3T Bikes and Frames

3T focus on Real World aerodynamics both on and off road, married to tangible comfort that doesn't detract from performance. The company has been redefining conventions for 2 decades. More recently novel, proprietary production methods have begun in their facilitiy in Italy, improving development times and enhancing performance and finish alike.

3T’s approach to challenging conventional wisdom has influenced industry standards, particularly in areas like single-chainring drivetrains and aerodynamics for varied riding conditions; and whilst Post-Covid and Brexit conditions served to reduce 3T's visibility in the UK market, they have continued to innovate in materials science and bicycle design.

Their original genre defining Exploro frame is as valid today as it was at inception - now under the guise of the Primo² it continues to be one of the single most versatile bikes on the market. 2 wheelsets = 2 bikes, both of which make few compromises both on road or gravel.

The Primo is built on "Exploro Rules" -

1. One bike to do everything.
2. It all starts with the tyres

But since 2016, when the first Exploro was released, the second principle has slowly overtaken the first. As gravel evolved from a niche for the few into a global movement, the range of what “gravel” means — and the variety of tyres that come with it — expanded enormously.

Designing a bike that could truly “do everything” became increasingly challenging, and this is mainly because the tyre volume (and its RAM — Radius as Measured) influences bottom bracket height: too high and the bike becomes unstable, too low and pedals hit the ground.

So while versatility remains in 3T's DNA, they started designing bikes with a more explicit focus, each meant to shine in a particular way of riding. That shift happened for the Racemax in 2022: before that, the same frame was called Exploro Race in 700c builds and Exploro Max in 650b ones. But when the Ultra arrived, the “one bike for everything” became two — each slightly better than the other at something specific.

Today, those two directions are at their best in Racemax² Italia, 3T's fast and racing gravel platform, and The Ultra² which pushes the boundaries further with its unleashed adventure focus. These two platforms straddle the Extrema Italia, 3T's endurance and tough-gravel race machine.

700 are very pleased to welcome them back to the stable.