So l am looking at various gravel frames, but I have a few needs/preferences. I don’t need unusual for its own sake, it just does not seem like there are very many gravel bike frames with at least these 4 features:
Carbon fiber frame
Frame 2x compatible (mechanical shifting)
Top tube storage bosses
Able to fit 700C x 50mm tires, or 700C x 47mm tires with reasonable additional mud clearance (must be for 700C tires, lots of frames fit 650B tires like this)
So far l have found frames with all of these features by Niner and by Otso.
Personally, if I need 45mm+ tires, I’d rather be on a mountain bike, but I don’t do all day gravel rides either.
I will look at those, but the Exploro Max won’t go anywhere near that in tire size. I need reasonable tire width, but I also need mud clearance. And that is a huge issue, as I have done rides where mud accumulation simply stops you dead.
Argon 18 Dark Matter gets close. I think official size is 45c but my buddy said there was a lot of room left over on his.
Also Evil Chamois Hager… Meets all your asks, and for sure falls into the unusual bucket.
The Otso warrakin is also a great bike, is that the model you looked at? What about that and the Niner don’t you like? Or just looking for more options?
The Otso and Niner look great, but just I am also curious about other options, and don’t want to miss other awesome designs of this kind of frame, if they are out there.
I have a warrakin in a 2x shimano build and I run in with the dropouts in the rear position which juuuuust fits a 700x2 schwalbe thunderburt. Super tight at the chainstays.
I love the bike though, it’s been a great ride for the 18 months I’ve had it.
Wouldn’t trust it in a muddy event like say Landrun.
Replaced an old ancient karate monkey frame that I had drops on, that of course had loads of clearance and worked great, I loved that bike and would still be on it but it developed a crack.
Don’t know anything about it besides what’s in the review, but this just came up in my Twitter feed today:
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/arc8-eero/
That looks pretty good, but it looks like the frame requires a proprietary stem? Not necessarily a huge issue, but could be a bit of a downside since the company is in switzerland.
if unusual as in ‘not everyone has one of these’ may I suggest:
Chapter2 AO
because I’m an old 'cross geek, and got to visit showroom in Italy last fall: Alan Extreme Gravel
I personally yearn for the Scandium gravel though I realise now looking they do not have top tube bosses.
Rodeo Labs I admire as well. Love to see all the paint jobs people are doing with Flux Customs and Black Magic Paint.
if unusual as in ‘not everyone has one of these’ may I suggest:
Chapter2 AO
Because I’m an old 'cross geek, and got to visit showroom in Italy last fall: Alan Extreme Gravel. I personally yearn for the Scandium gravel though I realise now looking they do not have top tube bosses. RRodeo Labs I admire as well. Love to see all the paint jobs people are doing with Flux Customs and Black Magic Paint.
Thanks for more options. And, no, I am not looking for unusual for its own sake, it just seems that there are not many gravel frames with these 4 specs (carbon, 2x capable, tt bosses, and 47-50mm 700C tire capability). The chapter 2 AO looked interesting, but it maxes out at 42mm tires with 700C. And the Alan is limited to 45mm tires. Again, I won’t always be using such big tires, but mud clearance with slightly narrower tires is still an issue (i.e., the more mud clearance is better).
I know you’re on the right track with that Otso. Not sure if the Niner RLT tire clearance goes down with a front derailleur or not. Several gravel bikes have an asterisk next to their tire clearance if you’re using a 2x setup. Especially if it’s etap. Chamois Hagar is one of the ones I see here that says 700 x 40 is their limit with a FD.
Salsa Cuthroat is another good one. It’s somewhat like that Otso in the ‘back’ position of the chainstay chip and a lot more head tube. I think it’s designed around a 29 x 2.25" with a 2x. https://salsacycles.com/...20_cutthroat_grx_600. I’m not sure who deals a lot of Salsa your way, but Freeport Bicycle a bit west of you has a lot of experience with them. The owner has one at home and has sold several.
So l am looking at various gravel frames, but I have a few needs/preferences. I don’t need unusual for its own sake, it just does not seem like there are very many gravel bike frames with at least these 4 features:
Carbon fiber frame
Frame 2x compatible (mechanical shifting)
Top tube storage bosses
Able to fit 700C x 50mm tires, or 700C x 47mm tires with reasonable additional mud clearance (must be for 700C tires, lots of frames fit 650B tires like this)
So far l have found frames with all of these features by Niner and by Otso.
Any others that you know of or have seen?
Thanks.
This meets 3/4 AND is definitely not something you’ll see many of
Carbon-ish… (steel w/ carbon seat and head tubes)
Is 2x compatible
I think you are looking for an Evil Chamois Hagar. It certainly fits the unusual category., but the reviews I have read have been nothing but positive.
I have to admit that I gravitate towards the Exploro Race Max though because I am a diehard aero weenie and 700x50 is what I would consider hardtail MTB territory.
I have to admit that I gravitate towards the Exploro Race Max though because I am a diehard aero weenie and 700x50 is what I would consider hardtail MTB territory.
The Exploro race max looks really great, but I am concerned about mud clearance issues, even when using tires well below 50mm. It is a fairly new bike, it will be interesting to hear how it fares on muddy courses …
and as previously mentioned in the thread, Cobalt Warhawk Carbon. I bought my Warhawk in a real time crunch, and the owner of the (very small) company helped me out directly to get me the bike. A fairly boutique brand, I’ve only seen a few others in my area, which is where the company is based.
The bike has so many bolt holes everywhere, it is light, with large clearances(48 mm x 700c or 53 mm x 650b), stable while still responsive. I would reccomend, 10/10