Racing Roundup: Why We Skipped Unbound and What That Says About Argonaut
As the dust settles from the dramatic finale of the Giro d’Italia and the mass of riders return from Unbound Gravel, we're taking a moment to reflect. While some of the biggest names in gravel racing made headlines in Kansas, our Argonaut Factory Racers have been quietly (and not so quietly) crafting their own stories elsewhere. And if you're wondering why we skipped the biggest gravel race in the world, well—that’s a story worth telling.
Why We Didn’t Show Up at Unbound
Let’s be honest: Unbound is the Super Bowl of gravel racing. It draws a massive international crowd, industry powerhouses, and a media circus to match. But in that sea of noise, the signal can get lost. And Argonaut has never been interested in doing what everyone else is doing.
At our core, we build custom bikes—not mass-produced machines. Every Argonaut frame is crafted with intention, using a proprietary carbon layup process that prioritizes ride quality over manufacturing speed. While big brands offshore production to boost margins, we double down on domestic craftsmanship. Our process is slower, more labor-intensive, and requires a higher skill ceiling. But the result is a ride experience that feels transcendent—refined, responsive, and completely tailored to the rider.
We think of our bikes the same way we think about gravel racing: it should be a deeply personal experience. So instead of elbowing for space on gravel’s most crowded stage, we choose different waves to ride—ones that feel a little more raw, a little more real, and a lot more meaningful.
The Spirit of Racing Lives Here
That said, we’re racers at heart. Our passion for speed, suffering, and self-discovery fuels everything we do. The races we show up to—and the ones we skip—reflect the same values we bring to every custom bike we build: purpose, performance, and precision.
Racing isn’t about terrain or tire clearance—it’s about the human spirit. Whether you’re a young phenom chasing your first elite podium or a weekend warrior pinning your number for the first time, gravel racing demands discipline, courage, and heart. That mindset is what inspires us daily, and it's what we aim to capture in every Argonaut frame.
Paydirt, Podiums, and the Power of Precision
Between Sea Otter and Unbound, Factory Racer Matthew Wiebe took on Pete Stetina’s Paydirt, a race in the Nevada hills that flips traditional gravel formats on their head. Instead of one long slugfest, Paydirt features three timed segments across the course. The result? Riders hammer full-gas when it counts, then regroup for mid-ride Cokes at the aid stations, enjoying the experience together, not just ripping each other's legs off.
Riding his Team Issue custom GR3, Matt finished an impressive 3rd overall, just behind cycling icon Lachlan Morton. The connection between rider and machine was on full display—Matt’s power, focus, and preparation met with a frame tuned precisely to his body and goals. It’s a perfect case study of what happens when a custom bike unlocks a rider’s full potential.
Cassia’s Ascent: From Gravel Wins to Euro Road Dominance
Over in Europe, Cassia Boglio, one of the newest additions to the Pas Racing team, claimed first place at the Sant Julià de Vilatorta Copa Catalana—her first European road race victory. Coming off a massive second place finish UCI Gravel World Series race, Seven, Cassia is proving she can do it all.
Now back on European roads aboard her Team Issue RM3, Cassia is elevating her game even further. Her blend of experience, raw talent, and relentless drive is a perfect match for the limitless potential built into every Argonaut frame. Watching her evolve as a racer is exactly why we invest in athletes who push the limits—just like we do with our bikes.
If you’re racing the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder, keep an eye out for Cassia. We’ll be camping, racing, and celebrating bikes all week long across 350 of the best gravel miles the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
Cascade Gravel: Grit, Guts, and (a Few) Gear Failures
While thousands descended on Kansas, our crew stayed close to home for Cascade Gravel, the second stop in the Oregon Gravel Series. Riders included Factory Racer Cassius Anderson, founder Ben Farver, and marketing manager Joe Rudisill.
Let’s just say... it was one for the books.
Cassius suffered a mechanical the morning of—what looked like a dead derailleur battery turned out to be a complete mechanism failure, forcing a DNS. A frustrating moment, but we’ve seen this kid bounce back stronger each time a challenge presents itself. If you're in NorCal, catch him at Lost and Found Sierra, where he’ll be hunting redemption.
Ben charged hard off the start, holding pace with the leaders until a rut as deep as cracked his front rim before Aid 1. Unfazed, he finished the race—on a cracked rim—and still snagged 4th in Men’s Open. That’s grit, and it’s the kind of resilience that defines both our riders and our bikes.
Joe, meanwhile, missed the neutral rollout attempting to help Cassius troubleshoot. Two minutes behind from the gun, he clawed back through the field, eventually finishing midpack in Men’s Open despite getting absolutely rattled by the brutal and classic 4 Miles of Hell.
We ended the day with one broken derailleur, one cracked rim, and one pair of thoroughly destroyed arms. But we also left with clarity: this is what gravel racing is all about. Challenge. Chaos. Camaraderie. And a relentless pursuit of better.
Ride the Wave, Not the Crowd
At Argonaut, we’ll always show up where it matters—but that doesn’t mean we’ll follow the pack. Gravel racing is about freedom and exploration. It's about finding your own line, even if it's off the beaten path. And that’s exactly how we build bikes.
We’re not here to mass-produce. We’re here to craft something remarkable. Something custom. Something personal.
So no, we weren’t at Unbound. But we were out there—racing hard, pushing limits, and proving that when a rider’s passion meets a frame built just for them, anything is possible.