Argon 18 Grey Matter Gravel Bike

Argon 18 Grey Matter: The Adventure-Ready Gravel Beast

When you are shopping for a gravel bike, it is usually important to ask yourself what type of gravel riding you plan on doing. For instance, are you more race oriented or adventurous? However, the Argon 18 Grey Matter is that rare gravel beast that has been cleverly designed not only to be the ultimate backpacking adventurer, but to do it with the type of responsive and snappy ride that will make you feel at home on a fast-paced multi-surface ride or race.

This aluminum frame gravel machine acts as a reminder for just how well aluminum works for bike frames. Lightweight and durable, the Argon 18 Grey Matter combines the luxury of an expertly designed frame with the practicality that comes with using a durable alloy. If you’ve ever winced listening to rocks pinging off your gorgeous carbon frame and wondered what the damage might be, you won’t have to worry about that with the Grey Matter.

Adding to the utility of this bike, Argon 18 have answered the backpacker’s cry for mounting bosses. Any seasoned bikepacker knows that you need secure places to mount packs and fenders if you really want to get out and into nature. So Argon 18 designers have provided two mounting bosses on the top tube, five on the down tube and three on the seat tube. They’ve also provided fixing points for fenders and a rear rack and the fork has mounting points for those big trips that require extra gear.

The Argon 18 Grey Matter gravel adventurer ensures you won’t get bogged down no matter how much kit you carry thanks to the wide tire clearance the frame and fork provide. The frame offers tire clearance for 43mm on a 700c wheel and as wide as 47mm if you use 650b wheels.

For the geometry, Argon 18 have found a nice balance between sharp handling and long distance comfort. It’s a drag to ride a bike that feels laborious anytime you want to get out of the saddle and kick it in the pants. Many endurance-oriented gravel bikes can have that effect, but not the Grey Matter. Sharper handling is the result of slight tweaks to the geometry that the designers made in comparison to the carbon Dark Matter. The bottom-bracket drop (7.5 cm) is 0.5 cm greater. The stack of the Grey Matter (58.5 cm) is 0.5 cm less, and the reach (38.8 cm) is 1 mm longer. This mix enhances both the Grey Matter’s stability and responsiveness.

And to make getting your perfect set-up even easier, Argon 18 designers apply their 3D headset with cable integration for easy maintenance and dialed-in fit options. It allows you to adjust the front end stack according to your needs – 0mm if you rather like a steeper drop to the bars, 15mm if you like to stay fairly low but want to give your back a break, and 30mm if you really do like the added comfort a higher stack can offer you. But since it is all designed to work with the frame, even the highest stack setting will not compromise the rigidity or handling, in the way spacers might.

Find the Perfect Fit for Your Riding Style with customization options of the Argon 18 Grey Matter

The Argon 18 Grey Matter aluminum gravel adventure bike comes in six sizes and a variety of build options. It’s the ultimate reliable option for big rides into unknown regions.

Also check Ibis gravel bikes.