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DINARICA is the custom steel frame developed by Vincenzo Forgione to tackle the Trans Balkan Race. Designed around Peter Leonard's specific needs, it combines bespoke geometry, loaded stability, long-distance comfort, and absolute reliability for bikepacking and cross-border adventures.
DINARICA was created for travel. It is neither a simple gravel bike nor a traditional racing bicycle: it is a platform designed to support the rider through consecutive days in the saddle while maintaining comfort, stability, and control even when carrying bikepacking bags and equipment.
Like every Forgione Telai project, the frame was developed starting from the rider rather than from a standard geometry. Position, weight distribution, carrying capacity, and dynamic behavior were defined to tackle long distances under real-world conditions.
| Frame | Custom Columbus steel – Silver Fillet Brazed |
| Geometry | Fully custom-built for ultra-distance riding and bikepacking |
| Intended Use | Bikepacking, gravel adventure, ultracycling |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc brakes |
| Cable Routing | Optimized for reliability and field maintenance |
| Wheels | Heavy-duty gravel configuration |
| Tires | Wide-section tires for comfort and control |
| Mounts | Bikepacking bags and touring accessories |
| Paintwork | Custom finish dedicated to the project |
| Construction | Entirely handcrafted in Italy |
DINARICA takes its name from the Dinaric Alps mountain range that stretches across much of the Balkans. A tribute to the landscapes of the Trans Balkan Race and to a philosophy of slow, authentic, and uncompromising travel.
DINARICA is designed for cyclists undertaking long journeys, ultracycling events, and bikepacking routes where comfort, reliability, and fatigue management become decisive factors. It is ideal for riders seeking a custom steel bicycle capable of accompanying them for thousands of kilometers without being constrained by the limitations of a standard geometry.
During events such as the Trans Balkan Race, speed is not the only challenge. After hundreds of kilometers, weight distribution, hand comfort, bike stability under load, and the ability to maintain an efficient position for many consecutive hours become essential.
For this reason, every aspect of the geometry was defined together with the rider, with the goal of reducing fatigue and improving the overall efficiency of the rider-bicycle system.
DINARICA was delivered directly to Peter Leonard at the Forgione workshop in Gesualdo, where Vincenzo performed the final adjustments before departure. From that moment on, the bicycle became an integral part of the adventure, covering thousands of kilometers across mountains, secondary roads, and remote territories.
Every DINARICA begins with direct collaboration between builder and rider. No predefined sizes, no standardized geometry: only a frame designed around the individual who will ride it.
This is the difference between a bicycle selected from a catalog and a bicycle built to accompany an extraordinary journey.
I build custom frames designed specifically for each athlete, using the Silver Fillet Brazed technique, which ensures both aesthetic beauty and functional performance.
Tests have shown that my frames withstand all types of stress. The spirit of steel frames embodies my construction philosophy: crafting unique pieces built to last over time.
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