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A restricted version African Onguza gravel bike. Onguza solely builds one mannequin at a time from their workshop in Omaruru, Namibia on the south west coast of Africa, and so they construct them in very restricted numbers. Formally, these Authentic Gravel Mannequin 1 gravel bikes launched again at Bespoked, however now let’s take a more in-depth take a look at them. Simply 15 framesets and 5 full bikes shall be made, and… “Once they’re gone they’re gone.“
Who’s Onguza?
A dozen years within the making, Onguza is the venture of Namibia ex-pro bicycle owner & 5x nationwide street champion Dan Craven (who raced for Rapha Condor, Europcar & the Biking Academy precursor to the present Israel-Premier Tech), his associate & spouse Collyn Ahart, and a fairly large crew that helped him arrange store again in his hometown close to the southwestern high of Africa with native framebuilders. Craven and Ahart moved from Girona again to Namibia final Could
The result’s a world-class stage metal frame-building workshop creating high-value jobs and growing native expertise. The primary two body builders educated at house & overseas for the previous 5 years – Petrus Mufenge and Sakaria Nkolo (who at the moment are shareholders within the firm, too) – at the moment are crafting premium metal bike frames “on a dusty farm in Namibia”.
As Craven describes it, “It’s possibly the final place you’d anticipate one thing extraordinary to return from. However we’re doing it. And I would like your assist, so please come alongside on this journey with us.”
Onguza Authentic Gravel Mannequin 1 bike
The primary manufacturing bike out of the Onguza workshop is the Authentic Gravel Mannequin 1. It’s a trendy fillet-brazed Columbus Life metal gravel bike, with tubing bent, hand-mitered & filed within the Omaruru workshop.
The double-butted metal frames characteristic straight 44mm headtubes for tapered steerers, stainless threaded BSA backside brackets, stainless UDH suitable dropouts, a tidy double arch seatstay bridge, and clearance for 700 x 47mm tires. The frames characteristic inner rear brake cable routing, wireless-specific lack-of-routing customary (though different routing is feasible), two customary bottle cage mounts plus non-compulsory toptube bag mounts, and a traditional 27.2mm seatpost with an exterior clamp.
Frames are painted customary in sage inexperienced and include a full-carbon Columbus Futura fork & Zipp carbon stem, each painted-to-match in yellow and black cow spots.
The bikes characteristic customary gravel geometry designed by Craven – in 5 inventory sizes solely, XS-XL – though Onguza does allude to the truth that they might construct customized geometry for riders exterior of their customary match vary.
Onguza Gravel – Pricing choices & availability
As we write, about half of Onguza’s restricted version Authentic Gravel Mannequin 1 bikes are nonetheless accessible, a mixture of framesets & full bikes, with free transport to the USA, Europe & South Africa. The frameset alone retails for $4100 together with the cow-spotted Columbus Futura Cross fork & stem. Or full builds with SRAM Drive AXS XPLR, Zipp wheels & cockpit from $7800. To get one, you must pre-order both for round $1200-1500 earlier than your bike is constructed, after which they’ll type out the sizing for you.
Take a look at an Onguza for when the pavement actually ends. And there are extra sorts of bikes within the works too, just like the street bike Craven had hoped to race on the Tokyo Olympics earlier than getting Covid…
