Gravel & Monster Cross Custom Bike Shootout!

[droo]

On 11/6/2024 at 8:49 AM, Bub Marley said:

With wider tyre clearance. That’s the key.

 

Honestly, this gravel thing is just too complicated. I’ve come to the realization that the variation in terrain and the term gravel is just far too wide and complex. You are never gonna have the best bike for all surfaces. Whichever route you ride on, you gonna be compromised somewhere. I think I’ve come to the realization now, that unless you are racing and competing right at the front, a rigid bike with smaller tyre clearance is going to be fast but uncomfortable. So for 90% of people, any form of suspension be it in a fork or wider tyres is going to make for a much better ride.

Gravel bikes suck at everything, but they can do anything. It's what makes them fun.

If you ride bikes for fun you probably have a screw loose and an odd relationship with pain (an observation, not a judgement, just to be clear.) So it's worth a try if you have the opportunity,

[Dexter-morgan]

11 hours ago, droo said:

Gravel bikes suck at everything, but they can do anything. It's what makes them fun.

If you ride bikes for fun you probably have a screw loose and an odd relationship with pain (an observation, not a judgement, just to be clear.) So it's worth a try if you have the opportunity,

Guilty - I only ride my bike(s) for fun.

[HdB]

I've managed to get a alu gravel frame, and would like to pick the brains of those who can maybe help me avoid some expensive mistakes... especially as I try to build it up relatively cheaply, can always upgrade (much) later.

The frame has 100/142 spacing, and can take a front derailleur.

I've got a Shimano 50-34 chainring somewhere in a cupboard, and my plan is to get an 11spd 11-34 or 11-36 (ex. SRAM PG-1130?) cassette. Short of going 1x, any better suggestions for the cassette?
Can probably change the chainring later, if my knees beg for mercy.
I'd probably have to avoid any serious hills, even though it would still be a lot lighter than my road bike (52-36, 11-30).
Ideally it should work with Shimano/Sram road 11spd, so I can put it on the trainer or use some of my spare wheels.

Would a long-cage road derailleur even be able to handle the 34x36T? Better to spend a bit more and get a derailleur with a clutch or something, to survive the corrugations?

For shifters I'm thinking of testing one of the Chinese groupsets' shifters, ie. Sensah or L-twoo. Or used 105 shifters, depending on the price. Mechanical, cable shifting and brakes, with cable or cable/hydraulic brakes.

Am I making any huge mistakes?

[ChrisF]

22 minutes ago, HdB said:

I've managed to get a alu gravel frame, and would like to pick the brains of those who can maybe help me avoid some expensive mistakes... especially as I try to build it up relatively cheaply, can always upgrade (much) later.

The frame has 100/142 spacing, and can take a front derailleur.

I've got a Shimano 50-34 chainring somewhere in a cupboard, and my plan is to get an 11spd 11-34 or 11-36 (ex. SRAM PG-1130?) cassette. Short of going 1x, any better suggestions for the cassette?
Can probably change the chainring later, if my knees beg for mercy.
I'd probably have to avoid any serious hills, even though it would still be a lot lighter than my road bike (52-36, 11-30).
Ideally it should work with Shimano/Sram road 11spd, so I can put it on the trainer or use some of my spare wheels.

Would a long-cage road derailleur even be able to handle the 34x36T? Better to spend a bit more and get a derailleur with a clutch or something, to survive the corrugations?

For shifters I'm thinking of testing one of the Chinese groupsets' shifters, ie. Sensah or L-twoo. Or used 105 shifters, depending on the price. Mechanical, cable shifting and brakes, with cable or cable/hydraulic brakes.

Am I making any huge mistakes?

 

Following ....

[betaboy]

Sounds like a cool project 👍🏻