Pegoretti Introduces the Orlando Gravel Bike

Italian frame builder Pegoretti has officially unveiled its first gravel-specific model, the Orlando. Known for its meticulously handcrafted steel road frames and distinctive paint schemes, the company is now entering the burgeoning gravel market with a bike designed to accommodate 50mm tires and optimized for "fast riding." This marks a significant strategic shift for the artisan brand, traditionally rooted in high-performance road cycling.

This move is particularly noteworthy given Pegoretti's legacy, established by the late Dario Pegoretti, a master craftsman revered for his custom steel and aluminium road frames. For a brand synonymous with the precise demands of tarmac, venturing into the rough-and-tumble world of gravel signifies an acknowledgement of the discipline's undeniable growth and commercial appeal. It's a pragmatic expansion for a niche builder, seeking to capture a new segment of discerning riders without compromising its artisanal ethos.

Ultimately, Pegoretti's Orlando is less about pioneering innovation and more about an established artisan finally acknowledging where the market, and indeed many riders, are heading. One can almost hear Dario's wry chuckle.