Bespoke Builds: Justin Gagnon's Litespeed Watia

We’ve all seen good-looking builds. Nice bar tape, some anodized bits here and there, for a bit of steeze. Then there’s bespoke.

It’s beyond “a little extra.” With that, we show you what “a little extra” looks like, courtesy Litespeed builder Justin Gagnon.

In the last few years, Litespeed has added a rainbow of new cosmetic customization features to bikes coming out of our Chattanooga, Tenn. facility. We've added color vinyl logos, a selection of anodized color treatments, and our newest addition, Ceramic Color Coating, which adds bright ceramic color to our logos. More than ever, every Litespeed headed to riders has a touch of unique individuality to them.

But nothing is as classic as good ‘ol fashioned paint.

Generally selected as an option for Litespeed road models, Justin decided to give his new Watia gravel bike the color treatment—a rarity. (And yes, while it’s not a selection option on our site, you can call our team and request paint for your gravel bike if you so wish). The Dark Cherry Metallic Justin selected for the frame (and matching Litespeed Carbon fork) contrasts nicely with the raw titanium.

As an adventure rider, Gagnon ascribes to his own definition. That includes a selection of decidedly non-stock pieces, including a Fox Factory Transfer dropper post, as well as HED Emporia GA wheels in a 650b configuration. For the ability to not just manage the gnarliest trails with tons of footing on those fluffy 2.1-inch tires, as well as manage steep descents with that dropper, Gagnon is dialed.

From there, it’s all about light accents that compliment without overdoing it. Justin chose a gold Wolf Tooth Premium IS headset to balance out the gold Kashima-coated Fox dropper post on the aft, and the supple tan sidewalls found on Teravail’s Sparwood tires to span the distance.

He finishes it off with the simplicity of Shimano’s GRX 1x mechanical groupset, flat pedals and a Knog Oi bell to let ‘em know he’s coming.

Justin's Build Specs

Frame: Litespeed Watia, Dark Cherry Metallic paint

Fork: Litespeed carbon

Drivetrain: Shimano GRX 1x 11-speed mechanical

Wheels: HED Emporia GA Alloy, 650b

Headset: Wolf Tooth Premium IS, gold anodized

Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory dropper

Saddle: Wilderness Trail Bikes Volt

Pedals: Italia Milano flats

Tires: Teravail Sparwood, 27.5 x 2.1

Stem: FSA Energy SCR, 80mm

Handlebar: Ritchey Comp Beacon 44cm

Bell: Knog Oi

Ready for your own bespoke build?

If you can dream it, we can build it. Just email or chat with our team to walk through options, and be ready to hit the trails or road with a bike that speaks to your style.

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