The Traka is, as someone aptly put it to me while I sat in a square packed with amatuer riders turning out in their best kit, gravel fashion week. It’s like Milan at the end of September, except everyone is stressing about their carbs in a different way.
In recent years it’s begun to match Unbound as the event to be seen at, and I’d say this year it’s probably surpassed it. The number of brands, events, pop-ups, and general maelstrom of big tyre mayhem is probably such that it couldn’t actually be supported to the same degree in Emporia.
It’s also become the event to launch new gravel bikes, much like the Critérium du Dauphiné is for road bikes, but somehow even more so here. I’ve spotted eight new bikes that are either in prototype phase, final testing, have launched specifically over the event, or are just a handful of days old. One I can’t tell you about though – sorry!
Right, let’s kick things off with an all new BMC Kaius that I managed to steal away from a fancy bike shop for ten minutes.
Don’t be fooled by the slick nature of these Continental Terra Competition tyres, it can take 55mm knobbies.
Unlike many of the new bikes we will get into it retains quite a slender looking frame, despite the wide forks.
As ever, an integrated cockpit is a must.
Truncated tubes, but the head tube isn’t crazy deep.
The hoses route through recesses covered by a plastic cover, which should make installation a lot easier.
As well as bosses on the underside of the down tube there is a set for a bento box up top.
To be unobjective for a second, I think the Kaius looks pretty stunning, especially with the slicks, and the front end is the best bit in my opinion.
One neat feature is this strap tab…
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