Over the last couple of years, we’ve all felt like we were treading water. The pandemic took its toll on many bike companies, Penhale alike. On one positive side, it was great that we could sell through our inventory, on the other negative side, it meant that we couldn’t get new inventory to replace the stock of frames, components, or even nuts and bolts products - especially for a tiny brand like us. You can probably imagine that many companies will fill orders to the big companies far sooner than they’ll even think of looking at what we needed.
While there are still issues getting some components, the good news is that many of our vendors are coming out the other side and we partnered up with a new frame maker to deliver the best bike we’ve ever offered. That bike is the Grytstone.
Named after the rock that forms the backbone of the English Peak District, where I grew up (Just with a “Y” for trademark sake) The Grytstone was designed and built to be tough, long-lasting, and like its namesake rock, a great foundation to build your ultimate adventure rig.
The new Penhale Grytstone Titanium Bikepacking Adventure Bike
The Grytstone is a departure from the original Penhale direction of steel-only frames, primarily because of its titanium construction. Also, I wanted to build a frame that was more “real-world” useable. Most titanium bikepacking, adventure-type frames are designed by and built for your average skinny bike company guy. 6’ tall, 170lbs. and have a weight limit of 240-250lbs, what they forget to tell you is that’s all in - that includes you dear rider, combined with your bike, and your gear - great if you’re said skinny guy. So imagine this - if you have a 25lb bike, 25lbs of gear, you’re going to have to weigh under 200lbs to not void the warranty. Great if you’re on the lighter end of the spectrum, but not so if you’re above average size. So on the larger frame sizes M/L/XL they’re designed as standard with a stronger build allowing for stronger/larger riders to ride safely, with the kit they want.
There were other things I wanted on this new frame, Mounting options, mounting options, mounting options. On the medium, to XL frame sizes you have 4 sets of 3-pack bottle bosses 2 in the main triangle, 1 under the downtube, and 1 on the top tube behind the stem. That last one is to allow for either a bolt-on style bag or if you like, a cargo cage or even an extra water bottle. The if you pick the Ti fork, you get 4 bosses per leg, enough for a 3-point mount cargo cage or rack, plus you can still run fenders - Remember Penhale is based in the Pacific Northwest!
Then there’s the cable routing, while I love the simplicity and clean look of internal routing, I’ve been that shop mechanic fighting to get that cable guided through the frame, that experience it can drive you to drink. So with our frame partner, we developed a system that allows for access under the bottom bracket shell - through a little port - this means no more using magnets to guide cables, weird homemade contraptions to fish housing around internal obstacles, just push the cable in the down tube guide, catch it under the bottom bracket, and feed it back towards the chainstay port. Oh and one last point, internal routing for a front derailleur and dropper post.
Whats in the box?
Out of site, but not out of mind.
Lastly, there’s tire clearance. I designed the Grytstone to be the successor to the Gypsy frame, meaning it needed to be a fun ride. compatible with tires from a 38mm tire and up. While you can run smaller, the frame is best suited to a 2” tire, and will take up to a 29 x 2.4”. The fork will allow for a 29 x 2.6” - or even a 27.5” x 3” if that’s what floats your boat.
Oh and before you go, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Russ from The Path Less Pedaled, where we chatted about design for larger riders, the industry and other fun related items. Here’s a look at the video.
So if that all makes you excited, sign up for email updates at the bottom of the page, or if you’re already committed, click here to go to the pre-sale page. Grytstone Presale.
Cheers
Andy
Chief cook and bottle washer
Penhale Bicycle Co.