In the ancient landscapes of southern Italy, carved into the rugged hills of Basilicata, lies a city unlike any other. Matera’s “Sassi” – prehistoric cave dwellings etched directly into limestone – stand as one of humanity’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements. These stone structures weren’t imposed upon the landscape but emerged from it, creating a perfect harmony that has endured for three millennia.
When you walk through Matera’s ancient pathways, the boundary between the natural world and human creation seems to dissolve. There’s no “right route” here – only your instinct guiding you through a labyrinth of weathered stone, where every turn reveals beautiful details that have withstood the passage of centuries. The worn limestone underfoot connects you to generations who walked these same cobblestone streets, offering something increasingly rare in our world of disposable materials: permanence and authenticity.
This feeling of discovery mirrors what today’s gravel riders seek on their adventures. While road cycling follows predictable routes, gravel riding celebrates the unpredictable – the thrill of veering off familiar paths, the satisfying crunch of stone and earth beneath tires, the joy of discovering what waits around the next bend or beyond the next hill. In both Matera and gravel riding, the journey itself becomes the destination.
There’s an almost philosophical connection between Matera’s ancient stone dwellings and a steel frame handmade in Italy. Just as Matera has withstood the test of time, handcrafted steel frames have maintained their special place in cycling despite newer materials coming and going. There’s a timelessness to materials that don’t fight against the terrain’s vibrations and challenges but absorb them, adapt to them, and transform them into a more connected experience – whether it’s the way Matera’s structures seem to grow from their hillside or how a steel frame responds to the unpredictable terrain beneath it.
When we set out to create a new gravel frame, we found ourselves drawn to this parallel. The unique city of Matera became our inspiration for a bicycle that would honor both the spirit of exploration and the timeless reliability that only steel can provide – a frame not designed to conquer the rugged terrain but to become one with it. The result of this inspiration was:
The Matera
Authentic Italian craftsmanship
Unlike the mass-produced carbon frames that dominate today’s gravel scene, the Matera is meticulously handcrafted in our workshop in northern Italy. Each frame represents hours of dedicated work by skilled artisans who have spent their lives holding a torch. While most gravel frames are manufactured in high-volume factories overseas, the Matera continues the tradition of Italian framebuilding excellence that has set the standard for generations. When you ride the Matera, you’re experiencing the difference that comes from frames built by hand, one at a time, by craftsmen who approach their work not just as fabrication but as art.
Adventure-ready reliability
The Matera incorporates the Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) standard. It may seem a small detail, but it becomes crucial to avoid lengthy delays while sourcing a replacement for a broken hanger. With the UDH system, you can find a replacement practically anywhere in the world. This universal approach is especially valuable during gravel events in remote locations or when traveling internationally. It’s one less thing to worry about when planning adventures, allowing you to push your boundaries with the confidence that your bike can be quickly restored to working order no matter where your explorations take you.
20 exclusive finishes for personalizing your Matera
The journey of creating your Matera is as personal as the paths you’ll explore with it. Each frame is custom-finished to reflect its owner’s individual style, offering a level of personalization rarely found in today’s cycling world. The “Matera Minimal” range presents 5 distinct solid-paint color options, each one applied with meticulous attention by our master painters in Officina Battaglin’s factory in Italy. But for those seeking the legendary finish that has made Officina Battaglin frames instantly recognizable worldwide, the “Matera Cromovelato” opens the door to our coveted cromovelato process. You’ll gain access to 15 stunning translucent finishes where the steel beneath shimmers through the color, creating a depth and luminosity that changes with every angle and light condition. Whether you choose the understated elegance of the Minimal range or the cromovelato’s show-stopping presence, your Matera will turn heads at every gravel gathering.
Ordering process and pricing
The Matera is handcrafted in Italy using Columbus Spirit HSS tubing and is available both as a frameset and as a complete bicycle.
Each Matera is built in our workshop in Marostica by skilled craftsmen, combining traditional Italian framebuilding techniques with modern gravel performance.
The process begins with reserving your frame. Once your order is confirmed, our team will guide you through a professional sizing consultation to identify the ideal fit based on your body measurements, riding style, and intended use. The Matera is available in 5 sizes, ensuring the perfect balance of comfort, control, and performance.
After the size has been confirmed, your frame enters production. Every frame is hand-built, hand-finished, and individually inspected before moving to the paint department, where it receives its final finish before assembly.
The final step is selecting your build kit. We currently offer three carefully selected complete bike configurations:
Matera | Shimano GRX Di2 1×12 | Fulcrum Rapid Red Alloy : €3,800*
Matera | Shimano GRX Di2 1×12 | Miche Sterrato 45 Carbon : €4,000*
Matera | Campagnolo Record X Wireless 1×13 | Miche Sterrato 45 Carbon : €4,300*
Every bicycle is assembled, inspected, and fine-tuned by our mechanics before shipping, ensuring that your Matera arrives fully prepared for its first ride
*All prices include 22% Italian VAT. VAT may vary depending on the destination country. Shipping costs are not included. Complete the form below to receive a personalized quotation and sizing consultation.
Technical specifications
- Columbus Spirit HSS tubing (custom Officina Battaglin specifications)
- Officina Battaglin 1"1/8 – 1"1/5 carbon fork, with Anything Cage mounts and 100x12 mm thru-axle
- Hand-filed fillet brazed construction
- T47 bottom bracket 68mm external
- Proprietary Officina Battaglin 1"1/2 cylindrical head tube, optimized for internal cable routing
- Disc-brake only
- 31.6mm seatpost diameter (dropper post compatible)
- Compatible only with 1X groupsets
- 700x50 maximum tire clearance
- Full internal cable routing
- UDH dropout
- 5 stock sizes
Geometry and Size Chart
| XS | S | M | M+ | L | XL | XXL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A - SEAT TUBE CENTER TO CENTER | 425 | 460 | 470 | / | 490 | 530 | / |
| A1 - SEAT TUBE CENTER TO TOP | 470 | 510 | 520 | / | 540 | 570 | / |
| B - HORIZONTAL TOP TUBE (VIRTUAL) | 515 | 535 | 555 | / | 575 | 595 | / |
| B1 - SLOPING IN DEG | 12,1° | 8,9° | 10° | / | 9,4° | 8° | / |
| C - HEAD TUBE | 115 | 130 | 150 | / | 170 | 200 | / |
| D - SEAT TUBE ANGLE | 74,5° | 74° | 73,5° | / | 73,5° | 73° | / |
| E - REAR CHAINSTAY LENGTH | 440 | 440 | 440 | / | 440 | 440 | / |
| F - BOTTOM BRACKET DROP | 80 | 80 | 80 | / | 80 | 75 | / |
| F1 - BOTTOM BRACKET HEIGHT | 277,5 | 277,5 | 277,5 | / | 277,5 | 282,5 | / |
| G - FORK RAKE | 50 | 50 | 50 | / | 50 | 50 | / |
| H - HEAD TUBE ANGLE | 70,5° | 70,5° | 71° | / | 71° | 71,5° | / |
| O - BB TO FRONT HUB DISTANCE | 588 | 603 | 614 | / | 634 | 645 | / |
| P - AXLE TO CROWN FORK DIMENSION | 400 | 400 | 400 | / | 400 | 400 | / |
| I - WHEEL DIAMETER (TIRE CLEARANCE) | 700x50 | 700x50 | 700x50 | / | 700x50 | 700x50 | / |
| L - STACK | 546,8 | 562,9 | 583,7 | / | 602,5 | 628 | / |
| M - REACH | 363 | 373,5 | 381 | / | 396,5 | 402,9 | / |
| N - STANDOVER | 757 | 781 | 796 | / | 815 | 848 | / |
| W - WHEELBASE | 1015 | 1031 | 1041 | / | 1062 | 1074 | / |