Build Component Choices?
 

Hey All,
I bought a Cosmic Stallion frameset and am having the local dealer build it. I'm trying to get him a better idea of set up. I'm 6'3 235.
I know he is building me Velocity Alierons with Gravel King SK Tubeless 700x38 or 43. The set with labor etc is going to be $800, so as much as the frame I bought used. I'm trying to really stay under $2500, so I have $1000 to spend. It might not be feasible to stay under budget, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Knowing that I put a lot of force down could someone give me an idea on the rest of the components. It is overwhelming with all the choices. I don't need the lightest and fastest.
50/50 road and gravel is my plan. Live in the midwest so just rolling hills.

Handlebar? - a lot of choices.

Crankset and bottom bracket- He thinks I should do a 180mm. Just not sure which brand is better for a bigger rider

Going w a 2x setup because I feel like I will miss the top end speed. I know I'm in my largest and smallest on my 2x on declines currently and I don't think any 1x comes close to that setup? Somebody might be able to talk me out of this. My bikes are old so many industry trends have come along.
105 vs. Tiagra or should I do Rival? Having trouble pricing these. as most stuff is out of stock.
Should I stick with the same group across the board or mix and match?

<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->Avid BB7 or TRP Sprye Mechanical Disc Brakes? I'm sure there are others. I'm coming from bikes with rim brakes, so I'm late to the party.

If you're set on 2X, stick to Shimano. SRAM isn't great at it. I have no problems with 1X (and therefore SRAM,) but I use an xD driver so I can have a 10T small cog-- 44/10 is kinda nestled between a 50/11 and a 50/12.
I see absolutely no problem with mixing and matching-- the levers and derailleurs are the only things that must go together.
I can't imagine going to a 180mm crank, and I'm roughly your size. 175mm cranks are plentiful and can be found cheap. Number of 2X 180mm cranks currently on eBay: 13. Number of 2X 175mm cranks currently on eBay: 1,151
The FSA Adventure is a great starting point for a flared bar-- they're really cheap and are pretty comfortable. Just buy one size up from what you'd usually buy, as FSA measures the width... weird. A 44mm bar is right on 42mm on the hoods.

I'd look at GRX and agree you should stick with Shimano unless you are for some reason committed to 1X. I wouldn't even consider a 180 crank. You'll pay twice as much and end up with something that works half as well as Shimano. $800 is top dollar for wheels with Velocity rims, hope you are getting some really fancy hubs and spokes!

If you want mechanical discs, the Spyre is a newer and better design than the BB7.

I'm your same size, I have only used 175 cranks, I'm even thinking of trying 172.5. I wouldn't think that you should get 180's

I’m on the 180mm bandwagon too. I’m 6’5” and have them on my road bike. I have long legs, but unless you have crazy long legs I definitely wouldn’t bother. There isn’t much of a difference from a performance perspective so I wonder why your fitter thinks you need them at your height when I only just fit into the range for using them at my height and leg length according to my fitter. According to him going to the bigger cranks allows me to get a better muscle workout from just riding along by the wider ROM recruiting more muscle, but for out and out power, it doesn’t really matter

Having said that it’s worth noting that I have 175s on my MTB and 165s currently on my track bike (but was running 175s) with zero issues.

I am 2" taller than you and have tried 180mm cranks, and they were not an advantage.

Chainrings (so likely including crankset) should be Shimano. There are lots of aftermarket companies making competing drivetrain parts out there but they don't have nearly the shifting quality of SHimano. I have seen so many bikes with '105' level components, but with FSA cranks and rings. Those would be objectively better bikes with Shimano Tiagra or even Claris cranks and rings.

I have also had great luck with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. I think they make STI levers for hydraulic discs, too.

Thanks for the advice guys. He is an expert builder and mechanic, but I think he is stuck in his beliefs around a lot of stuff as well.
Still having some sizing worries on the frame I bought. That's in another post.
Regardless of that, I will stay away from the 180s.
Trying to just price groupsets, but they are few and far between.
The wheels were where I was going to spend the bulk. I know he is doing a bunch of wheel mumbo jumbo and setting them up tubeless and I've only heard excellent reviews on Velocity. I think they will be $750 in the end because I'm switching to black.

On the groupset I get a headache around all the 1x options and trying to figure out what would be the best route. I live in a rolling hills area, with one monster very steep hill climb that I attempt a few times a year. I can drop that if I need to. I want to make sure I'm not outspinning on long declines. What gearing would you guys recommend or would you just do a 2x?

Tiagra and 105 look fine for me. It looks like GRX is quite a bit more as well as Rival.
How much more is it to do hydros over a spyre set up? I'm coming from rim brakes, and I honestly avoid traffic like the plague. My bike requires discs though.

Thanks for all your help.

What chainring sizes and cassette are you using right now?

I think I'm on a 52/34 and 11/28

Do you have a non standard chainring sizing? typically they are 53/39 or 50/34.
A 1x system can get close to your existing gearing but it will be shy.

It is 50/34.

If you look at ratios your current high ratio is 50/11 is 4.545... if you use a 12 speed with a GRX, the ratio 46/10 is 4.6, thats a little bit higher. On the low end you have a 34/28 is 1.21, the lowest that you could go with a 12 speed and the 46 is 46/51 is 0.90. Using a 1x with 46 chainring (I don't think this is standard) and a 10/51 cassette you would have gearing that is a bit higher and lower than your current gearing. The low gear would be a bit lower than the granny gear on my bike that is 26 with a 28 cog. So I think you can get about what you want with a 1x system.

This is just the numbers, I don't have any familiarity with this type system but with the current cassettes available, this could work.

unless you are really long leged 180 does not sound lke the way to go, BB matches the crank...if you get GRX group get the matching BB see below

just to note, getting a frame and adding components is going to always be more expensive than buying a built bike, but I noted that you got the frame used

I would suggest getting the grx group, IME matching group makes everything work better together

maybe look a the GRX build from all city for an idea https://allcitycycles.com/bikes/cosmic_stallion_grx

this looks like their build for $2700

ForkColumbus Futura Cross
HeadsetCane Creek 40 Series
StemWhisky No. 7
HandlebarWhisky No. 7
GripAll-City Super-Cush with Locking Alloy All-City End Plugs
Shifter/Brake LeverShimano GRX 600
Front DerailleurShimano GRX 810
Rear DerailleurShimano GRX 810
BrakesetShimano GRX 600, 160 f/r Shimano RT26
CranksetShimano GRX 600, 46/30t
Bottom BracketShimano R5500
SeatpostWhisky No. 7
SaddleAll-City Gonzo
CassetteShimano 105, 11-32t
ChainShimano HG 601
HubsAll-City Go-Devil 28h
RimsWTB ST Light i23 28h
SpokesDT Competition 14/15g black, Black Brass Nipples
TiresTeravail Cannonball 700 x 38 60TPI Light and Supple
Brake HousingShimano Hydro
Shift HousingJagwire LEX40 black


It looks like for

Everyone is different, but IMO big gearing gaps on the road are a PITA. I love how my 180 crank leverage allowed me to go for a 23/11 cassette. Off road, there’s so much speed variation that the gaps don’t matter so much. So consider as per what squirtdad said, that you can get the range from a 1x but you only have 12 gears where with a 2x you would have at least 22