We often tout titanium as the ultimate gravel and cyclocross frame material. It’s light, resists corrosion, dents and cracks, doesn’t typically have paint to scratch, and can be repaired. Many tout the ride quality of the wonder metal’s ability to offer comfort, stiffness and springiness. The downside? The expense, of course.
We’ve thrown a leg over titanium cyclocross and gravel frames from Merlin, Dean, Mosaic, Chumba, Sage and Foundry, among others, but a Canadian titanium creation? Not yet, but a new T-Lab gravel bike is on our radar.
The new titanium offers future-proof dropouts, big tire clearance, and geometry that looks equally at home on a cyclocross course and gravel race.
See the full announcement below.
T-LAB Introduces X3.22 Gravel Bike
The Canadian manufacturer of performance-oriented titanium frames launches what it is calling its best gravel bike ever.
T-Lab X3.22
T-Lab Bikes just introduced a new generation of its flagship X3 gravel bike, the X3.22. “We started T-Lab to push titanium forward, and that means always looking to improve from a performance standpoint,” said Rob Rossi, Co-Founder of T-Lab.
T-Lab X3.22
“With the X3, that wasn’t easy, since a lot of people have called it the perfect gravel bike.” The new X3.22 frameset has been enhanced from end-to-end, starting with an optimized geometry, and including a new T-Bone seat stay design that enhances torsional stiffness without compromising vertical compliance or tire clearance (up to 700x45c).
T-Lab X3.22 Seat Tube
The improvements extend all the way to the streamlined front-end of the bike, which includes a stiffer yet sleeker carbon fork. “All things considered, we believe this sets a new technical standard for a titanium gravel bike.”
T-Lab X3.22 Front Quarter
Like every T-Lab, the X3.22 frame features a unique, radically shaped titanium profile, which delivers up to 30% more lateral rigidity than conventional round tube Ti bikes, without compromising on the comfort and ride quality titanium is renowned for.
T-Lab X3.22 Rack Mount
It is completely manufactured in-house, based on rider specifications, within a 6-to-8-week lead time. From there, T-Lab delivers frameset and complete bike orders to cyclists around the world. “We’re fortunate to have built-up a cult following over the years, one satisfied rider at-a-time,” says Rossi. “With gravel bikes continuing to grow in popularity, the X3.22 will help us bring the advantages of our new school titanium to even more people.”
The frameset retails for $4750 and complete bikes starting at $6250.
See the company details below.
T-Lab X3.22 Product DetailsMore info: t-lab-bikes.com
