And now, zoom in on my faithful steed for this Gravel Birds 2025: the Gravel Birds titanium bike
The Gravel Birds titanium bike : titanium, comfort and fun ❤️
Gravel Birds Titanium Bike
Custom-made in France by the talented team at Caminade , this titanium AllRoad has faithfully accompanied me over every kilometer. The comfort and robustness of titanium is pure bliss for long distances.
On the drivetrain side, a @pinion.eu gearbox: no derailleur maintenance required, super-smooth gear changes even on 17% gradients, and complete weather resistance. Special mention goes to the 20 river crossings—the mechanics held up without flinching.
For the wheels, I rode with an ultra-light carbon pair mounted by my friend Valentin Cosnier , fitted with 45 mm Touareg tires from @hutchinsoncycling . Top grip, and super performance on the road: combo validated!
Up front, a SONdelux dynamo hub from @sonnabendynamo , connected to my trusty @llum.caminade.eu lamp. Enough to light up my nights and recharge my GPS and phone — hello to battery life! Braking is provided by the powerful @magura_bicycle brakes, perfect on steep descents and more technical sections.
And to ride all this? A titanium H-Bar handlebar, comfortable and super versatile. Multiple hand positions = zero pain, even after hours in the saddle. My shoulders and wrists thank you!
As for bags, I had my own well-oiled system:
At the rear, the Volcano played the cabin suitcase: all the clothes compressed to the millimeter, expert Tetris version. Just in front of the seat tube, the little Avalanche housed the mechanics: patches, multi-tools, inner tube - the bare minimum to save the day. On the top tube, the trusty Funambule , a veritable treasure chest: sunscreen, cables, stamp card, and everything else that needs to be kept close at hand. And in the frame, the Gypaète proudly carried the day's picnic, the pocket pharmacy and last-chance snacks (chocolate is medicine, right?). For hydration, two Alentejo bottles easy to grab thanks to a side bottle holder and on me, a Hydration Vest with a 1.5 L water bladder - my discreet back reservoir, always ready to serve and I took advantage of the vest pockets to slip in arm warmers, leg warmers, neck warmer... always within reach.
In short, a bike built for adventure, which offered me comfort, confidence and pleasure throughout this magnificent Gravel Birds. A huge thank you to everyone I met along the way, and to you for your encouragement and messages!
Velocidade is the feeling of freedom given by speed, the wind that makes your eyes water, the sound of the air blowing near your ears, a little taste of adrenaline that makes you feel good.
At Velocidade, we believe in cycling as the future of transportation! We've created a set of responsible bike and backpack luggage, designed and handcrafted in our workshop in Mirepoix, Ariège. To learn more about our commitments, click here .
MADE IN FRANCE
We wanted to create our bags with a waterproof and UV-resistant canvas certified Oeko-Tex made in France.
DESIGN
Products designed to last a long time with savings on raw materials and that can be repaired, a sustainable design.
REPARABLE
If it breaks, don't worry, we'll repair your bag!
COMMITMENT
As a committed brand, we donate 1% of our turnover to help preserve the environment.
RICARDO VIEIRA - FOUNDER/DESIGNER/COUTURIER
Ricardo has long been thinking about reducing his environmental impact, whether through his sporting practice of cycling, running, or in his everyday life, having decided to be vegetarian more than 20 years ago. Curious and passionate, he started creating and manufacturing his first objects when his grandfather gave him a sewing machine for his 17th birthday, and since then, he has worked to create, repair, and manufacture with the same energy and in the same direction, that of sobriety and localism. Convinced that the bicycle is the ultimate low-carbon solution for everyday travel, Ricardo decided to create Velocidade, and began designing and creating handmade bags, in a completely artisanal way.
