hoodlum44

Hello everyone,

I would like to get a new frame for myself during the upcoming winter. The main purpose will be gravel and bikepacking, with approximately 60% gravel, 40% road, and 10% singletrack. I plan to use an Ekar groupset.

Currently, I ride a Loca Gravel AL frame, and I'm quite satisfied with its geometry. The stack could be a bit higher, but I find the trail at 72-73 to be very suitable for my riding.

My wishlist for the new bike is:

• Steel frame (I prefer regular steel over stainless)
• Tire clearance up to 45x700C
• T47 bottom bracket
• Mounts for bottle cages and luggage racks on the fork
• Ideally made in Italy
• Universal derailleur hanger would be a nice bonus

Here are some candidates I have considered so far:

Cicli Barco Piovan
⛔ Can't find any specs
⛔ Seems like only XCr is available

Tommasini Fire Gravel
⛔ Only BSA bottom brackets
⛔ Need a non standard fork for 45C
✅ Could order it through a local bike shop

Stelbel Nina
⛔ Limited to 42C
⛔ Not sure the regular steel variant is available anymore
✅ T47 BB
✅ Could order it through a local bike shop

Zullo Gravel
⛔ No specs at all on website
⛔ Not sure how to order exaclty

Cicli Bonnano Stay Loco
✅ 45C clearance and T47 BB
⛔ Only XCr it seems

Does anyone have any other ideas, suggestions, or input? Has anyone ridden any of the frames mentioned above and can share their experiences? I appreciate any input. Also I'm located in Germany, so I'd prefer European manufacturers or distributors. Also I can't post any links (yet), but you can find the frames via google search.

tangerineowl

Frame size, or stack and reach of what you're riding is an important detail you left out.

hoodlum44

My bad, I initially posted the URLs, but I'm not allowed to post any from a new account. I ride Size M/54:

Stack: 557mm
Reach: 376mm

sdimattia

Check out the Bombtrack Hook EXT. Not Italian, but they are European. You should be able to buy the frame and build up from there. Steel frame, 700x45mm tire clearance, T47 BB, lots of mounts.

https://www.bombtrack.com/complete-bikes/hook-ext

Polaris OBark

https://www.rodeo-labs.com has options with similar geometry

Polaris OBark

I got mine built custom. Since you have a bit of time, this might be an option. Then you will get exactly what you want, with zero compromise.

Although my frame-builder is local, he is of Italian lineage: Caletti

Cagouillard

Surly will happily ship you a Frame - look at their Bridge Club in touring bikes - might be exactly what you are looking for.

tangerineowl

If you perform a Google Advanced Search using all the words T47, steel, gravel,...and limit the results to Italy, you'll see about four or five brands come up that weren't on your list.
Only a couple were 45mm+; one being a 2.1. That 2.1 frame had a nice looking curved seat tube look. One or so hits didn't have stack and reach listed in the geo chart.
A couple of Spirit tubing options.

Only thing is, it seems these frames are all custom made; not an off-the-shelf purchase.