The growth of Gravel has been a welcome boost for the South African bicycle industry. Dragons Sports, owner of the South African Avalanche brand, recently committed to Gravel. We asked the marketing team, Oli Munnik and Luke Lockhart Ross, some questions about the industry-disrupting ROAM model.
Paid partnership with Dragons Sports
Why did you want a carbon frame for the ROAM?
The growing gravel scene provided Avalanche with the perfect platform to elevate the brand with its first ever carbon fibre bicycle – The ROAM – a gravel bike that offers South African riders unbeatable value.
After the success of our aluminium gravel bike – the Dust – the carbon ROAM catapults Avalanche into a new era of performance and is a bold step in widening our offering and in turn growing consumer-confidence in the brand.
The team’s hard work has been rewarded with both shipments of the ROAM selling out before they landed in South Africa, a clear sign of where industry and consumer sentiment is right now.
Did you source the frame pre-designed, or were you involved in the design process?
Over the course of 18 months, we tested various gravel framesets paired to different build kits, settling on the ROAM as you see it today.
We wanted the bike to be able to go far and be comfortable over the long haul days, to be fun and forgiving enough for the t-shirt-and-beer rides, and it needed to be fast enough to take to the races, so we tested the bikes at all of them and used these learnings to provide insight to our factory in terms of the nuances of the frameset. Given the ROAM’s value proposition and the quality of our factory’s product, we aligned closely with the direction provided by our frame manufacturer and we are stoked.
The one-piece carbon bar and stem adds an element of refinement to the ROAM. But one-piece bar/stems can be limiting. Was this a concern?
There were a lot of heated internal discussions around the integrated bar/stem – it’s quite a polarising component. We opted to go for it to add to the premium look and feel of the bike; we now have a selection of different widths/lengths in stock which riders can purchase to adapt the bike to their precise requirements.
You specced this bike with a L-TWOO drivetrain – is this because Dragons is the agent for this brand in South Africa, or was it a cost-limiting decision?
Initially, sub-R30k was the goal, but we weren’t prepared to compromise on certain elements which pushed the price slightly over this mark to a retail of R31 490.00.
We feel that this price point makes customisation a real possibility for more riders who want to bring a personal touch to their ROAM. We have seen several ROAMs kitted out with AXS, Ultegra, and carbon wheels and they look amazing, proving that the bike can be raced as is or built up to your heart’s desire.
How much real-rider and local conditions testing of the bike and components did you do during the project?
Real-world testing was a non-negotiable on the ROAM project. We had three test bikes in rotation and more than 10 different riders giving their feedback.
The prototypes were ridden for over a year, in massively varying conditions, before we made a final call. The bikes were raced at many gravel races across SA including being ripped up the Galgeberg under Head of Brand, Oli Munnik.
Zynn Grondein and Gert Stander, who have both been with Dragons for 10+ years, were instrumental in the conceptualisation, testing and feedback process to ensure it was right. We also included several key stores who have a lens on gravel in the testing process and they all offered deep feedback which was incorporated into the process.
Was sub-R32 000 price always your goal with the ROAM, or did things change during the project?
Initially, sub-R30k was the goal, but we weren’t prepared to compromise on certain elements which pushed the price slightly over this mark to a retail of R31 490.00.
We feel that this price point makes customisation a real possibility for more riders who want to bring a personal touch to their ROAM. We have seen several ROAMs kitted out with AXS, Ultegra, and carbon wheels and they look amazing, proving that the bike can be raced as is or built up to your heart’s desire.
What was your biggest challenge with the ROAM and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge with the ROAM project was the unknown – would South Africa believe in Avalanche’s first ever carbon bike and it’s most expensive ever acoustic offering?
Given the market’s overwhelmingly positive response to the ROAM, we are thrilled with its success. It’s given the team renewed confidence and energy to keep pushing Avalanche into new territory – stay tuned!
Introducing the Avalanche ROAM. A carbon fibre gravel bike from Avalanche Bicycles.
DESIGNED FOR SPEED AND COMFORT
A full carbon fibre frame brings light weight and efficiency while accommodation of wide tyres (comfortably up to 42mm) and a flared carbon fibre handlebar with integrated stem and carbon seatpost deliver the right amount of smoothness over rough terrain.
SPECCED FOR CONTROL
While bringing a measure of comfort, the carbon handlebar, carefully considered headtube and seattube angles, LTWOO’s hydraulic disc brakes and Innova Pro Stampede 700x40c gravel tyres all combine to deliver optimal control.
GEARED TO CONQUER
The LTWOO 1×11 drivetrain, with 42T chainring and wide-range cassette, offers both modern simplicity and sufficient range to scale steep climbs, cruise long ascents as well as maintain composure in a fast-moving pack.
PRICED TO GO
At R31 490, the Avalanche Roam is redefining value for money. Back in stock at Avalanche dealers throughout South Africa.
Find out more about the Avalanche Roam here.
Note: pricing is correct at July 2025 and is subject to change
