The goal with this build was simple. Make something different. Something that doesn’t just blend in with the sea of gravel bikes out there. I wanted a ride that would turn heads, spark a few “what the hell is that?” moments, and feel like me.
Gravel’s become the go-to these days, and for good reason. But when everyone’s riding some version of the same thing, how do you stand out? The answer came in the shape of a custom steel frame from my buddy Rob at Lo5 Bikes. Rob builds bikes with soul, and this one’s no exception. It’s weird in the best way.
Then I threw on a set of Lauf forks from Iceland, just to mess with people a bit more. Topped it off with a pair of deep dish carbon wheels from Woven Precision in Canada because, why not? Fast, loud, and unapologetically fun.
But putting all these wild pieces together? That took some proper skill. Enter Tom from Elevate Bike Shop in Pemberton. Tom worked his magic, brought it all to life, and somehow didn’t roll his eyes too hard when I kept changing my mind mid-build. Legend.
This isn’t a top-spec, everything-carbon, race-ready machine. That wasn’t the point. It’s a bike I can ride hard, test, and upgrade over time. Something that flies on tarmac but can still handle whatever BC gravel I throw at it. Built to go anywhere and do anything.
I called it my Groad bike for a while, but Rob came up with a better name. FreeRoader. A bit weird, a bit wild, and ready for whatever. – Gary Martin, Owner of the FreeRoader
Huge thanks to Rob and Tom for making this happen. Couldn’t have done it without you both. Now let’s see what this thing can really do.
Learn more at the Lo5 Bikes Instagram Account