Hello, I\u2019m Andis. I grew up in Latvia in a home where a workshop was always within arm\u2019s reach, which sparked my passion for hands-on creation early on. After finishing school, I moved to London and spent over a decade working as a bike mechanic before relocating to Dubai for the next six years, where I launched my own custom wheel-building brand. Recently, I moved to Lenzerheide in the Swiss Alps to fully immerse myself in mountain biking, continue my craft as a bike mechanic, and put custom builds to the ultimate test in serious terrain.<\/p>\n
Sourcing every component and piece of gear for this build took roughly nine months, leaving a tight one-month window to assemble the rig before heading out. I built it back home in Riga, Latvia, in the living room of my good friend Marts, whose deep touring knowledge and tool stash were invaluable. Marts even fabricated custom tube-bending tools to handcraft a bespoke aluminium front rack tailored specifically to this fork.<\/p>\n While this bike is designed around drop bars, I chose to go for H-loop bars. Every choice prioritised low weight without sacrificing overall durability, so I opted for fully mechanical brakes and shifting. The fully loaded rig was less than 30 kilograms (including food and water). The only problem I had on a 2,500-kilometer tour was a flat front tire.<\/p>\n Frame\/Fork: Curve Kevin GXR Ti (Medium) To fully secure the front rack, we made and mounted a stainless steel plate directly under the fork crown race as the primary rack attachment point. This setup integrates the lower rack support arms into the fork blade eyelets, which were modified to cleanly share the same mounting as the fork cargo cages. The front rack also features internal wire routing leading directly to a left-corner dynamo light.<\/p>\n Out back, I streamlined the rear rack to a single titanium strut running to an upper chainstay bridge combined with a rear mudguard mount; I freed up frame rack eyelets to build a custom dual-bottle bracket directly behind the saddle. Both mudguards were modified from two rear sets for maximum coverage, finished with custom-cut rubber flaps and wire routing to the rear dynamo light. Under the down tube, we had to combine the ABUS Lock and Fabric toolbox fitted on the same eyelets. It also has wide custom-built carbon rims, which I laced with Berd spokes.<\/p>\n![\"Curve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Readers-Rig-Andis-Curve-Kevin_10-960x640.jpg\")
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\nRims: 27.5 Andiz Wheels Carbon 31
\nHubs: SP Dynamo (front) \/ Andiz ratchet (rear
\nTires: Schwalbe Almotion 2.15\u201d
\nHandlebars: Jones 2.5 Loop H-Bar
\nHeadset: Curve
\nCrankset: Sram Roval
\nPedals: Shimano SPD
\nCassette: SRAM 12-speed X0 10\/50
\nDerailleur(s): SRAM X0 12
\nBrakes: Paul Components levers and calipers
\nShifter(s): SRAM X0 12
\nSaddle: Brooks B17
\nSeatpost: Thomson 16mm setback
\nStem: Thomson 90mm
\nFront bags: Ortlieb Fork Pack set, Ortlieb Handlebar Accessory bag in H-Bar loop
\nFrame bags: Brooks frame pack 46
\nRear bags: Ortlieb Gravel pack 12.5L
\nAccessory bags: Brooks Scape top tube bag, Small Profile Design top tube bag
\nRacks: Marts custom (front) \/ Tubus Airy Ti (rear)
\nLights: Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ-X (front) \/ Busch & Muller Mini (rear)
\nOther accessories: Igaro D2, Knog bell, Sea to Summit dry bags\/straps, Fabrik tool box<\/p>\n