Coming early 2025
Whippet
A fast and comfortable gravel bike that's easy to love
The Whippet is your private jet. It's designed to float over gravel roads at maximum speed while in maximum comfort. The low air pressure you can run in the 29x2.25 tires lowers the rolling resistance while improving traction and reducing the vibrations that sap your energy. Custom UDH-compatible dropouts and convenient external routing make setup and maintenance super simple.
Custom build
$TBD- Whippet frame
- Seido MGV carbon fork
- Headset of your choice
- Custom build kit
Show me the GRX build kit
- Handlebar
- FSA Adventure Compact alloy
- Handlebar tape
- MSW anti-slip gel
- Stem
- FSA Omega
- Headset
- Cane Creek 40
- Spacers
- Problem Solvers alloy
- Seatpost
- FSA V-Drive
- Saddle
- Not included
- Pedals
- Not included
- Brake/shift levers
- Shimano GRX RX820
- Front rotor
- Shimano GRX 180 or 160
- Rear rotor
- Shimano GRX 160 or 140
- Rear derailler
- Shimano GRX RX820
- Chain
- Shimano XT 12s
- Cassette
- Shimano XT 10-51t 12s
- Crank
- Shimano GRX RX810
- Chainring
- Shimano GRX 42t or 40t
- Bottom bracket
- Shimano BSA
- Wheelset
- Astral Outback Approach alloy
- Tires
- Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge (57x622)
*Pricing and parts list subject to change due to availability. But don't worry, we'll make your new Whippet awesome.
The best gravel tires are mountain bike tires
The Whippet is optimized for 50 mm - 57 mm tires so you can ride faster with more comfort and control on whatever type of terrain you call gravel.
Future-proof dropouts
The dropouts feature bolt-on inserts designed for Sram UDH and flat mount brakes. When new standards emerge, a quick swap of the inserts will keep your Whippet up-to-date.
Easy to love
External routing is a feature! 3d-printed housing guides keep the Whippet rattle-free and easy to maintain. The guide setup can be configured depending on whether you're running a wireless drivetrain and dropper post. The zip-tie-free friction guides keep the bike looking sleek.
Proportional frame sizes
Short and tall riders finally get frames that scale for their size so everyone can enjoy a bike that handles intuitively. The frame tubes also scale to get that perfect blend of precision and suppleness that steel is famous for.
Geometry
| M1 | M2 | M3 | M4 | M5 | M6 | M7 | M8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. rider height | 5'2" | 5'4" | 5'6" | 5'8" | 5'10" | 6'0" | 6'2" | 6'4" |
| Avg. saddle height | 662 | 683 | 704 | 725 | 747 | 768 | 790 | 811 |
| Reach | 356 | 367 | 378 | 390 | 401 | 413 | 425 | 436 |
| Stack | 541 | 558 | 579 | 597 | 614 | 632 | 654 | 671 |
| HT angle | 70.50 | 70.50 | 70.50 | 70.50 | 70.50 | 70.50 | 70.50 | 70.50 |
| HT length | 92 | 110 | 133 | 138 | 157 | 176 | 199 | 218 |
| ST angle * | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 |
| ST length ** | 402 | 423 | 444 | 465 | 487 | 508 | 530 | 551 |
| CS length | 420 | 420 | 423 | 425 | 430 | 435 | 440 | 445 |
| BB drop | 74 | 74 | 74 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 |
| BB height *** | 275 | 275 | 275 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 |
| Wheel size | 650b | 650b | 650b | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
| Wheelbase | 991 | 1008 | 1030 | 1043 | 1066 | 1089 | 1113 | 1136 |
| Mechanical trail *** | 63 | 63 | 63 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Standover *** | 719 | 738 | 759 | 786 | 804 | 823 | 844 | 863 |
*Angle determined at average saddle height
**Center to top
***Measured with 57mm (2.25") tire
Frame fit calculator
Measure your current bike, and the calculator will not only recommend the best Whippet frame size for you but also recommend the optimal stem length, stem angle, and headset spacer stack. It's the easiest and most accurate way to guarantee the perfect fit.
Measuring instructions
Find your fit fast
This process should take around 10 minutes.
You will need the following to get started:
- A drop bar bike you're comfortable on
- Tape measure
- Pencil or pen
- Piece of paper
Step 1: Bike setup
- Place your bike along an inside corner of a room with the rear wheel touching one wall and the bike positioned parallel with the adjacent wall.
- The front wheel should be pointing straight ahead.
- The handlebar can rest on the wall to keep the bike upright.
Measuring tips
- Measure to the nearest millimeter.
- If you're using a tape measure with feet and inches, measure to the nearest 1/16 inch and then convert to millimeters.
- Try to hold the measuring tape as close to horizontal and vertical as you can.
- Try to keep the measuring tape parallel with the wall the bike is resting on.
Step 2: Measure handlebar stack
- Measure vertically from the floor to the center of the handlebar near the stem and write down your measurement (y1).
- Measure vertically from the floor to the center of the bottom bracket and write down your measurement (y2).
- Subtract the second measurement from the first measurement and enter that number as your handlebar stack (y1 - y2).
Step 3: Measure handlebar reach
- Measure horizontally from the rear wall to the center of your handlebars near the stem and write down your measurement (x1).
- Measure horizontally from the rear wall to the center of your bottom bracket and write down your measurement (x2).
- Subtract the second measurement from the first measurement and enter that number as your handlebar reach (x1 - x2).
Results
| Current bike | Best match | Best neg. stem | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handlebar stack | |||
| Handlebar reach | |||
| Frame size | - | ||
| Stem angle | - | ||
| Stem length | - | ||
| Spacer stack | - |
Based on the measurements from your bike, the calculator has found the best setup for your new Whippet.
The best match shows you the closest dimensional match to your current bike.
But some people might prefer the look of their stem angled down. In that case, the calculator has also found the best match with a negative stem angle.
Many times the best match is also a setup with a negative stem angle. Win, win!
FAQ
What are the frame specs?
- Max tire width
- 2.25" or 57mm
- Hub dimensions
- 12x100 front, 12x142 rear
- Derailleur hanger
- UDH / Sram Transmission
- Chainline
- 47 to 49
- Max chainring
- 42
- Brake type
- Flat mount
- Max front rotor size
- 180
- Max rear rotor size
- 160
- Seat post diameter
- 27.2
- Seat post clamp diameter
- 29.8 to 30.0
- Bottom bracket
- 68 BSA
What's included with the frame?
- Seido MGV fork unpainted
- Front and rear bolt-on axles
- Sram Universal Derailleur Hanger
- Wolftooth seat collar
- Cane Creek 40 headset
- Clear chainstay protection
- 3d-printed friction housing guides
- 3d-printed down tube protector
How fast can I get my hands on a Whippet?
My goal is to get you a frameset within 12 weeks of your deposit. Full builds may take longer depending on parts availability.
What are my color options?
- White frame with black decals
- Manzanita red frame with light green decals
Can I get the frame and fork custom painted?
Yes you can. Contact me for pricing and turnaround time.
What is the return policy?
All Whippet frames are made to order, one-at-a-time in my workshop. Frame set and complete bike orders are final. I do not offer refunds or returns.
What is the warranty?
I use only the best tubing and raw materials for making your frame, and I stand by my work. If you are the original owner, Manzanita Cycles offers a lifetime warranty on all Manzanita-made products that fail due to a materials or manufacturing defect.
If you crash, abuse, modify, or damage your Manzanita product, or if you install parts incorrectly, use incompatible parts, or fail to do proper maintenance on your bike, then it will no longer be covered by the warranty. Any paint and graphics are also not covered.
If you have a problem with a component not made by Manzanita Cycles, it's best to contact the component manufacturer for support. However, if you're having trouble getting traction, let me know and I'll try to help out.
Can I run a front derailleur?
No. The bike frame is optimized for 1x drivetrains. The performance and comfort benefits of wider tires trumps the benefits of 2x drivetrains.
Can I run 650b wheels?
The two smallest sizes are designed around 650b wheels. All other sizes are designed around 700c wheels. If you run 650b wheels on the larger frame sizes your bottom bracket will drop around 19mm. That may cause frequent pedal strikes riding off road. Therefore, it's not recommended.
What's the max weight I can carry on a rear rack?
The frame isn't designed for carrying heavy rear loads. I'd recommend carrying no more than 8lbs, including the weight of the rack.
What's the max weight I can carry on the fork?
The Seido MGV fork can carry a max load of 6.6lbs using a 2-bolt cage, 9.9lbs using a 3-bolt cage, 44lbs for a lowrider rack with 4 mounting points, and 22lbs for a rack with 3 mounting points.
How many headset spacers can I use?
Seido limits the total headset stack below the stem to 35mm from the top of the upper bearing. Most headset top caps are around 15-16mm, so you have 19-20mm of space for additional spacers. Additionally, you'll need to place a 5mm spacer above the stem.
Can I run a suspension fork on this frame?
Most gravel suspension forks with 30mm-40mm of travel will work. The taller fork length will likely slacken the seat tube and head tube angles a bit, but not enough to dramatically change how the bike handles.
I don't want to run a carbon fork. Can you make me a steel fork instead?
The Whippet is designed specifically for the Seido MGV carbon fork with its tapered steerer. I think a large head tube and a skinny steel fork clash. But I'm happy to make you a bike similar to the Whippet with a skinny head tube and a matching steel fork. See the custom option.
Can I run my housing internally?
The Whippet is designed to be easy to maintain. All lines run externally along the down tube with a port in the seat tube for running an optional dropper post. If you want a bike with full internal lines, I'm happy to make you a custom bike instead.
Is shipping included in the price?
I typically use UPS to ship your bike with insurance to cover its replacement in case of theft or damage. Shipping to a US destination starts at $75 for a frame. Framesets or complete bikes will be more.
I'm also happy to ship to international destinations. But please note that shipping fees, import fees, and import taxes can get very expensive.
You can also pick up the bike from Manzanita Cycles World Headquarters if you live near Reno.