BlackHeart at Sea Otter Classic 2026: Introducing the Road Plus Ti and Road Plus AL
SEA OTTER CLASSIC 2026 — LAGUNA SECA, CA
Four days at the world's biggest cycling expo — two brand-new bikes.
Sea Otter Classic is a lot of things. It's a race, a festival, a trade show crammed into four days on a racetrack in Monterey with over a thousand brands showing off their new products combined with tens of thousands of attendees.
We rolled into Laguna Seca with the Road Plus Ti and AL — two endurance road platforms built for riders who want road-bike speed without being limited to perfect pavement.
Introducing the BlackHeart Road Plus Platform
The BlackHeart Road Plus is the evolution of the endurance road bike. Road-first with nimble yet intuitive handling, it gives little away to dedicated road bikes, excelling as a do-it-all road bike with light gravel capability. Borrowing the modern aesthetic of our road bike, this one could be passed down for generations.
It features a performance fit with 20mm higher stack than our road bike and fits 30–42mm tires.
The Road Plus came out of a straightforward observation: a lot of riders were using our Road Ti for terrain it wasn't specifically designed for. The Road Ti is a precision road instrument with a pro fit and race geometry. The Road Plus is what happens when you take that same design DNA and open it up — more stack, more tire clearance, and handling tuned for longer days across varied surfaces.
Both versions — Ti and AL — share identical geometry, identical hardware, and a shared design philosophy: road-bike performance first, wide-tire versatility built in. The frame clears 700×42mm tires, so you can run a narrow road setup for a fast group ride or swap to wider rubber for gravel without touching the frame. The intent is a single bike that genuinely adapts to the ride, rather than compromising on both ends.
Sea Otter Classic 2026 Media Coverage
Several outlets and YouTube channels covered the Road Plus launch from the BlackHeart booth at Laguna Seca. Each video below jumps directly to the BlackHeart segment.
Velo: Gravel Trends Defining Sea Otter 2026
Velo's recap of the show covers the broader gravel trends and where BlackHeart fits in. Read "New Bikes, Bigger Wheels, and China Rises: The Gravel Trends Defining Sea Otter 2026" on Velo.
David Arthur (Just Ride Bikes): BlackHeart Road Plus at 9:14
GC Performance: BlackHeart Road Plus at 11:08
Sam Rates Bikes: BlackHeart Road Plus at 1:36
Gravel Cyclist: BlackHeart Road Plus at 7:19
Both models are now available for pre-order through our website and dealer network, with deliveries beginning in late May / June 2026.
If you have questions about fit, build options, or which version is right for you, feel free to reach out directly — we're always happy to talk through it: hello@blackheartbikeco.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BlackHeart Road Plus Ti?
The BlackHeart Road Plus Ti is a titanium endurance road bike designed for 70% road and 30% gravel use. It features 3/2.5 double-butted titanium tubing, dropped curved seatstays, up to 700×42mm tire clearance, an ENVE In-Route carbon fork, FSA ACR integrated headset, T47-86 bottom bracket, and electronic-only drivetrain compatibility (1x or 2x). It's available in 9 sizes for riders 5'0" to 7'0". Framesets start at $3,399; a Core Build with SRAM Force AXS XPLR and Hunt 40 carbon wheels starts at $6,799.
What is the BlackHeart Road Plus AL?
The BlackHeart Road Plus AL is the aluminum version of the Road Plus, sharing identical geometry and hardware with the Ti model. It uses 6066 double-butted aluminum tubing with dropped curved seatstays, supports up to 700×42mm tires, and includes an ENVE carbon fork. It's available in 8 sizes for riders 5'0" to 6'7". Framesets start at $1,699; a Core Build with SRAM Rival AXS XPLR and Hunt 40 wheels starts at $4,049. Custom Cerakote paint for frame and fork is available for $600.
What's the difference between the Road Plus Ti and Road Plus AL?
The two bikes share the same geometry, tire clearance, fork, headset, bottom bracket standard, and drivetrain compatibility. Both are designed as do-it-all endurance road platforms. The difference is the frame material — titanium vs. 6066 double-butted aluminum — and the price. The Ti version delivers the smoother, more damped ride titanium is known for, while the AL offers a stiffer, more responsive feel and is fully recyclable.
The Road Plus Ti also includes several 3D-printed frame elements not found on the AL: a downtube tire relief and direct-mount front derailleur hanger that provides an extra 1cm clearance meaning you can run up to 42mm tire with a fender; a T47-86 bottom bracket shell with a lower channel and retaining clip for easier BB installation; and a solid brake mount with a self-guiding brake hose port for cleaner setup and maintenance.
When will the BlackHeart Road Plus be available?
Both the Road Plus Ti and Road Plus AL are available for pre-order now through BlackHeart's website and dealer network, with deliveries beginning in late May / June 2026.
What makes the BlackHeart Road Plus different from the Road Ti?
The Road Ti is a race-geometry bike designed for 90% road / 10% gravel use, with 34–35mm maximum tire clearance and a more aggressive pro fit. The Road Plus is an endurance-geometry platform with 20mm more stack, more intuitive handling, and 42mm tire clearance — built for riders who want road-bike speed but also want the ability to run wider tires and venture off-pavement with confidence.
Does the BlackHeart Road Plus come with custom paint?
The Road Plus AL includes BlackHeart's custom Cerakote paint program for frame and fork, available in 137 H-Series colors, for $600 total. The Road Plus Ti offers optional Cerakote on the fork for an additional $300. Both options allow for a personalized look unique to the rider.
