Show me your gravelbikes....inspire me.
 

It is first on the list. If there's a story/rationale for the build, would love to hear it.

Geoff...(currently on the trainer, watching the snowfall)

We have been making "Gravel Grinders" for 25 years
Please check out our Blog -http://brucegordoncycles.blogspot.com/

Regards,
Bruce Gordon

I just ride my CX bike(s)

Don't see a 'need' for a dedicated gravel road bike. ...but that's me.

M

take cx bike, change tires and maybe chain rings. that's been my strategy.

And a bunch of other very cool stuff as well;
racks and toe clips come to mind. And a GREAT set of tires!!!

Oh yea; BTW; I really enjoyed you talking to me and showing me the finer points of your bike. For all that thought Bruce was mean, I got news for you, he's a super nice guy!!! As well as a very fine craftsman

CX/gravel/touring
 

Zanconato CX - Gravel - Road

[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a5be545c_b.jpgIMG_20200823_081616 by VIAR VAPA, on Flickr[/IMG]

Thanks Vincent...the 29er and 650b options are really appealing with regard to what I have in mind.

Geoff

I saw Strade Bianche this week. Didn't see too many cx bikes out there.

Here's mine

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showth...ighlight=ellis

but of course you knew that as that was my ride when we got together a couple years ago in Boulder.

Well Geoff;

You have seen the model of the one I'm having made;
It was the first bike in the door @ the hand built show.

I tried to buy it from Dave Wages, but he said no...grrr....
So I ordered one.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1005719...lisStradaFango

So nice! I'm jealous. Can I justify another gravel road bike? Probably not.

Better yet, wait for hydro levers to show up and never have to fiddle with brakes again.

I spent a lot of time thinking about this; I think it is critical to really understand what you want the bike to do and where you will ride it as there are many options. When I moved to a very urban part of Seattle (description probably redundant) I found really crappy roads, really bad drivers and really steep short hills. Even with 32s my road bikes seemed fragile for the roads - do you dodge the crevasse in the road at the expense of having to move into traffic, do you bunny hop it, do you bend your rim or break a wheel going over it? At the same time we have some really nice forested parks with gravel roads and short sections of mostly smooth single track that can be ridden as a nice respite from the road. And if you go out of the city we have some really long gravel rails to trails conversion.

For an average gravel road I would just take my lugged Kirk with 28-32 tires. But I wanted something more burly for the varied riding in the City. I also wanted something that could be used for commuting if that became a need in the future, and something that wasn't so expensive that I'd be uncomfortable locking it up outside a store etc.

What I settled on was a Singular Gryphon. It is a drop bar specific 29inch mtn bike frame. Had the Singular Peregrine been in stock I probably would have chosen that but the Gryphon works well; just fewer braze-ons and a bit of an ugly duckling when you add fenders etc. to a steeply sloping top tube. Both are designed around 29' wheels. They have an eccentric bottom bracket so you can easily switch between ss, geared or internal hub. Both are designed for disc brakes, which I made a design requirement for our steep/wet roads.

I am very happy with the bike. It rides very nicely. I sit high - much higher than on my road bike, but can stilly achieve a road position. It eats up bad pavement with aplomb. I've added a rear rack and have a dyno hub front wheel to power front and rear lights for commuting and night riding; accessories that are easily removed if I want to use it for extended riding on trails this summer. And the cost was reasonable. Pix are here at post #33: http://forums.thepaceline.net/showth...gryphon&page=3

If I lived in a more rural area and wanted a gravel bike I would have looked hard at the Boulder Bikes 650Bs, the Rawland offerings or the Salsa Vaya, particulalry the new s&s coupled stainless vaya - a really versatile option (the ti warbird is a nice looking bike as well, but lacks eyelets for fenders, rack etc.).

Good luck, I think these bikes are a fun project and there are lots of options out there.

No worries! Geoff and I have a pact to come to ATL and ride a few miles with some friends.

Hmmmm..... I wonder who that might be??? If/when we can work it out, I'll bring this if it's done, and a Ti Spectrum, We can always trade for the day or so! Cause I like yours as well!

Rob...your bike (Ellis) caught my eye when we were riding as it seemed adept on the trails and on the road.

JR...the yellow Ellis Strada was one of my favorite bikes at the show...but realistically isn't in my budget for.....lets just say awhile.

Kirk...that is almost exactly what I envisioned and found myself nodding my head as I read your thoughts in what you wanted out of your build.

I would ride the crap out of that bike and we have so much stuff around here that I could ride on. The idea of taking my kids out on those types of trails and roads as they get older is really appealing as well.

Thanks all...keep em comin if you got em.


PS..Rob, we're comin to the ATL...sooner than later