Building My Perfect Gravel Racing Machine

When I set out to create my perfect bike, I knew it wasn’t something I could find off-the-shelf. I had a specific list of needs—geometry, ride quality, materials, and design—that only a custom-made bicycle could meet. After meeting the Scarab team at MADE 2023, I was convinced they were the right choice. Their attention to detail, creative process, and holistic approach to design made it clear they could bring my vision to life.

Crafting My Scarab Paramo

The bike I ride today is a Scarab Paramo Integrated gravel race bike, though calling it just a race bike doesn’t quite capture its full character. My goal was to create a machine that could handle gravel roads, ATV trails, and singletrack, all while offering fast and responsive handling.

The design process started with me sending a draft geometry to Julian, informed by some of my favorite bikes I’ve ridden over the years. I wanted a bike that could carve turns at speed on loose surfaces, fast but stable. Julian refined my initial ideas, and we quickly finalized the geometry after just one revision to increase the reach.

For the paint, I was immediately drawn to Scarab’s marbled scheme, a design I had admired on many of their bikes. Inspired by the natural beauty of the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota, I sent Alejandro a palette drawn from fall colors, where the forest meets the cooler tones of the lakeshore and the whitewashed harbor buildings.

Racing the DAMn

My big goal for 2024 was The Day Across Minnesota (DAMn), a 390 km event from the South Dakota border to the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. With a full-time job and a two-year-old son, I had been building myself back into race shape, and I was excited to tackle this endurance test. Starting at midnight on Friday, riders have 24 hours to complete the route, with only three resupply points along the way.

I chose to race unsupported, relying only on convenience stores for food and supplies. This meant long stretches alone, but I was prepared for the solitude. My strategy was simple: go out hard, settle in with the lead group, and build as much of a buffer as I could before resupplying.

The Experience of the Race

The race began exactly as I imagined: immediately intense. After just a few kilometers, the pack split, and I worked my way to the front. Under a moonless sky lit by the Perseid meteor shower, we rode hard, and after 100 km, our group had dwindled to seven riders.

By the time we reached the first convenience store at km 137, I needed fluids and a quick bite to warm up, which meant leaving the group. Alone, I pedaled through the night, the sound of my tires crunching over the varied terrain, sandy, rocky, then smooth. It was a beautiful and solitary time trial under the stars.

As the night gave way to morning, the real mental challenge began. The dark thoughts familiar to endurance athletes started creeping in, but I pushed forward. At km 245, I reached my second resupply point, feeling strong despite 7.5 hours in the saddle.

A Tough Decision

After refueling, I noticed my knee was stiff—an old injury resurfacing. I knew that pushing through the pain could end badly, and with no regrets, I decided to pull out of the race. It had been an unforgettable night, and I returned home to my family, mowed the lawn, and later shared a beer and dinner with my loved ones.

The Magic of Riding My Scarab

In one word, my Scarab Paramo Integrated bike is about balance. The handling, stiffness, and smoothness come together in perfect harmony. Every ride, whether training, racing, or just for joy, feels different on a bike that’s built for me and my style of riding. It’s not just a bike—it’s an extension of myself, especially when racing full-tilt through the American Midwest, flying over sandy farm tracks at 40 km/h in the dark.

By Zack Dolinaj

Scarab Friend and Wolf Tooth’s Marketing Manager