Bike Check: Cole’s Weis Hammer Gravel SL
Let me start with this: What happens when a frame builder crafts a bike for himself? A show bike of course, but also a machine built to ride, travel, and showcase his work everywhere he goes. Not just on display, but out on the road and deep into the trails.
Well… This is it!
This is Cole’s own Weis Hammer Gravel SL, and as he told me: “The first bike he built for himself that wasn’t a weird or fucked-up prototype.”
When the opportunity arose to build something for the ENVE Builder Round Up, it was the perfect time to go all out on a show bike, and the folks at Weis in Brooklyn delivered.
Cole wanted something striking and captivating for the show, so they experimented with hydro-dip paint-jobs. Believe it or not, this is one of their early attempts, which honestly turned out amazing in my opinion. That finish has such incredible depth to it, that you need to see for yourself to fully understand.
The drivetrain is also dialed in, starting with the classic yet reliable SRAM Force One mechanical groupset. Then upgraded with a Garbaruk derailleur cage and pulleys, a Garbaruk 10-50T 11-speed cassette, and up front, a 1x Absolute Black titanium oval chainring paired with a Cane Creek EE Wings crankset.
The wheels are Enve, of course, featuring the then-new G27 rims laced to Chris King matte black hubs to keep it simple. The cockpit is fully Enve as well, with every component custom-painted to match the frame. Special mention goes to the custom-made, paint-matched seat-mast, which holds an ultra-lightweight Berk Lupina saddle.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Weis Hammer Gravel SL
Groupset Sram Force 1 Mechanical
Garbaruk Derailleur
and Cassette
Absolute Black Titanium Oval Chainring
Crank Cane Creek EEWings
Seatpost and Saddle
Berk Lupina 132 Padded
Stem and Handlebar
Custom Painted 110mm Enve Stem and 44cm Enve Gravel Bars
Wheels Enve G27 Rims laced to Chris King Matte Black Hubs
Since then, Weis has unfortunately stopped producing the aluminum Hamer SL to focus on the steel and titanium versions. Is it a bad thing? Well, when I was in Japan with the rest of the Weis team, I had the opportunity to see both. And the Ti version was looking so good, that at this point, I’ve almost convinced myself to get one for my next gravel rig.
But I guess that’s a story for another day…
Aluminum? Steel? Titanium? Where is your heart at?
🎞: Kodak UltraMax 400
📷: Leica M6
📍: Tokyo
