Build Help/Thoughts on New Steel/Disc Road+Gravel

[jwess1234]

So going through my first custom build. The build is a steel road bike with discs and clearance up to around 38s. Will be used mostly on the road (60%-70%) and the remaining 30-40% on fire roads, gravel, light trails. I’m in the SF bay area so hope to do some of the rides that @joosttx and others here have posted pictures of up in Marin.

I’ll be talking to the builder this week about the frame and build (tubes, geo, dropouts, rear spacing, etc), but would welcome experience thoughts on wheelsets and options for forks.

Wheels:

Going to go 12mm thru axle front and rear, also decided to go carbon (and tubeless ready or easily convertible) in view of the reputation for being more responsive… and I know I might get the upgrade bug even with a nice aluminum set so might as well buy my second wheels first. Any thoughts on the following, or alternative suggestions?

1. Reynolds ATR
2. Nox A36D
3. Bontrager Aeolus 3 TLR Disc Clincher
4. DT Swiss RC 28 Spline C DB

Fork
Leaning toward the Enve GRD fork; very clean looking, thru axle, right amount of clearance, without looking dis-proportionally overbuilt for the frame, etc.

If this fork turns out to be way too expensive, I will need to consider some alternatives. I know there is the Enve CX, and TRP fork (I believe with 15mm thru axle). The Whiskey forks either look massively overbuilt with a thru axle or are QR only. Anyone have any other suggestions/thoughts?

Thanks in advance! Now time for me to fret over color—so far either the RL Seafoam green http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_HrxrZyvAwo/VT5A6WERx2I/AAAAAAAAKW4/rWs4Mdigsbs/s1600/DSC09636.JPG, some split color (like the blue/yellow https://scontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/1524768_824164694339433_1341025966354307967_n.jpg? oh=eddf8b32273bf41e8312064dc694a2ba&oe=575EE732), or these Gaulzetti colors that have been catching my eye http://www.slowtwitch.com/articles/images/1/28421-large_Gaulzetti.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8190150882_87cd28795c_b.jpg.

[sparky33]

Check out Stan's Avion wheels. I've been very pleased with the new Neo Ultimate hubs and have though about adding a set of Avions....they might offer a 12mm front even though it is not listed.

Also, go for some wide rims, 20+ inner width.

[tigoat]

That new gravel fork from ENVE is a class of its own, at least at this point. It will lower your front end by about 13mm compared with a traditional 395mm ATC CX fork so plan your front end height design accordingly with this new fork. If you need your bars up pretty high, then it might be better off to go with a CX fork instead. Whisky forks are excellent forks for the money and I have used many of them without a problem. A quick release lever is not gonna add that much more weight to the build and the convenience of having it over using a hex wrench to remove the wheel is worthy. If you are a weight weinie, building with disc brakes is probably not a good idea as they are still heavier than traditional brakes.

What is your budget? You might need to come with a budget first before planning on a build so you don’t waste your time selecting the wrong stuff.

No custom wheels on a custom build?