Ti RAMBLER 100mma
Thomas Callahan
When I came to Horse for this build, what mattered most was having a bike made by someone local, someone I could trust and collaborate with. Over the course of designing it, Thomas become a friend, which makes the bike mean even more to me.
What I wanted was an all-terrain bike, something with geometry that balances stability and versatility. The 69° head tube angle, lower bottom bracket drop, and slightly longer chainstays all make for a really stable ride. It isn’t twitchy or hard to move, but instead tracks beautifully whether on gravel, singletrack, or longer tours. The titanium frame adds comfort, and I paired it with Beast Components hybrid bars that let me run mountain bike controls and full four-piston brakes front and rear, an important choice for me since I deal with carpal tunnel and need that extra braking power.
The details mattered just as much. I tried to choose parts that reflect both quality and roots: Thomson stem and seatpost, all made in the U.S.; an Enduro bottom bracket with hybrid ceramic bearings made in California; Chris King headset and collar for timeless reliability; SRAM Transmition OX drive train and electronic shifting for ease of use. The shift buttons are a big plus for me, having them right under my thumbs helps a lot, especially since my grip can weaken over time. Custom Wheel Builder also helped me design a wheelset with Berd spokes, 32-hole DT Swiss hubs, and NOX Teocalli rims with a 26mm internal width, a versatile size that lets me run either gravel or XC tires. The geometry also leaves room for a 100mm suspension fork, which gives me more versatility than a gravel-specific fork.
But the bike isn’t just about specs, it’s about what riding means to me. After a head injury, I spent a long time in vestibular therapy. The bike was a huge part of my recovery. It helped me rebuild balance, hand-eye coordination, and eventually gave me back something priceless: my independence. There was a period when I didn’t feel comfortable driving, especially at night, but I could ride. That sense of freedom, to move, to explore, to travel under my own power, came from the bike.
Riding with my dog became part of that. At first, it was about getting outside together, but it grew into something much deeper. She’s my companion, my best friend, and nothing beats reaching back mid-ride to give her a little pat while she’s right there beside me. It lets me take her places she wouldn’t otherwise see, local parks, longer tours, or just around town. As she’s gotten older, the bike has also been a way to protect her joints from the pounding of long hikes while still keeping her active and part of the adventure.
The bike also connects me to people. It’s been a bridge to meeting riders from different communities, not in a competitive way, but in the shared joy of being outside and away from cars, seeing how much beauty there is out there. And then there’s the simple joy of how people respond when they see my dog on the bike. Her wagging tail makes strangers smile, kids run over to say hello, and even older folks stop to ask questions or pet her. In a world where cyclists aren’t always viewed warmly, she changes the perception, she humanizes the experience, and brings out the best in people.
Over time, I’ve come to think of the bicycle as one of the greatest inventions of all time. It’s a tool for health and longevity, for travel and meeting people, and for creating freedom and independence. With so many options today, from regular bicycles to e-bikes, people who have faced balance issues or injuries can use riding as a way to slowly build back capability and confidence. The bicycle is simple, elegant, and powerful, and it has given me not only independence, but joy, companionship, and community.
Looking ahead, I plan to use this bike to explore local areas all across the East Coast and eventually the West Coast too. But the next area of exploration that I think everyone should see for themselves is the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania. The small communities are extremely welcoming, the people are kind, the gravel roads are mostly free of cars, and the state forests are beautiful. They even have a major event coming up in September that offers both racing and touring options, so riders of all kinds can experience it.
The bike has become more than just a tool for exploring, it’s freedom, companionship, connection, and a way of life. Thanks again for building something that embodies all of that.
Best,
Ian