Gravel bikes with horizontal (trad geo) top tubes?

[polar8]

I love bikes with horizontal top tubes. I'm looking for a gravel frameset and finding that most have compact geometry. Any suggestions for frames with horizontal (or close enough) top tubes?

[prototoast]

Price range? Preferred material?

[Old School]

there may be such a thing, but by the time you actually get gravelling, the stem may look like those old man stems.

The sloping top tubes are more about a tall headtube than a short seat tube.

(FYI, if i could ride a gravel bike with a horizontal TT and a -17 stem, then I would)

[nmrt]

https://22bicycles.com/products/drifter-x-made-to-order

[slowpoke]

Disc brakes - you're going to be looking at custom territory. I.e. > $1500

Cantilvers - the Black Mountain Monster Cross Canti is a capable frame with a slight top-tube slope.

[Spdntrxi]

that 22 is at least 6* of slope.

[Duende]

FWIW, I had felt the same way about level top tubes, but I'm not so sure I do anymore.

When I was ordering my bike, I was advised to get a compact top tube to allow more exposed seat post and therefore a more vertical compliance.

I stuck to my guns though and got a relatively flat top tube with only a 3 degree slope. This translated into an inch less of seat post exposed.

Not sure if one inch makes any difference in terms of vertical compliance and ride quality, but in terms of today's visual aesthetics for bikes... it probably would have looked better. As the "fist full of seat post look" doesn't look so good to me now on modern bikes.

In retrospect, I perhaps should have been more chill on my level top tube preference.

The only practical thing I have against compact frames these days is that the tight main triangle leaves very little room if any for throwing the bike over your shoulder.

Lots of tight stairs in my apartment so being able to carry my bike on my shoulder is important.

Also sometimes I like to go off trail and need to shoulder carry my bike too.

Anyways... my .02 is to be open minded and listen to the frame builder's advice.

[owly]

Hakka MX carbon is almost there.

Same with the carbon Rondo Ruut.

Tantan GR030 carbon?

Ritchey Breakaway Outback carbon (long and low).

Diamondback Haanjo carbon would count, but not available as frameset.


Steel:-
Ritchey Outback (long and low). More slope.

All-City Zig Zag (lighter tubing).

Crust Lightning Bolt canti. Or the older 853 disk model.

[CO_Hoya]

What is your frame size? Some steel bikes will come close to a horizontal tube in larger sizes.

Also, suggest looking at Gunnar (HyperX, Crosshairs). Not horizontal, but close in large frames.

[colker]

Crust.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Old School

there may be such a thing, but by the time you actually get gravelling, the stem may look like those old man stems.

The sloping top tubes are more about a tall headtube than a short seat tube.

(FYI, if i could ride a gravel bike with a horizontal TT and a -17 stem, then I would)

AND adequate standover so when ya come unglued, your feet hit the ground before yer junque hits the top tube..

[Davist]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

AND adequate standover so when ya come unglued, your feet hit the ground before yer junque hits the top tube..

exactly!! other than "looking cool" what's the benefit of level TT, especially when in less than ideal (ie off road) surfaces?

[David in Maine]

Daccordi Bikes in Italy makes a traditional looking frame with only a slight sloped top tube.

David

[scharny]

I think most VeloOrange framesets fit that description.

[mistermo]

Allied Alfa Allroad, clearance for 38s


Allied Able, clearance for 50+


These are stellar bikes and not sure why they don't get more Paceline love.