New 3T Extrema Italia blurs boundaries between gravel bike and mountain bike

3T has unveiled an all-new gravel bike intended for the roughest gravel races. The Extrema Italia joins the brand's existing Exploro collection as an aero-optimised race bike, but features changes that make it suited to "tough races and fast adventures", according to 3T.

As we are seeing across the board in gravel bike design, the Extrema Italia has received a geometry overhaul. Since this bike is designed for rougher, more technical terrain, the head angle has been slackened out and the fork has an extreme offset of 61-73mm, depending on frame size.

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The slacker head angle and longer fork offset put the front wheel further in front of the rider, meaning the bike should be more stable on rougher terrain, and when riding at speed. It's an idea that comes from mountain biking and is proving to be a popular trend in gravel bikes this year.

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3T has designed this bike to be versatile. The brand says that on rougher races, riders have been moving to wider and wider tyres. To accommodate this, 3T has said that the "Extrema aims to be a new point of reference in the market" when it comes to tyre clearance.

© 3T

The frame accepts up to a 2.2-inch 29er mountain bike tyre

Both the frame and fork are capable of accepting a tyre with a measured width of 57mm, or 2.2 inches. This opens up a whole market of mountain bike tyres that are compatible with this frame.

The advantage of this, 3T claims, is the ability to get “the same grip as a top-of-the-line cross-country mountain bike but with a much faster rider position”. Complete bikes will ship with 3T’s own 45/40 Ltd wheels that have a wide internal rim profile designed for high-volume tyres.

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Although the frame has been designed with aerodynamics in mind, one area has not been optimised: the seat post. Instead of a D-shape post that we have come to expect on any bike claiming to be aero, it is a traditional cylindrical post. This is to allow riders to fit a dropper post should they wish, a popular choice for riders who ride the roughest gravel roads and trails.

Pricing and availability

The bike is offered as a frameset or as a complete bike with three build options. These bikes are listed as built-to-order with a lead time of 8-12 weeks directly from the 3T website.

© 3T

The bike is built to order with three builds on offer

• 3T Extrema Italia frameset - £4,593.60 / €5,500 / $6,100
• 3T Extrema Italia Rival GX Eagle AXS - £6,697.20 / €7,300 / $8,000
• 3T Extrema Italia Torno Rival GX Eagle AXS dropper post - £7,612.80 / €8,300 / $9,200
• 3T Extrema Italia Torno Force D2 XX SL Eagle AXS dropper post project X - £9,625.20 / €10,500 / $11,600

3T

3T is a component and frame manufacturer, known for making innovative aero gravel bikes.