tantalizingchef

Dear Bikers! I was looking to do something crazy to add to my fleet of bikes: A single speed/fixed gear gravel/mountain bike build. From a bare frame. Problem is I don't have tons to spend, initially....and wondered if there was a decent lightweight frameset to look into to start with? And I mean INEXPENSIVE! No name? Scratch and dent? Whatever...just something that I can put some decent components on to mess around with.

Thanks in advance!

LesterOfPuppets

Not super light, but not bad. Mine is 28 pounds with no fancy light parts on it.

https://www.randombikeparts.com/prod...e-bmx-pink-new

LesterOfPuppets

Oh, you want MTB/gravel??? that seattube is pretty laid back for gravel.

tantalizingchef

seau grateau

Any preference for wheel size? If I were you I'd probably be checking the used market for an old 26" MTB frame like a Stump Jumper or something. Was considering going that route recently, but I bought a complete SSCX bike instead.

StirFry

https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_...es:%20Mountain

These are fully built, but they're cheap and immediately rideable.

phobus

Any old hybrid/mountain bike with horizontal dropouts can work. They tended to have longer geometry, so watch the top tube length if you plan to use drop bars.

20t

Happy Feet

I'll second the used rigid mtb from 80's or early 90's if cheap and strong are the requirements. You can get a chromoly frame and some decent components if you look. The caveat is that you usually need to employ some elbow grease which, if you enjoy wrenching and bringing life back to the dead, could be a bonus. Yes there is a learning curve but the rigid mtb makes a good canvas to tinker on without risk of costly mistakes and old replacement parts for the 3x7 era are usually inexpensive.

I've posted these pics before but it shows how an old bike can be transformed.

84 Diamondback Ridge Runner I picked up for $20




Beautifully lugged chromoly frame with forged dropouts and nice fork under the surface rust and old paint

ryan_rides

I would say look for a used All City frame or frame set.

IAmSam

FG gravel grinding may be a more recent phenomenom, but there is nothing new about fixed mountain biking...

https://www.63xc.com

Going back some years I did it pretty regularly on bigger clearance 700c fixed bikes with CX tires - a Redline 925, then a SE Bikes Fixed PK Ripper, and finally a Steamroller. Amazing how much fun it can be going slow. In fact, some guy literally bought my "Ripper MTB" out from under me at a trailhead after he followed me around the trails a little and became fascinated with it.







But I do agree with the others who mentioned that an older '80s steel MTB with front loader dropouts would be a cheap/easy way to get into it as long as you can deal with their longer wheelbase/touring geo, and come up with or rig a rear wheel to fit the bigger OLD. An alternative would be to look for a used fixed gear freestyle bike - since that died out they should be available pretty cheap...errr...inexpensively.

Good luck and have fun...

tantalizingchef

I prefer a 29er.

tantalizingchef

I found a KILO WT on a site, HUGE sizes, but nothing in stock of course. $463 Seems maybe a possibility. Or an All City or Surly. I have some emails out

mouse

tantalizingchef

I think the Surly frames are about $500. Can't recall the ALL city....but not bad

orangeology

you'll be better off go to the neighbor, Classic & Vintage forum. million gravelers done using vintage MTB frames in clunker fasion either geared or single. look for nickname Thrift Bill, good chance he might have one or a few frames in quite affordable price range. thank me later.