Choose and Spec A C&V Gravel Bike
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Choose and Spec A C&V Gravel Bike
Gravel bikes are, it seems, the hot trend right now.
Suppose you want a no compromise gravel bike, but it has to all be C&V.
You can mix up groups, put MTB kit on a randonneur frame, road components on a touring frame, whatever.
The end result has to be as good and durable a performer as a modern high buck gravel bike - with a teeny weight allowance.
More importantly, it has to look like it came from Colango or Bianchi or whereever that way - a production or maybe factory custom bike. Not a Frankenstein kitbash.
Recipe?
Suppose you want a no compromise gravel bike, but it has to all be C&V.
You can mix up groups, put MTB kit on a randonneur frame, road components on a touring frame, whatever.
The end result has to be as good and durable a performer as a modern high buck gravel bike - with a teeny weight allowance.
More importantly, it has to look like it came from Colango or Bianchi or whereever that way - a production or maybe factory custom bike. Not a Frankenstein kitbash.
Recipe?
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Davidson Discovery, Deore, 35 x700, friction shifted. Boom!
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My 81 Centurion Pro-tour, drivetrain is Shimano 5700/105 10 speed with 11-36 cassette, 48x45x30 chainrings. Wheels are 105 w/Velocity Dyad rims and Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tours, 700cx42mm. Brakes are stock Dia-comp centerpulls mounted on studs. Bars are some 42mm randoneur with leather bar tape and 5700 brifters and the seat is a Brooks Flyer on an SR seat post
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Been riding this old Bianchi for years and lots of kilometers - thousands by now and I did not even know it was a vintage gravel bike when I built it...
I like the feel and ride quality of the Bianchi so much that I decided to build up this Rocky Mountain which worked great but, sadly, someone bought it from me last week...
I like the feel and ride quality of the Bianchi so much that I decided to build up this Rocky Mountain which worked great but, sadly, someone bought it from me last week...
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#9
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Trek sport tourers! Mine has a Shimano LX mountain bike drivetrain. Handles everything I throw at it. The Pasela 32’s help.
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I have a PX-10 frameset sitting around with nothing to do...
Had thought of single speeding it. But never was real motivated.
I’ll go measure tire clearances.
Had thought of single speeding it. But never was real motivated.
I’ll go measure tire clearances.
#11
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To me, the difference between a gravel bike and a cyclocross bike is 99% marketing. They are defined by their target markets. Cyclocross bikes have tubular tires and are more aimed at racing cyclists. Gravel bikes are more targeted at your average weekend warrior, normally have clinchers, and probably have slightly fatter tires.
Sort of reminds me of the 90s when there were like 50 different genres of techno music, yet it all sounded pretty much the same.
BITD a cyclocross bike was pretty much a high quality touring bike with a slightly higher bottom bracket position, and knobby sew ups of course.
A PX 10 from 1972 or earlier makes a good gravel grinder. Later ones had much steeper and tighter geometry.
Sort of reminds me of the 90s when there were like 50 different genres of techno music, yet it all sounded pretty much the same.
BITD a cyclocross bike was pretty much a high quality touring bike with a slightly higher bottom bracket position, and knobby sew ups of course.
A PX 10 from 1972 or earlier makes a good gravel grinder. Later ones had much steeper and tighter geometry.
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The following ought to keep the weight and price to a minimum, although the fantasy wheel build is $415 in components alone and could be cut in half by gaining a pound or two.
Take a Trek from '83 or earlier - the higher-end, the better, for more "planing" although a 6xx is just fine. Squeeze the chainstays and rake out the fork to get about 35mm trail. Install 650b wheels (Pacenti Brevet rims, one of those fatty White Industries rear hubs, and an SP SV-9 front hub) with Pari-Moto 650x42 tires under old Lefol or new Honjo fenders. Suntour Cyclone M2 GT or XTR M952 rear mech. Suntour Superbe front, or no front if you're one-by-curious. Bar-cons. Your favorite brake levers, cranks, bars, saddle, and pedals, because anything will do and these are personal choices. American Classic post if you want setback, Thompson if not. Mafac Tandem or Raid brakes. Brazed on or bolted on, your choice how intense you want to get. Decaleur and front rack by Gugie or Nitto. Lighting by Busch/Muller: Cyo Premium front and Toplight Mini rear.
Sleuth out deals on these and hey presto, you have a '50s style randonneuse that will eat gravel for lunch, for under a grand.
Credit where credit is due, I am basically describing lonesomesteve's Frek.
Take a Trek from '83 or earlier - the higher-end, the better, for more "planing" although a 6xx is just fine. Squeeze the chainstays and rake out the fork to get about 35mm trail. Install 650b wheels (Pacenti Brevet rims, one of those fatty White Industries rear hubs, and an SP SV-9 front hub) with Pari-Moto 650x42 tires under old Lefol or new Honjo fenders. Suntour Cyclone M2 GT or XTR M952 rear mech. Suntour Superbe front, or no front if you're one-by-curious. Bar-cons. Your favorite brake levers, cranks, bars, saddle, and pedals, because anything will do and these are personal choices. American Classic post if you want setback, Thompson if not. Mafac Tandem or Raid brakes. Brazed on or bolted on, your choice how intense you want to get. Decaleur and front rack by Gugie or Nitto. Lighting by Busch/Muller: Cyo Premium front and Toplight Mini rear.
Sleuth out deals on these and hey presto, you have a '50s style randonneuse that will eat gravel for lunch, for under a grand.
Credit where credit is due, I am basically describing lonesomesteve's Frek.
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Last edited by scarlson; 05-22-20 at 11:27 AM.
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Gave the concept a try, but didn't like it much:
Liked the same bike with narrower tires a lot better:
Liked the same bike with narrower tires a lot better:
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1993 Bridgestone XO 2
This is a great gravel bike. The combination of 26 inch wheels and road bike geometry works really well. BITD there were no 29ers so this combo made a lot of sense then and it still works today. I have it set up with brifters, 3 x 8 gearing (44-32-22 upfront and 11-28 in the rear) and mtb style clipless pedals.
This bike is a fine multi-day machine and gravel grinder. I've ridden my share of bikes. This is most versatile bike I've ever owned and one of the most comfortable.
This bike is a fine multi-day machine and gravel grinder. I've ridden my share of bikes. This is most versatile bike I've ever owned and one of the most comfortable.
Last edited by bikemig; 05-22-20 at 03:06 PM.
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Cool. An excuse to post pinky. Made from an Italian sport frame & crank. Sport bikes were typically 3-speeds with upright bars, very relaxed geometry for tons of tire clearance. I believe this Umberto Dei put me back $25. Power coat was a bit spendy, I think under $100, maybe $80? Bought everything else from the Madison swap on the cheap - Cinelli cockpit, Mavic tubular wheels, tires, pedals. Did an off-topic 1x10 cheap from Wiggle.
Umberto Dei 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Umberto Dei 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
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Cool. An excuse to post pinky. Made from an Italian sport frame & crank. Sport bikes were typically 3-speeds with upright bars, very relaxed geometry for tons of tire clearance. I believe this Umberto Dei put me back $25. Power coat was a bit spendy, I think under $100, maybe $80? Bought everything else from the Madison swap on the cheap - Cinelli cockpit, Mavic tubular wheels, tires, pedals. Did an off-topic 1x10 cheap from Wiggle.
Umberto Dei 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Umberto Dei 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
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