In the event you’ve by no means heard of Stayer earlier than, that’s as a result of it’s a really small outfit in East London that builds what I consider to be a number of the most stunning steel-framed gravel and journey bikes at present obtainable. Headed up by biking energy couple Sam and Judith (pronounced Yu-dit) Stayer Cycles provides a number of fashions of off-road journey machines, from the chunky tyred OMG to the Groadinger UG, which it describes as an “extremely grav grav kitchen sink gravel bike constructed for journey groading and quick off roadin’.”
I used to be not solely lucky sufficient to get my palms on a Groadinger UG for testing, however since Stayer had by no means earlier than had a request for an additional small body — all its bikes are made to order — I provided up my measurements to assist the crew deliver an XS body into its line-up for the primary time. It appears a good change: Stayer will get an additional body measurement and geometry to supply its clientele, and I get a customized made-to-measure gravel bike to play with.
Stayer’s wares don’t cease at frames both, because it additionally hand builds its personal wheelsets for every thing from gravel and all-road, to fastened crits, cyclo-cross and highway racing. My Groadinger UG frameset got here full with a set of Stayer Gravel / Journey Disc wheels as properly.
As we’re at present within the midst of a elements scarcity, the construct I’ve been testing is made up of parts that might be simply obtained. For the aim of this assessment, I’ll solely be specializing in the frameset and wheelset, however I’ll touch upon specific parts which have contributed to the general trip really feel, and naturally, the decision.
Hold studying to learn how properly the Stayer Groadinger UG stands as much as the greatest gravel bikes in the marketplace.
Design and aesthetics
I feel it’s truthful to say that the general aesthetic of the Stayer Groadinger UG is straightforward and stylish. With its straight traces, spherical tubing, wishbone seat keep and choice of stunning (principally pastel) colors, it virtually seems too delicate to get muddy. Don’t let its seems idiot you although, I can attest to its hidden burly nature.
Geometry-wise, the Groadinger UG is unquestionably designed with endurance and luxury in thoughts, with a fairly relaxed trip place. The crew labored with Tim from Soigneur Bike Becoming to develop what it calls a “gravel-optimised” geometry designed for lengthy days within the saddle. In measurement XS it contains a 70.5-degree head tube angle and 74.5-degree seat tube angle, whereas the comparatively excessive stack and quick attain (534mm and 362mm respectively) place the rider right into a relaxed and comfy place.
In the meantime, Stayer’s wheels are fairly distinctive wanting, with their deep, matte-black carbon rims and enormous white decals.
In fact, when discussing aesthetics I’d be remiss to not touch upon the color choices. Stayer Cycles provides 5 in-house choices, some with suitably bonkers names (you definitely can’t deny the model is aware of find out how to get its character throughout regardless of taking over such a small nook of the market). My mannequin is painted in Swamp Dip, which Stayer describes as “a double dunk in Shrek soup”, and which I deem to be a really fairly pistachio-like color. It’s also possible to get it in How Now (a heat, cream color), Chillymanilly (pale pastel blue-green), Appelblauwzeegroen (a fantastic combination of apple, blue, sea, and inexperienced), or rAWrAW (phosphate dipped and clear-lacquered, so the welds and “all these excellent imperfections” are on full show). It’s also possible to select your personal RAL color or organise a customized design along with your painter of selection.
Specs
As a made-to-order frameset, the Groadinger UG is fairly versatile and might be made the way you need it. Hand-built and TIG welded in Stayer’s workshop in London, it’s constructed utilizing Columbus Zona, Life, and T45 tubing. Zona, which makes up nearly all of the body’s tubing, is a seamless non-symmetrical tube with cylindrical butts that strikes a wholesome steadiness between weight, power and sturdiness.
It’s appropriate with 1x or 2x setups, and comes with a selection of Ritchey or Whisky carbon forks. It’s flat mount, but in addition submit mount appropriate, and accommodates 140-160mm disc rotors, whereas the chrome steel dropouts are designed round 12mm Via axles. The spacing on the rear is 142mm, and due to the wishbone seat stays, there’s loads of house for 650b x 2.1in / 52mm and 700c x 40mm tyres.
The body comes with mudguard mounts as customary, and you may select to have as much as three bottle cage mounts. Different non-obligatory extras embrace Di2 inner routing and rear rack mounts (which my check mannequin doesn’t have). I may argue that the shortage of rear rack mounts is a big oversight, and that it ought to simply come as customary, however with the present development in direction of saddle luggage and compact bikepacking luggage, it’s not essentially what the bike is constructed for, and since there’s at all times an choice to have them included, it doesn’t give me an enormous quantity to complain about.
As I discussed earlier than, you have got a selection of forks, between the Ritchey WCS ADV (which mine is supplied with), and the Whisky No.9 Street Plus fork. Each fabricated from carbon, the important thing distinction is that the Ritchey options three baggage mounts on every fork leg and accommodates wider rubber than the Whisky. A 100x12mm Via axle comes included, as do mudguard mounts. You may carry a most of 3kg per facet, so choosing the Ritchey fork affords you an additional 6kg of carrying capability in complete. If neither of these floats your boat, Stayer additionally provides Lauf, Enve and Columbus forks.
The Gravel / Journey Disc wheelset is available in each a 700c or 650b choice (I received the latter), and are constructed round DT Swiss 350s. It’s also possible to select to improve, with SON dynamo hubs on provide amongst the alternatives.
The matte black carbon fibre rims are uneven, and bolstered for additional power on blended terrain. Their hookless design lets you run pretty low pressures within the tyres, and so they’re greatest suited to tyres ranging between 35 and 45mm in width, although mine are shod with 47mm Teravail Rutland tyres.
The wheels additionally include a selection of freehub our bodies, together with Shimano/SRAM 8-11spd, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo 9-12pd and Campagnolo Ekar N3W.
Construct
As I’ve already alluded to, as a result of restricted availability, the crew at Stayer Cycles constructed me a motorcycle with what they needed to hand and will pay money for, so there’s a bit of blending and matching at play, however general the construct works.
I’m operating 2x Shimano GRX 810 drivetrain parts, with 46/30 11-34 gearing. I’m additionally operating the GRX 810 flat mount brakes with 140mm rotors.
The 165mm crankset comes courtesy of Rotor, the headset and seatpost clamp are Hope, the underside bracket is Wheels Manufacturing, and an Ergon SMC saddle sits on the high.
Ending package features a Thomson Masterpiece Ti seatpost and silver Thomson Elite stem, which holds Ritchey Comp Logic Curve bars wrapped in Zipp CX Service Course bar tape. Lastly, the 47mm Teravail Rutland tyres got here setup tubeless out of the field.
Efficiency
I’ve ridden the Stayer Groadinger UG in all types of situations, from tarmac and lightweight gravel towpaths, to blue mountain bike trails, unfastened gravel lumps and absolute slop. Heavy rain and blistering sunshine, this Groadinger has seen all of it, and accompanied me on every thing from quick loops of a number of the greatest bridleways within the south west, to an all-day grind on the Brother Cycles Massive ‘Un in Kent, and lots of situations that fall in between.
Surprisingly, I’ve not needed to do a lot, if something in any respect, to finetune the match. As I discussed earlier than, the XS Groadinger UG was constructed round my measurements, so naturally it matches me rather well. I’ve been tempted to interchange the Ergon saddle a few instances but it surely’s by no means bothered me sufficient to really get round to doing it. Construct-wise if I have been to alter something, I’d swap out the entrance hub for a dynamo and have a few rear rack mounts, however these are extra wishlist objects than precise wants, and their absence is nothing to fret about.
From my time on the Groadinger UG I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s presumably some of the succesful and well-built metal gravel bikes I’ve had the pleasure of testing. Regardless of feeling fairly mild in comparison with another metal bikes I’ve ridden, the Groadinger UG ploughs via and over most tough terrain with enormous confidence and agility, all whereas feeling extremely snug and searching attractive.
As I anticipated to be the case, the Columbus metal soaks up a lot of the bumps and, even after all-day rides off-road, I’m but to seek out myself with aching arms or rattled joints.
In the meantime, with their deep-set carbon rims, the Stayer Gravel / Journey Disc wheels really feel quick off-road in addition to on, slicing via headwinds fairly properly contemplating the dimensions of the rubber wrapped round them.
The DT Swiss 350 hubs are a favorite amongst cyclists due to their reliability, confirmed energy switch and lightweight weight. With these hubs on the centre, the Stayer wheels are fast to interact and speed up, it doesn’t take them lengthy to choose up pace, and as soon as there it’s very straightforward to carry. Even with the Teravail Rutland tyres, with their tri-level lug sample for sustaining traction and shedding mud, you don’t lose a lot tempo when hitting the tarmac, and the entire trip feels environment friendly, snug and, most significantly, enjoyable. In the meantime the edges are robust and sturdy, having taken a good quantity of knocks (and slides on slippery rocks) and nonetheless wanting virtually new.
Verdict
I had a sense I used to be going to get pleasure from using the Groadinger UG, however I did not anticipate to adore it this a lot. With a fleet of bikes vying for my consideration after I head out (some mine, some for testing), it’s the Stayer I’m going again to time and time once more. I crave my subsequent mudslide trip, and depend down the times till I can trip it once more.
It’s troublesome to place into phrases how a lot I am keen on this bike with out my assessment studying like a love letter. Maybe it’s a love letter although since, in spite of everything, I feel so extremely of this bike that I’ve made the choice to put down my very own cash to purchase one. What higher endorsement can there be than that?
Tech Specs: Stayer Groadinger UG gravel frameset and wheels
- Worth: from £1,700 (body and fork), £1,190 (wheels), and £2,550 (rolling chassis)
- Body: Columbus metal
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, Customized
- Colors: Chillymanilly, rAwrAw, Swamp Dip, How Now, Appelblauwzeegroen
