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I've got my Pinnacle Lithium Ltd frame set up with a set of Geoff bars and an old school triple chainset and really enjoy it. It does everything I want it to in the main, can ride it on the road, gravel, a bit of tame single track when I put the 2.1 tyres on, etc - BUT, I've got an itch and want to get a new frameset.
Ideally I'd want the frame to have bolt through axles and preferably I'd lie to run 650b wheels as I just feel a little more comfortable at that size (I'm 5'8) and I'd like to be able to get a 2.0 tyre in there if poss
Any suggestions up to about £700? I've tried to search for all sorts of things: Surly karate monkey, On one whippet, etc but most won't accept a double or triple chainset (I live in Mid Wales so have plenty of hills to go up and down) or a big enough front ring
I really like the Geoff bars as well, but I'm also quite liking the look of the Koga Denham bars - I'm much more comfortable on flat bars or Alt bars than I am on drops
Any thoughts or suggestions? Current bike is great but I'm also looking to move it on to the turbo trainer, so would be a good chance to look for something else
Not going to be light, but how about a Carrera Subway that you can modify? The Sub 2 is £350 and some stores show stock, at least near Southampton.
Most of the gravel bikes come as 1x so they can get the tyre clearance.
I was going to suggest the genesis vagabond but I think that is 1x now.
I agree about wanting 2x on a gravel bike. I think the closest I've found is a canyon grail. Aluminium version starts at £1600. Not sure if they do a frame only.
What about a surly ogre?
Think Pipedream ALICE will do that barring a 29" wheel size. Surly Bridge Club will definitely do everything bar the bolt through.
I like the look of the Surly Ogre - a quick google check doesn't show any framesets for sale though.
Thanks for the other suggestions but I 'm really looking for something with the right geometry to run flat bars or alt bars - I've tried a few drops on the Toughroad and Dark Peak that I had, but suffer terrible shoulder pain after only short rides, so I'm not going to go down that route again
Anything else out there similar to the Surly? I've looked at Brother bikes and Stooge, but nothing there either
Cheers
XC hardtail frame?
I have a Pipedream ALICE and it definitely WILL accept 29er wheels - it's designed for it. I run 650b+ singlespeed on mine. Only thing I'm not 100% on is whether it'll take a double.
Does anyone know / have they fitted a double chainset to a Bootzipper frame?
The [url= https://www.brothercycles.com/shop/frames/mehteh/ ]Brother Mehteh[/url] looks interesting (although it's at the top end of your budget); would it be okay to run with a flat bar?
I'd quite like one myself if I could afford it.
Struggling to find much that fits the brief unfortunately.
Is it worth looking at a "gravel" specific frameset and seeing if the geometry would work with a flat / alt bar conversion? Possibly a size up, although I realise that this will bring other issues potentially ie seat tube length, etc
The On one Whippet as a front mech mount and is in stock, full bike looks a bit of a bargain at £999 considering the frame only is £799
Most of the gravel bikes come as 1x so they can get the tyre clearance.
Wouldn't they have LESS tyre clearance with 1x, because they'd need to run a 42t chainring in the middle position, whereas a triple has a 32-36 in the same place??
Front mech tyre buzz in the granny.
With current wide range cassettes you can get the same ratios with a 1x set-up as with an old 2x (e.g 40/28, 11-36) set-up.
[img] https://64.media.tumblr.com/3624a0d303bd72bda2e3fb4b7cd329ef/805e19c3d4fb5cd0-aa/s1280x1920/e572772d0379bd9b199db48d71354401e283211b.pnj [/img]
Just building up a drop-bar Camino AL, that I recently bought as frame only. (great price at £300, might have to wait for stock though).
I noticed Sonder also offer a full bike as a flat-bar version as well as drop-bar, and which I found out is exactly the same frame Geo, so might be just a case of playing with stem/frame size if you want to run one as flat bar.
Mine is running as a 2x with GRX front shifter, so needs a braze-on clamp, but no issues with 700c G-one allround 40/622 tyres, and theres still 15mm space before tyre would rub the braze on clamp, so think 2.0 tyre will fit easily.
Also, 30/46 + 11/36, with extra dropout link seems to be shifting ok, so gives me good range. Only ridden 100metres so far, to test brakes, but does feel like its going to ride nice.
Surly bridge club
I must be missing something as it seems to obvious
Are you taking whole bike suggestions?
Thanks for all the suggestions
I've taken them onboard and used the useful info re: checking gear ratios & have found something that fits the bill (sort of!0
I've just ordered a Marin DSX1: https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/2021-dsx-1
Thru axles, flat bar, in stock (!!) but only a single chain ring, but looking at the gear ratio calculator again, I shouldn't be too far away from what I want and if it's too much I can drop a couple of teeth on the chainring & try again.
I was looking for an ATB and I think this will fit the bill. Plus it's a new bike & who doesn't like "New Bike Day" !!
Thanks again for all the suggestions
That Marin looks Fab. Been tempted myself. Cycling about had as top bike on his sector