Whippet

Whippet frames feature a mix of Columbus and Velospec steel tubing, along with 4130 tubing sourced domestically. Each tube is carefully selected to optimize the balance of durability, weight, and ride quality.

Whippet frames are powder-coated six miles from Manzanita World Headquarters, and the 3M vinyl decals are made by a sign shop conveniently located down the street from the powder coater. Whenever possible, I prioritize working with local businesses, not just for convenience, but because it means faster turnaround times, better quality oversight, reduced environmental impact of transportation, and most importantly, it supports the local economy.

The frame is available in two color schemes: Manzanita red with light blue graphics and white with black graphics.

For an extra $100, you can opt for a custom color scheme. Once you've placed your deposit, I can help you dial in your custom colors.

By default the Seido carbon fork comes unpainted. If you're looking to add some color to both the frame and the fork, please contact me for a quote and estimated turnaround time.

Housing guide design is often treated as an afterthought. Bike frames typically go one of two ways: full internal routing, which can be a maintenance nightmare, or oversized, unattractive external guides held in place by cheap zip ties.

For the Whippet, I set out to elevate the function and form of the humble housing guide.

Smaller bosses

The first step was to create a new attachment point, appropriately sized for the task. Typically, M5 bolts are used to secure housing guides to a frame. But for lightweight housing, an M5 bolt is overkill. It offers far more strength than needed. Look at most suspension forks. Their housing guides are secured with M3 bolts. That's the size I chose for the Whippet's housing guide bosses. A local machine shop produced a small batch of these redesigned bosses.

The smaller M3 bosses come with another benefit: they're nearly invisible. If you plan to run a wireless drivetrain, your Whippet won't need housing guides on the driveside chainstay. Thanks to the compact size of the M3 bosses, they almost disappear, preserving the sleek, minimalist aesthetic that wireless setups are known for.

Friction guides

Next, I designed bolt-on guides that eliminate the need for zip ties or fussy plastic clips. Inspired by the housing guide on the RockShox SID SL fork, I created the friction guide. These guides are 3D-printed to snugly fit either 4mm derailleur housing or 5mm brake housing along the chainstays. The housing snaps securely into the groove, held in place by the guide's precise fit. No zip ties, no fuss.

Frame protection guide

Finally, I addressed the challenge of routing housing along the downtube. When riding off-road, the front tire flings rocks and debris toward the downtube, especially near the bottom bracket shell. This is an ideal spot to add frame protection while also securing housing.

The bolt-on frame protection guide combines both functions. It shields the frame from debris and protects the housing, all in one streamlined design. And for added utility, the guide is compatible with standard M5 bolts, allowing you to attach a water bottle cage over it.

Dropper post guide

On the back of the seattube, you'll find a discreet, stainless 3d-printed guide that accepts 4mm housing for running a dropper post.

Custom yoke

It's not easy to cram a 57mm-wide tire into a gravel bike frame. Between the tire and the chainring, there's not much room for the chainstay to sneak through. That's where yokes can help.

For years, I've relied on off-the-shelf yokes that work well but tend to be quite heavy. With the Whippet, I wanted something better.

The yoke I designed is 3D-printed in stainless steel, featuring a hollow construction with thicker walls where it narrows to clear the tire and chainring. It transitions from a 19mm diameter where it connects to the chainstay to a 26x20mm oval at the bottom bracket shell.

On the non-drive side, the chainstay simply bends around the tire with no dimpling required. The round tube maintains its torsional and lateral stiffness, ensuring a solid pedaling platform. Excessive manipulation of chainstays can compromise their integrity over time, increasing the risk of cracking depending on the fabricator's skill.

Mud clearance

On most frame sizes, the seat tube is bent in-house to provide adequate tire clearance, leaving about a 1/2-inch gap between the tire and the tube. This reduces the likelihood of mud buildup. That's also why the frame has no bridges between the seatstays and chainstays. Bridges are simply another spot to collect mud.

When searching for the right fork to pair with the Whippet frame, I wanted something that was lightweight, that had clearance for 700x57 tires, and that had mounts for bikepacking trips.

Once I laid my eyes on the specs of the Seido MGV fork it was a no-brainer to use it:

• Can run 160mm or 180mm rotors
• Can mount a lowrider rack for loads up to 20kg (44lbs)
• Can mount 3-pack cage for loads up to 4.5kg (10lbs)
• Internal routing for dynamo lighting
• Ample tire clearance without being too visually stout like MTB forks