Custom Bicycles.

[look 171]

Vash, If you plan to fly down lots of long mountain sides, then by all means, get the disc brakes. They are far superior compare to side pull road bike caliper. That said, I an straightly a road rider, and I really don't used my brakes much unlike mountain biking bombing down 6-8 miles of crazy down hill. Even then when I did it, the Shimano V-brakes, like Leaky said, were more then sufficient but no way come close to a disc system. Plus I dislike the way they look.

Sound like you are happier with a sport touring gravel bike. One with a longer top tube and a slight longer wheelbase compare to a true road racing bike.

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by aigel

I don't know man. Custom built gravel bikes are a total fad. A bad mountain bike and a bad road bike. It doesn't do anything well, unless you are going to race cyclocross, I'd go with something else

While I agree that the $10k gravel bike is a fad of sorts, in a world of super light and disposable plastic frames that can’t survive a crash, I am happy there is renewed interest in bicycles that are tough and built to last and more multi purpose. I do a lot of mixed surface riding in Bucks County PA. We have nice paved roads, awesome gravel roads, and a gravel and grass toepath along the Delware Canal. You don’t see anybody in these spots on their Cervelo. An old lugged steel italian road bike that has clearance for 28 or 30c tires works great though.

[NutmegCarrera]

Cliff-
I’m right there with you. Want want want a gravel bike too. Hard to think the same way about rim brakes after riding discs. Hoping to get rid of a couple and replace with one to cover the bases. One of the “Old” is a Waterford. Richard Schwinn fitted me in their factory. Believe it was the second year of production, post Paramount days. Nice bike, but collecting dust. Have been riding a Specialized Sirrus for the last 11 or so years. Great bike, but would like something a little more compliant and more hand positions. Thinking of a Specialized Diverge or Trek Checkpoint in carbon.
The custom stuff is gorgeous, but prices (even factory bikes) are getting ridiculous.

[NutmegCarrera]

Forgot to include pic.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

While I agree that the $10k gravel bike is a fad of sorts, in a world of super light and disposable plastic frames that can’t survive a crash, I am happy there is renewed interest in bicycles that are tough and built to last and more multi purpose. I do a lot of mixed surface riding in Bucks County PA. We have nice paved roads, awesome gravel roads, and a gravel and grass toepath along the Delware Canal. You don’t see anybody in these spots on their Cervelo. An old lugged steel italian road bike that has clearance for 28 or 30c tires works great though.

I have broken steel frames in crashes and some of my carbon frames survive. It really depends on how its crashed. Carbon last a long time if taken care of. It doesn't fatigue like a steel or alum frame.

Why not ride a ti frame in your roads in PA. That's a far superior frame materials in those conditions.

There's a certain engineering that can be built into a frame with carbon that steel, ti, or alum can't achieve. I just think there are lots of old timers who just doesn't like new technology. That's said, I raced on many steel frames in my racing days and crashed a good number of them. I still think they are the best looking by far compared to a carbon frame. When I hauling ass with my tongue out, I could care less what the hell the frame or color look like.

[vash]

Gravel bike a fad? I vaguely remember roadies calling mountain bikes a fad.

What about cyclocross? That stuck around.

Besides, with the increasing amount of bikers getting smacked by cars, it seems getting off the road and riding a smooth Jeep trail is a good strategy.

You say fad; I say evolution.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by vash

Gravel bike a fad? I vaguely remember roadies calling mountain bikes a fad.

What about cyclocross? That stuck around.

Besides, with the increasing amount of bikers getting smacked by cars, it seems getting off the road and riding a smooth Jeep trail is a good strategy.

You say fad; I say evolution.

Heck with what people say. Go and have some fun. I think I would dislike riding on rough trails (rock going into your shoes and such), only because I have never done it but only ridden on mtb trails so I think its very similar. As a matter of fact, I hate paved bike trails due to too many pedestrians and other cyclist. I deal the traffic, its not too bad and I am used to it. I'm not sure if trails bikes use electronic shifting. If so, you must have it or at least look into it. I love it, PDK on your bike man.

[jwasbury]

@look 171, I would love to have the matching Moots Ti framed gravel grinder to compliment my Moots MTB. Ti is awesome. I recognize the benefits of carbon, but for me I like the ride of metal frames. My ‘79 Guerciotti is comfortable for all day rides, gorgeous and classy in lugged Columbus SL steel.

I was seriously eyeballing building a 2nd Moots for gravel purposes. But given I could modify one of my vintage machines for a few hundred dollars, vs. $10k for a shiny new Moots I couldn’t rationalize the extra cost. The Moots would certainly be better, but over 10x better? 10x more fun to ride? No ****** way!

@Vash, I don’t think the concept of a light, fast rolling, handling bike that can cover both paved and unpaved roads is a fad itself. The fad part is the idea that you need a “gravel” bike. This kind of bike used to just be a “regular” road bike, or perhaps a “touring” bike.

[greglepore]

Lots of wisdom here. One of the best parts of the "groader" bike fad is that prices are way down in the secondary market for anything that's not disc and doesn't take 32's. Canti brake cross bikes? They're giving them away, relatively, even stuff like Moots.
OTOH, builders like Firefly and Mosaic are doing some very cool modern ti that's super versatile, so if you want modern custom, you don't have to be locked into a "gravel" ride.
And there's production stuff out there for half the cost of custom that will do all of the above. Given that the industry is concerned about declining sales and distracted drivers, swiss army knife bikes are going to be a focus.

[jwasbury]

https://cnj.craigslist.org/bik/d/trek-carbon-aluminum/6561931302.html

Here's a carbon bike that I would mount up with 28c tires and ride dirt roads in a heartbeat. $350! If the picture is accurate, no way is this a 55cm...looks like a 48cm or smaller. Too small for me otherwise I'd go buy it this weekend at $350.

This kind of stuff is why I can't currently bring myself to drop Ducati motorcycle money on a custom bicycle again. Don't get me wrong, I love my Moots MTB...its like a piece of jewelry.

[stuartj]

Not for me. More bang for buck, more R&D, more engineering- off the shelf.

[vash]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Not for me. More bang for buck, more R&D, more engineering- off the shelf.

it really is just the frame that is custom. i want some type of metal..leaning towards humble steel. how much R/D do you envision with a steel frame? it's store bought tubing and some kickass welder with possible some artsy lugs..

the rest of the package is "off the shelf".

[wayner]

This thread has me motivated to convert my old thin steel mountain bike...

[look 171]

You buy a custom frame because you want a custom frame. In reality, I really don't think it makes a huge difference. I may be just a tiny little more comfortable. When I was in Italy, I wanted Masi (son, who's a master builder learned from old man Masi) to build me a custom frame. He measured me up and gave me specs on the size and all that good stuff. you know what? Its exactly the same as an odd the shelf bike I had ridden since I was 16. The only difference wa the top tube was 5mm difference. Hell, I have had bikes that were 10mm difference in top tube length. I still rode them all day long and got used to them with the first week.

[look 171]

Find yourself a few year old cross bike and go out and have fun beating on that thing. Ti would be better and hold up better in a crash.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Truth is that gravel bike is just the industry trying to sell you a new machine. You can turn most any decent rigid or hardtail mountain bike into a gravel bike with some narrow road tires. Conversely you can turn any good older road bike into a gravel bike by fitting some wider range gears and 28c or 32c tires.

This is a very wise post, IMHO and is why I am saying gravel bikes are a fad.

It is okay if you like something for its looks and want to go with the trend. But don't pretend it is a necessity because the bike industry suddenly found "the perfect bike".

1x11 geartrain is another thing you should have on the gravel bike!

Here is a nice bike. It is pretty nifty!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lynskey-Helix-Sport/152984767671?hash=item239e9a4cb7:g:kR4AAOSwwNRa05P t

G

[aigel]

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/d/1996-titanium-litespeed/6580086472.html

[look 171]

Originally Posted by aigel

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/d/1996-titanium-litespeed/6580086472.html

There aint no 28mm tires that are gonna to fit in that thing so forget about riding those cross tires with that frame

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

https://cnj.craigslist.org/bik/d/trek-carbon-aluminum/6561931302.html

Here's a carbon bike that I would mount up with 28c tires and ride dirt roads in a heartbeat. $350! If the picture is accurate, no way is this a 55cm...looks like a 48cm or smaller. Too small for me otherwise I'd go buy it this weekend at $350.

This kind of stuff is why I can't currently bring myself to drop Ducati motorcycle money on a custom bicycle again. Don't get me wrong, I love my Moots MTB...its like a piece of jewelry.

Again, no 28 mm in that unless its got a ton of room. Plus, I don't trust those early bonded frames especially if you are going to beat it on gravel roads. That reminds me of my well, Look Kg171. I love that frame, great for all day long in the saddle but soft. I was lucky that frame held together pretty after three crashes and a few years of beating on it. I am not nice to equipment

[jwasbury]

@ look 171, I haven't encountered a road bike from the era of that Trek or earlier that won't accept 28c tires. I have 3 bonded Vitus frames from the 80's through the early 90's. All of them take 28c tires no problem.

My 1979 Guerciotti is on 28c, no problem. While there aren't many available, I am sure I could get 30c tires on there, and possibly 32c.

I considered trying out these 30c tires, but don't know enough about them to drop the coin:

Strada Bianca PRO

This place is a great source for tires and items to turn your old road bike or old thin steel MTB into a mixed surface machine:

https://www.compasscycle.com/product-category/components/tires/

Further, having used the Compass tires, I know they are made by Panaracer. The Panaracer Gravel king tires are virtually identical to what Compass offers, but are less cost.

https://www.thebikesmiths.com/products/panaracer-gravelking-700c?variant=44543411474&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7pm8mYuA2wIVhFqGCh198g6AEAQYBCAB EgLQovD_BwE

These are lightweight and high threadcount fast rolling folding clincher tires that are designed for more rugged use than racing tires.