My winter build gravel grinder is finally complete, largely thanks to this forum.

[4Rings6Stars]

Big thanks to this forum. For inspiration, help/suggestions and for most of this bike!

Specs and thank yous. I cleared a batch of PMs without backing them up and lost a bunch, so sorry if I forgot you!


2007 DeSalvo monstercross frame/ Wound up fork: From Cy Trivialities (originally sold through Selwood I believe).
Wheels: DT240 hubs to DT 7.1 rims. From forum member but don't remember who.
Tires: Vee Rubber 12, 29x1.75. Recommended here.
Shifters, FD, RD: Chorus 11, purchased elsewhere.
Brakes: BB7 road disc. From xjahx.
Cranks: Athena compact. Swapped some SR standard for these (and $) from Brian Cdn.
Stem: Thomson, from Jeduardo.
Headset: CK, purchased elsewhere.
Bars: Origin 8 compact. FREE from MrDangerPants!
Seatpost: Record carbon, dirt cheap from BikeTech.


Comes in a hair over 22 lbs. as pictured. Not too bad for a steel frame, disc brakes, massive tires, 29er rims and cheap SPDs!

I've only done a 3 or 4 mile shakedown since I finished it today, but the ride is lovely. I need to dial in the stem height/chop the steerer and figure out the tire optimal tire pressure since I'm not used to these fatties. I think I have a new favorite bike.

URL=http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/DeSalvo/100_1663_zps35f845b0.jpg.html]http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/DeSalvo/100_1663_zps35f845b0.jpg[/URL]
(more coming)

[4Rings6Stars]

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/DeSalvo/100_1665_zpse40f2cac.jpg
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/DeSalvo/100_1668_zpsd2f1bea6.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/DeSalvo/100_1668_zpsd2f1bea6.jpg.html)
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/DeSalvo/100_1669_zps891efb6a.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/DeSalvo/100_1669_zps891efb6a.jpg.html)
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/DeSalvo/100_1670_zpse290bd36.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/DeSalvo/100_1670_zpse290bd36.jpg.html)
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/DeSalvo/100_1677_zps3a287119.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/DeSalvo/100_1677_zps3a287119.jpg.html)
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/DeSalvo/100_1676_zps928a614d.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/DeSalvo/100_1676_zps928a614d.jpg.html)

[bluesea]

COOL! Very well done. Wish I didn't see it. :cool:

You recommended those tires in my 29er tire thread, and I believer I'll order a pair.

[JAGI410]

That looks mean! Nice work.

[gomango]

Love it.

Bring on the country roads. :)

Diggin' the tires as well.

Remind me a bit of my Small Block 8s.

[4Rings6Stars]

COOL! Very well done. Wish I didn't see it. :cool:

You recommended those tires in my 29er tire thread, and I believer I'll order a pair.

Appear very nicely made an in my limited experience, roll very nicely on and off the road. A was cruising along at about 20mph on the road today and there is definitely a little road noise/humming, but not terrible and nothing like real knobby mountain bike tires.

$30, can't beat that!

http://www.jensonusa.com/!2WoROxSb5BgTg4aG4eJnVQ!/Vee-Rubber-V-12-Tire?utm_source=FRGL&utm_medium=organic&gclid=CICOm7KZy7YCFUTd4Aod_REA_g

[Bruce K]

Very slick bike

BK

[BYKE-RIDER]

looks like a fun ride. You have selected many classic parts like the hubs and campy drivetrain. Enjoy!

[thirdgenbird]

Wow!!!

I've been anticipating this one and nearly gave up on it. Turned out fantastic!!!!

That record seatpost was dirt cheap. It was a good alternative to the Thomson that wouldn't fit.

[krhea]

Great lookin' build and nice to see a Campy gravel grinder eevry once in awhile.

[firerescuefin]

Who said.."Pimpin ain't easy"...that is awesome:fight:

[4Rings6Stars]

Wow!!!

I've been anticipating this one and nearly gave up on it. Turned out fantastic!!!!

That record seatpost was dirt cheap. It was a good alternative to the Thomson that wouldn't fit.

Agreed!

This was the first direction I was going. I wasn't happy and actually posted it here to ask for advice. We will see how I like this WTB saddle after I log a few long rides, but I suspect I will go back to the trusty old Brooks Pro.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/591154D5-2ED0-4D0D-B957-A11E4FACF4FB-5159-0000098CA60ACF86.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/591154D5-2ED0-4D0D-B957-A11E4FACF4FB-5159-0000098CA60ACF86.jpg.html)

[bobswire]

Very cool ride. I like the set up and color.

[Aaron O]

4ring - WOWZER! It manages sexy, functional and tough looking all at once. It looks like a blast to ride.

[saf-t]

Very sweet build!

[spiderman]

Like it
Love it
Gotta have it!
You nailed it
Enjoy it
Gravel opens up a whole new riding realm...

[rphetteplace]

Very very nice!

[Oregonic]

Which saddle did you settle on?

[4Rings6Stars]

Which saddle did you settle on?

The one I am currently riding and shown in the pictures is a prototype WTB road saddle with ti rails. I don't think it had a model name as I don't think it was ever produced.... But I'm sure they make/made a similar model. My buddy used to work for them and I "borrowed" the saddle from him.

It seems good for shorter rides but I have a Brooks professional on all of my other drop bar bikes so I will likely stick one of those on there eventually. I will give this one a chance though, as it would be nice to have a saddle that didn't weigh 3lbs and that I wasn't paranoid about getting caught in the rain without a saddle cover.

[4Rings6Stars]

Another thought, and probably next years winter project.

These rims aren't anything special and are a bit nicked up from their former life on a mountain bike. I also don't love the look of the machined braking surface. I will probably have the hubs laced to some H+Son Archetypes. I hear good things and love the way they look, especially with the grey and black theme on this bike.

I've also considered some carbon hoops....but don't know if I am ready to make that leap/spend that cash.

[oliver1850]

The only thing "wrong" is that it's already too nice for gravel.

[4Rings6Stars]

The only thing "wrong" is that it's already too nice for gravel.

It's powdercoated steel and already had a ding in the top tube, so I am not worried about the frame.

This bike won't be babied, I am going to ride the snot out of it and not think twice to launch off ledges on the occasional singletrack or worry about kicking up mud and stones off the downtube.

[oliver1850]

That's the great thing about the first ding or scratch, it's liberating to a certain extent. I always put the used part on the bike rather than the NOS one. Can't be much of a dent though, it's not noticeable in the pics.

[Cy Trivialities]

turned out awesome dude!!!

wish i had a need for it, but after building the kish, i would have just been greedy.

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=122848&page=3

[old fat man]

so, where in boston will that bike be ridden? i know plenty of trails that are great for a cx bike, but very little gravel within 15 miles of the city.

[tiretrax]

Wow, that's too beautiful for gravel. Enjoy it.

[4Rings6Stars]

so, where in boston will that bike be ridden? i know plenty of trails that are great for a cx bike, but very little gravel within 15 miles of the city.

I do most of my graveling in western and central MA where my family lives and where I grew* up (I'm only 24, so hesitant to say that I have grown up...). I'm usually out there a few times a month and this baby will be strapped to the roof making the 1.5 hour drive with me. No shortage of dirt roads out there, starting with the road my parents' house is on. I also plan to thoroughly vet this bike for the honor of hauling my slow arse through another d2r2. These tires are overkill for that, but my buddy has done the last three with me on his 29er with 2.2" tires and has still enjoyed himself...especially in the descents and short jeep trails where he leaves the roadies in his wake.

I rode from downtown to Waltham area last weekend on the Charles river trail(on another cross bike) and while a lot of it is paved, a good chunk is dirt.

Any other recommendations for trails nearby?

[Rada]

Very nice job. Quick question as I know zilch about disc brakes, but why the quick release on the drive side for the front wheel?

[4Rings6Stars]

These particular skewers bend in towards the wheel a good deal when closed and with the brake caliper and brake mounts on the fork, there is a lot going on and I had to have the skewer sticking straight forward...looked goofy to me when I was setting it up, but I might change it back. I was surprised it took somebody this long to comment...that might even be considered a bigger offense than not lining up the tire labels with the valve stems!

[Oregonic]

Took me a while, but then I remembered I saw that frame for sale out here in Oregon last fall. Tried to get a few of my friends to snatch it up (too small for me, too big for my wife) but couldn't find any takers. Their loss, it looks great built up! As was stated, the first ding or scratch is liberating - now it's time to get down to business!

Here's to 2nd hand bikes! I've been lucky enough to pick up a DeSalvo CX as well, and love it! It is a great gravel bike - it's got a pretty low BB and lots of tire clearance - I've been running 40mm Clement MSO's lately on some 23mm rims, and it eats up the dirt, gravel, and singletrack. You're going to love it!

[Fixed]

cool bike
Cheers :)

[4Rings6Stars]

cool bike
Cheers :)

Thanks Fixed - It's a lot of fun.

Got her dirty a few times this year and even raced on it. The big tires causes some serious toe overlap though so I probably won't be racing on it much more as shown...tight low speed corners were not easy!

I'm almost done this year's winter project...a proper cross racing bike (Hampsten Mudpig) that again, is mostly second hand and the parts/frameset came mostly from people on this forum.

Here's the DeSalvo with some mud on it...

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww335/telepciaka/EC90CC19-7171-4B74-A3EF-E1DB54EBA98A-13100-00000BA159E4303B_zps69d9af27.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/telepciaka/media/EC90CC19-7171-4B74-A3EF-E1DB54EBA98A-13100-00000BA159E4303B_zps69d9af27.jpg.html)