Holt 2.0
Unashamedly XC
Holt 2.0 – The evolution of our XC / Bikepacking multi-tool. All of our knowledge distilled into an XC hardtail.
Ridden to multiple victories by Alex McCormack, including the Highland Trail 550 (course record), the Atlas Mountain Race, and most recently a Hellenic Mountain Race win and course record on a production Holt 2.0. The bike is designed to be fast and efficient, with class leading compliance and comfort.
Steel excels at making a short-travel hardtail. By not overbuilding the frame, we’ve been able to focus on maintaining the quality of the material, to deliver a ride that can only be steel.
Compliance, traction, agility, zip, snap, grip, flow….a fast, off-road adventure machine.
Holt 2.0 Features
Ultra-distance Racer – World Traveller – XC Machine
Ridden to Highland Trail 550, Atlas Mountain Race, and Hellenic Mountain Race victories by Alex McCormack – breaking records at both the HT550 and Hellenic. Yet it’s equally at home in local woods: a fast, agile, endurance-capable steel XC machine.
Custom Reynolds 853 Tubing – made for Fairlight
We’ve worked with Keith and his team at Reynolds since 2016. Their tubing expertise, especially in butting, is unmatched. The Holt 2.0 features a custom Reynolds 853 front triangle with an all-new 30.9mm seatpost compatible seat tube that adds no weight versus the previous 27.2mm version.
Fairlight x Bentley Utility Drops Mk II
The Holt 2.0 features our new Fairlight x Bentley Utility Drops Mk II. Fully modular, they include a standard hanger plus a SRAM Full Mount (formerly T-Type) insert for the latest SRAM derailleurs. Space is reserved to accommodate future standards.
Flat-Ovalized Rear Triangle
The rear triangle of the Holt 2.0 is heavily formed, with both the chainstays and seatstays flat-ovalized at their centers. This design increases displacement (compliance) under load, making the bike as comfortable as possible over long distances.
Proven in the Field
The Holt is our athletes’ most-ridden bike, with Marin de Saint Exupéry logging 30,000 km on his in 2024. Rider feedback drove the v2.0. In Kyrgyzstan’s mountains, trends don’t matter – tools, not trophies. That mindset shaped the Holt 2.0’s refined evolution. Pictured – Alex McCormack on his Holt 2.0 prototype.
Clearance for 29 x 2.6” (66mm) tyres
Heavily shaped chainstays provide 80mm of space at the widest point, allowing clearance for a 66 mm (2.6″) tyre with 7mm on each side.
Rack mounts and triple bottle mounts
The Holt 2.0 frame includes three sets of bottle mounts. The mounts on the underside of the downtube use a triple-boss layout for compatibility with cargo cages, and the frame is also rear-rack compatible.
Craftsmanship Inside and Out
High-quality welds and brazing feature throughout. The fillet-brazed dropouts are hand-filed to create a seamless transition between the tubing and dropout plate – a technique typically reserved for the custom world. We partner with the finest frame builders in Taiwan, masters of their trade. Dropout inserts are CNC-machined.
3D Printed Modular Chainstay Protector
On the Holt 2.0, we’ve removed the permanent cable guides from the drive-side chainstay. In their place, we’ve developed a surface-modeled chainstay protector with modular inserts for routing a rear derailleur cable, plus optional blank inserts for ultra-clean wireless setups.
External cable routing
We proudly keep cables and hoses on the outside, using custom-designed, 3D-printed cable guides for super-clean routing. One, two, and three-way versions let you configure your Holt 2.0 exactly how you want – mechanical or wireless, dropper or no dropper – and we’ll have a clean solution for it.
Adventure Machine
An XC bike built for the long road. The Holt has been ridden all over the world – sometimes very fast, sometimes slow.
Data engineered graphics
The frames are phosphate-dipped and ED-coated for superior corrosion protection, then finished with premium wet paint for lasting durability. New data-engineered graphics draw inspiration from the concept of flow, derived from a turbulence data set. The result is a distinctive aesthetic with a strong Bauhaus influence; functional, modern.
Holt 2.0 Design Notes
The best way to learn about the Holt 2.0 is to read the detailed design notes. They speak to the care and thoughtful consideration we put into designing and manufacturing our products.
Build Options
A summary of our base spec build options and pricing. All bikes are fully configurable. Upgrades include OneUp V3 droppers, Hope or Chris King headsets, Hope or DT Swiss wheels, and even King Cage bottle cages. Every bike is assembled from start to finish by a single mechanic and built just for you.
Holt 2.0 Build Gallery
Holt 2.0 - Medium Charcoal - GX Transmission. 27 photos.
Holt 2.0 - Medium Moss - Shimano XT M8200 Di2. 24 photos.
Holt 2.0 - Large Violet - Shimano XT M8100. 20 photos.
Holt 2.0 - Large Violet - Rider Build - Alex McCormack - Silk Road. 22 photos.
Holt 1.0 - Representative Image - Large Moss - Rider Build - Alex McCormack . 12 photos.
Holt 1.0 - Representative Image - Holt 1.0 Moss Medium - Custom Build. 12 photos.
ALEX McCORMACK
HT550 WINNER 2024
& NEW COURSE RECORD
Holt 2.0 Frameset Gallery
Lookbooks
Holt 2.0 Violet Lookbook
Holt 2.0 Charcoal Lookbook
Holt 2.0 Moss Lookbook
Summary Frame Geometry
Dimensions taken with 120mm fork - 20% sagged
| A | Seat Tube (BB to top ST) | 385 mm |
|---|---|---|
| B | Effective Top Tube | 591 mm |
| C | Seat Tube Angle | 74.3 ° |
| D | Head Tube Angle | 67.0 ° |
| E | Chainstay Length | 435 mm |
| F | Fork Offset | 44 mm |
| G | Wheelbase | 1138 mm |
| H | Bottom Bracket Drop | 63 mm |
| I | Head Tube Length | 100 mm |
| J | Stack | 616 mm |
| K | Reach | 425 mm |
| Fork Length - Axle to Crown | 507 mm | |
| Recommended stem length (mm) | 40-60 mm | |
| Recommended Height Guide (cm) | 160-172 cm |
All dimensions taken with 120mm fork - 20% sagged
Detailed Frame Geometry
Full comparison of Geometries with 100mm - 120mm fork lengths, Sagged or Static.
Results
Atlas Mountain Race - 1350Km with 25,000m climbing across the high passes of Morocco
- 2025 - 1st place - Alex McCormack
Hellenic Mountain Race - 883Km (27,800m climbing)
- 2025 - 1st place & new course record - Alex McCormack
- 2024 - 2nd place - Marin de Saint-Exupéry
Silk Road Mountain Race - 1,900Km (34,500m climbing)
- 2025 - 2nd place - Alex McCormack
- 2024 - 5th place - Marin de Saint-Exupéry
- 2022 - 2nd place - James Hayden
Highland Trail 550 - 800Km (16,000m climbing)
- 2024 - 1st place & new course record - Alex McCormack
- 2023 - 4th place - Carl Hopps
Dales Divide - 600Km (7,800m climbing)
- 2024 - 1st Place - Alex McCormack
- 2024 - 4th Place - Carl Hopps
Accursed Race 2024 - 1600Km (37,000m climbing)
- 2024 - 2nd place - Mixed pairs - India Landy
Tour Aotearoa - Brevet/Tour - 3000Km
- 2024 - Finisher - India Landy
Information
Framebag Guide
If you are planning on fitting a frame bag to your Holt then you can use the below guide sheet to get all the dimensions you need. It includes all front triangle inside measurements and angles, as well as downtube safe zones for straps for full frame bags.
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