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KindHuman’s The Don is a Canadian-made, affordable, aluminum gravel bike w/ free custom paint*

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Nestled throughout suburban Toronto, there is a network of paved and dirt trails that connect the city. Anchored by the Don, or the Don River Valley Park, these trails are an important part of every day life for those who call Toronto home. Which is exactly why KindHuman Bicycles used them as inspiration for their latest bike – the Don.

Based in Toronto, KindHuman wanted to create a bike that was perfect for those home trails – but also for riders in similar situations around the globe. The Don needed to be durable enough to survive the city streets and bike racks, but light enough that it’s still a blast to ride. To get there, KH is building The Don in Canada from 7000 series Italian oversized aluminum tubing.

The geometry is aimed towards the stable/confidence inspiring side of things, with a 70-72.5° head tube angle and 74-73° seat tube angle depending on the size. The frame offers clearance for 700c x 42mm tires with 12 x 100 and 12 x 142mm thru axles. The frame features internally routed cables, a proprietary one piece dropout design, compatibility for 1x or 2x drivetrain, flat mound disc brakes, a BB86 bottom bracket, and rack and fender mounts to keep it functional.

Complete, the bike is claimed to weigh 22.5lbs – which isn’t super light, until you realize that is for a complete hand-built bike priced at just $1,899. Oh, don’t forget the custom paint. For a limited time, KindHuman is throwing in the option of custom paint, for free. Now that doesn’t mean you can have them add neon flames to the frame, but it does allow you to pick your base color, your graphics color, and whether you want that in a matte or gloss finish. Once the promotion is over, the custom paint option will add another $250. You also get to chose your handlebar tape color and fit details like handlebar, stem, and crank length.

FEATURES

  • 7000 Series oversized Italian aluminum tubing provides superior stiffness-to-weight ratio
  • Carbon fibre fork for reduced weight, increased comfort, and confident steering
  • Sloping-geometry for increased comfort, and confidence-inspiring rideability
  • Front 12×100 and 12×142 thru-axle system
  • Internally routed shift and brake cables
  • Tapered head-tube features 1.5” bottom bearing for handling precision
  • Proprietary, one-piece adaptable dropout design
  • Clamp-on Front Derailleur for 1X or 2X drivetrain systems
  • Flat-mount disc brakes
  • 27.2 seatpost size
  • Fender and Rack mounts
  • BB86 bottom bracket
  • 22.5 lbs complete bike weight
  • 42c tire clearance (Varies on make, model of tire, and internal rim width.

The Don is available now, and can be picked up at KindHuman headquarters for free, or shipped anywhere in North America for $199.00. Love the bike but tight on cash at the moment? KindHuman has also teamed up with Roots Canada to give a bike away – and you can enter right here. 

kindhuman.cc

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Samwise
Samwise
4 years ago

At first I thought it looks like a nice run-of-the-mill “gravel” bike. Then I realized it IS a nice run-of-the-mill “gravel” bike. Then I saw that it has a 1.5″ bottom bearing for precision handling… And I wondered how I had ridden for so long on bikes that didn’t have a precision handling bottom bearing. Then I realized I’m fine and clicked the facebook button.

Czechmate
Czechmate
4 years ago
Reply to  Samwise

First I thought it was a comment criticizing 1.5’’ bottom bearings. Then I realized it is a comment criticizing 1.5’’ bottom bearings. Then I wondered how I’ve done to manage to survive for so long in the BikeRumor comment section. Then I realized that I’m not hungry for apple pie so I clicked the reply button.

Andrew
Andrew
4 years ago

Toronto local here. I’m sure the bike is nice and does all of the gravel bike things it should.

But, I take umbrage that a bike named after the Don is anything but a mountain bike. Yes there’s a bike path through there, but it’s for kids and CAT 6 racers.

Mention “I’m riding in the Don” to anyone in Toronto and they will know you mean the 45+kms of twisty, short, punchy single track.

https://www.trailforks.com/region/don-valley/

Gavin
Gavin
4 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for posting the Trailforks link.

I am one of the co-founders of KindHuman. I see your point of view and wanted to elaborate. I, along with many of my friends, ride the single track trails on our mountain, cross and gravel bikes. We also use the trail system for commuting downtown and riding for leisure and fitness on the weekends. All things that we hope this bike inspires people to do.

When naming this bike, we wanted to pay homage to our great city of Toronto. The name also pays homage to my personal history as a cyclist. Some of my best memories as a kid was riding the single track here with my friends… my first adventures far from home. The relationships I forged on those rides have brought great joy throughout my life.

I would go so far to say that this amazing trail system is a large part of my journey to starting KindHuman… both in terms of my passion for cycling and learning what it means to be there for people I care about. At the end of the day, that’s what this is all about.

Enjoy the ride,

Gavin

Benjamin Reynolds
Benjamin Reynolds
4 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

I was in Toronto with my Fuel Ex for a few days over the summer and had a chance to ride the bike path through Don Valley and I did manage to find some fun singletrack but nowhere near 45km of single track. It would have been epic to have had a local to ride with. I got a very underground feel from the whole area and it seemed like a very “if you don’t know, you don’t know” trail system.

Markymark
Markymark
4 years ago

That’s kinda the way of the Don, yeah. There’s actually closer to 90km of singletrack in there, going from Bloor St. all the way up to the science centre and beyond. But yes, if you don’t know you don’t know, and even using Trailforks can be confusing at times. There are some absolutely amazing trails nestled right in the heart of the city there, but time needs to be put into learning what links up with what.

I don’t really take issue with a gravel bike being called The Don though. It’s a popular area for CX riders too, they tend to stick to the flatter trails on the floor of the valley, whereas most of the best MTB trails are carved into the hills on either side.

John
John
4 years ago

Also a Toronto local here. Yes, locals certainly understand what “riding the Don means”, but you failed to read the Don was “inspiration” for this bike. Not literal. Inspiration.

Given what’s going on in the world at the moment, perhaps you may wish to choose a bit less “umbrage” over semantics, and instead show a bit more support for local businesses??

Frankly, I think this bike is fantastic, especially considering the value you get here. Well done Kindhumans (HINT: read the company name again, it may provide some clue as to perspective for you).

Dave
Dave
4 years ago

Looking at the derailleur hanger, is it possible that this frame is made by T-lab in Montréal?

Dinger
Dinger
4 years ago

Sounds like a solid, versatile bike. Great, middle of the road geometry that’ll work for any ride situation that the useable tire size range can handle.

What’s up with the $200 shipping cost, though?

Nick
Nick
4 years ago

Definitely need more affordable, aluminum gravel frames. But yeah, not sure what is up with $200 shipping…

Cheese
Cheese
4 years ago

Do they mean welded on Canada or assembled in Canada?

Adam
4 years ago
Reply to  Cheese

The bike is welded in Canada using Italian-made alloy. Everything is then painted and assembled in Canada. Our goal with this bike was to keep the price-point low, so that it as an affordable entry level option for gravel riders, and still a manageable price-tag for an active commuter in the city looking for something they can play with on the weekends. Obviously, it’s a much costlier bike to produce since we’re doing everything in Canada, so it’s not a high-profit item for us. In order to keep the price-tag as low as possible, we couldn’t price it with shipping included. Shipping a complete bike from Toronto over the border is quite pricey.

Cheese
Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Adam

Nice work, Adam. Is there a frameset only option?

Adam
4 years ago
Reply to  Cheese

If the demand warrants it, we will consider it. Truth be told, the price we would have to sell the framset at won’t lead to much savings compared to the complete.

Adam
4 years ago
Reply to  Cheese

Hey Cheese-

We talked it over. We can sell as a frameset. Cost would be $1499 CAD and $1399 USD. Just contact us at info@kindhuman.cc to learn more.

Brad Comis (@BradComis)
Reply to  Adam

Truly made in Canada. Impressive! Great work guys. Really good to see someone getting some hands dirty in Canada.

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