dwmckee

Okay, there has not been much here to read lately so I'll throw in a topic for conversation. If cost and parts availability were no option, what is your dream gravel bike? I'll put mine out there for starters:

- Open Upper Frame in Pistachio paint
- GRX 810 Mechanical Groupset
- FSA SLK Carbon Crank - 30-46 Gearing
- Lauf Fork
- Redshift Seatpost
- Ritchey WCS Compact Carbon Bars and Stem
- Reynolds ATR Carbon Wheels
- Rene Herse 700x38 tires
- 11-34 Ultegra cassette
- Lizard Skin bar tape

What are you looking for?

Noonievut

I think of this all the time

I don't have a full spec list, but I would want something that includes
- custom Ti frame, local builder; frame would have all the necessary braze-ons/bosses and internal cable routing so that I can easily run whatever bags I want without interfering with cables
- custom wheels, with same hubs and cassettes so that I can easily (I mean 100% accurate indexing every time!) swap wheels...I would run tires like 700x32 and 700x42 (or 650b); could even go with a third wheelset with knobby tires for singletrack
- ability to run a front handlebar bag, easily, but without too much weight (i.e., I wouldn't want a permanent rack like on some touring/rando bikes, but sufficient clearance with cables and such to run a roll on medium bag)
- plush Silca tape with gel pads under the tape (I have this combo on my road bike...wow, after running lizard skins forever I now realize what I was missing, and the extra cushion on gravel is great)
- two forks: something like Lauf or even more travel for when I run those knobby tires on singletrack; otherwise a well-made carbon fork with bosses for anything cages (light load)

ksryder

At this point whatever is in stock.

blakcloud

Brad Bingham Built titanium frame, carbon fork, titanium stem and seat post
Shimano GRX Di2
Bontrager RSLV 37
XTR pedals
Rene Herse Barlow Pass 38 mm

Ghazmh

My dream gravel bike would be custom titanium with full GRX, full Chris King, rack mounts and have my name on the top tube.

bOsscO

Agree with most of this. Custom would be soooooo choice.
If limited to production frames/brands, I'd happily go with either a Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Hakka MX or Lynskey PRO GR.

Rolla

My dreams are pretty modest, so I'm thinking of actually having this built: steel frame, carbon fork, singlespeed drivetrain, dropper post, hydro discs, tons of tire clearance, probably 650b. Something like this:

ericcox

I have eclectic taste. On the one hand, for bike packing, I would like a Lynskey with GRX 2x11 - not even picky on 810 vs 600. In reality, there's a decent chance I'll pick up a Jamis Renegade s2 or s3 at some point in the near future. Maybe.

On the other hand, the bike I would love for gravel events / races is a Pinarello Grevil built with Campagnolo Ekar and Zipp 303s or FFWD drift wheels. Admittedly this is partially because I have a Pinarello Prince that I love with FFWD wheels... I realize not everyone likes Pinarello, but I think they are gorgeous. I'm also very spoiled already and fully recognize that.

wheelsmcgee

I don’t dream very big, and don’t dream down to every last detail, so to me a dream bike would probably just be something too niché for me to justify buying because of the limited use I’d get out of it.

I’d have to go with something like the Bearclaw Tōwmak or Beaux Jaxon

Lazyass

My dream gravel is a CX bike. Ritchey Swiss Cross Canti but with mini v-brakes.

ksryder

Friend of mine recently took possession of his Bingham-built bike and it's everything you could hope that it would be and more. A couple other friends have Eriksens (where Bingham used to work) that are going on 10+ years and you'd have to cut a throat to get it from them.

mstateglfr 

- custom steel frame so that it doesnt have to meet euro impact standards and can be lighter. external cables, threaded bb, 44mm head tube. geometry that has 75mm bb drop, 73deg sta, 72deg hta, space for 45mm tires, and 430mm chainstays so the DS chainstay doesnt need to drop
- carbon fork with 50mm rake
- GRX 810 mechanical group
- praxis or grx crank...dont really care. 48/32 or 48/31
- brooks c17 saddle
- 43mm tires- Panaracer, WTB, something else- options are constantly coming to market.
- 11-36 cassette
- cowbell bars to see if I like a little less flare than my current cowchippers. probably wont care.
- ritchey pave bar tape
- uno7 stem, or maybe a redshift since if i dislike it then itll cost $25 to get what i know i like.
- maybe some carbon rim wheels?...why not if cost isnt a concern. Something under 1600g, otherwise what is the point compared to my $450 aluminum wheels?

Hmmm

Probably this Sim Works Doppo build

Or anything with a horizontal top tube.

Random11

I'm showing a lack of imagination here, but my dream gravel bike is the one I have: a Specialized Diverge. It came with Ultegra and 48-34 chainrings. I've made two minor changes to the stock configuration. I've replaced the tires with Schwalbe Marathon Plus (I was getting too many flats) and replaced the cassette with a SRAM 11-28. The gearing is little different on the SRAM than on a Specialized 11-28 and I like the SRAM better.

DarKris

My current bike cept carbon/titanium. Or just 5lbs lighter.

jonathanf2

That's pretty much my modest dream setup as well, but I could probably go with a 2x crank or maybe with a 1x with big cassette.

kuroba

My dreams are pretty modest too, I'd be happy with a Soma Double Cross with carbon fork (with rack mounts), Shimano GRX 10-speed drivetrain and 650b wheels. But the Soma has been forever out of stock. Maybe in 2022

rosefarts

I am extremely happy with my new ride, a Swiss Cross V2.

I could definitely imagine discreetly changing the Rival group for Campy Ekar and the Stans Crests for some carbon absurdity.

If we’re dreaming here, how about spending a lot of the money to take a frame building class and coming home with my very own frame. Then sweet components blah blah.

franswa

There were many sizes in stock in the first week of May and currently have sizes 54 and 66 available right now. I was fortunate enough to get one in my size. Unfortunately, the carbon forks with rack mounts were out of stock, so I had to get one without the mounts. When I talked with their customer service they said they were expecting more at the end of May, but it looks like that might be delayed. Keep an eye out on their instagram account, or even ask them there and see when next shipment is expected.

kuroba

I was keeping an eye on the site because I had asked about a restock, but either I missed the one in May or my size (42cms) wasn't restocked then

JWK

My "dream" gravel bike is fairly modest and does not and will never exist.

Take the new Canyon Grizl.
Leave everything the same except for three things:
1. Stack and reach of the Salsa Journeyman
2. Threaded BB
3. Make it so it can take a mtb triple, like the Deore 610 (48-36-26).

It will never happen. I know this, so I am in no danger of getting my hopes up.

softreset

I got really lucky that everything lined up during the height of the pandemic regarding pricing and inventory levels. While I did have to wait a couple extra weeks, it was still only about 6-weeks from order to delivery on the bike.

• Lynskey GR300
• GRX Di2
• Custom wheels built around Grail MK3s

That handlebar bag was an anniversary present from my wife when we went to Seattle a couple of years ago and visited Swift, custom colorway on their Paloma bag. It honestly checked every single box I wanted in a gravel bike / light tourer / commuter / daily driver. I was very happy with the Lynskey buying experience and I've been very happy with the ride quality and ownership experience. Out the door price was a ~ $5100 (minus bag & saddle).

dvdslw

Dream build would start with a carbon frameset that will accept up to 700x50mm tires like the Open Upper or similar.
12 speed 2x AXS drivetrain with top end crank, chain, etc... with oil slick cassette and chain finish
Zipp 353NSW wheelset @ 1255 grams & 25mm internal width
Rene Herse 700x48 Oracle Ridge tires
Matching Zipp stem, carbon bars, and carbon seat post (new logo like wheels)
Hope hydraulic disc brakes and rotors to add a bit of bling color determined after frame purchase
I'd consider the Lauf fork but with those wheels, tires, and frame I don't think the bike will ride all that bad to necessitate one.
Best lights, mounts, cages, computer, pedals, etc...
Finally top it off with a Brooks C17 with matching tape and call it a day!

Cpn_Dunsel

I have different dreams every night.


And I have what I want right now so I feel like a happily married man being asked what he wants in his next wife. Yikes.

tyrion

Something like a Bearclaw Thunderhawk with their titanium fork:

SRAM Eagle10-50 RD/cassette with Microshift bar end shifter. Wheels - not sure about the wheels but something to accomodate 700x50 GK SK tires, TRP Hylex brakes/levers.