerraForge to accept different set-ups, so the same frame can follow the rider on very different routes and seasons.
Thank you Raffaele for your words and your photos. If you would like a versatile frame built around you, have a look at the gravel section or write to me.
Warm regards and happy riding,
Vincenzo
