Curious what choices others have made…post a pic, a few words about your intended use/terrain, what you would have done differently/done the same in your cx/gravel bike build
Interested in specific commentary on the following
Electronic vs. mechanical (and non clutch derailleur vs. clutch)
Gearing choices: 1x vs. 2x,
Wheels/rims: carbon vs. alloy, tubeless ready vs. non, clincher vs. tubular (again?)
Hubs/frame dropouts: XD driver or standard, thru axle vs. QR
Pedals: mountain vs. road
Power meter: yay or nay
Tires!
I’m incredibly tempted to get a cx bike to mix things up a bit and there are TONS of gravel roads in the area (central florida). Does anyone have suggestions for an absolute barebones build? I have a caad10 105 for my barebones road biking needs and I absolutely love it, so something comparable to that if possible, maybe even a little cheaper.
I’ve been riding the same steel LeMond Poprad cx bike since 2001.
It’s got a Tiagra triple drivetrain on it.
Mtn bike pedals so I can use the same shoes as my Mtn bike. Canti brakes. The bike is bombproof. I’ve cx raced it, ridden it in hilly centuries (Triple Bypass in CO) and take it on mellow single track.
Only limiter is the clearance in the back for wide tires. I have Panaracer Comet Hardpack 700x38s on there and it’s a pretty tight fit.
I’m incredibly tempted to get a cx bike to mix things up a bit and there are TONS of gravel roads in the area (central florida). Does anyone have suggestions for an absolute barebones build? I have a caad10 105 for my barebones road biking needs and I absolutely love it, so something comparable to that if possible, maybe even a little cheaper.
That’s pretty much where I’m at…tons of non paved roads and want something better to hit the dirt. I’m predisposed to Felt in general, but I really like the way they have spec’d out their stock cx builds. The $2k alloy frame options still has solid components (1x SRAM). I’m sure you can get that bike used for half that, or less. Seems to me that in cx/gravel bikes in particular, the manufacturers/PMs haven’t actually thought through the product line and pricing steps (see: Giant).
Last summer I converted my single speed steel commuter to a single speed cx bike. A frame builder in the area welded on bosses and cable guides for $100. Given that the bike was stripped I upgraded a bunch of the parts but that’s only because the originals were pretty brutal. If they were decent they could have been reused. I bought new canti brakes.
I’m incredibly tempted to get a cx bike to mix things up a bit and there are TONS of gravel roads in the area (central florida). Does anyone have suggestions for an absolute barebones build? I have a caad10 105 for my barebones road biking needs and I absolutely love it, so something comparable to that if possible, maybe even a little cheaper.
Which roads out of curiosity? I’m over by Windermere/Dr. Phillips and have never come across a gravel road (other than private farm roads) in my journeying around CFL
This pic was taken not long after I built it up. It now has yellow bar tape and yellow hoods. I also swapped out the cantis for TRP mini V brakes.
I built up a Trek Crockett frameset. I reused parts I already had on my old road bike where I could. It mainly gets used for cross racing, but I do participate in organized gravel grinders and commute with it occasionally.
Shifters: Sram Rival 10 speed
Crank: sram force with a Rival stages left crank arm
Chainrings: 46/36
Front derailleur: sram rival
Rear derailleur: Sram rival mid cage
Cassette: 11-32
Wheels: custom Pacenti SL23 rims (tubeless ready) with DT Swiss 350 hubs ,CXray spokes
Pedals: Crank Brothers Candy
Tires: depends on the ride. For cross racing Clement LAS or MXP. For commuting and gravel rides Clement Xplor USH.
For next cross season I probably will try tubeless. I haven’t checked lately, but I kept hearing rumors of more tubless tires which would be out early this year.
Don’t forget the $20 airhorn!
Had one of those…best $20 ever spent on bike in my life, saved my ass commuting 3-4 times!
David
Yup, love the horn. I end up using it quite frequently. A tiny toot from 100 yards away to gently alert walkers on gravel trails. And massive 120 db blasts to wake up asleep or crazy drivers that have nearly killed me.
Here is mine. Wanted a new relatively cheap CX Bike and ended up with this Pinarello FCX Hydro. Justified it by thinking I would use as a gravel bike too.
Ultegra 2x11spd Mechanical road groupset
FFWD F6D Tubular w/Conti CycloXKing for CX; Stock clincher wheels w/Specialized Roubaix 32c tires for Road.
QR not thru axel
Mtn Bike pedals for CX and Look Keo for the road
No power meter.
S Works Crux, 56cm, allow bar and stem, carbon post. 2X10 Dura Ace 7900. Chose to go with this compared to something with discs because all of my wheel sets are rim brakes and 10 speed already. Love it, it’s just too much bike for what I use it for.
2012 Redline Conquest Team
Easton ec90xd tapered fork
TRP hy/rd disc brakes
Stans Grail rims (setup tubeless with sealant)
Novatec hubs (rare 130 rear spacing)
12x32 cassette
WTB Cross Boss tires
Force CX1 bb30 crank
40t narrow wide ring
Rival 1 medium clutched rear derailleur
sram xsync chain
Rival levers (left gutted)
3t ergonova 44cm bars
Easton ec90 seat post
Fizik Arione
Switched to 1x and a clutched rear derailleur last year after a few untimely chain drops. The setup has been flawless since. Switching all my bikes to 1x w/ clutch now
don’t ask, I think my wife reads this and it was my 40th b’day present to myself
if I was being hypercritical I did write back to the guy that built it and there were several things I’d have done differently but the one thing I think would have made a huge difference was to go with manual discs and to put S&S couplers on it. I could literally take it anywhere which would be huge.
the second is internal cable routings - difficult as you need a splitter for the S&S or somehow resolve the hyro issue
thru axles were a nice touch and I’d keep them - its not like I’m rushing to change tires over
the Chris King Group was not cheap but again a good finishing touch
If I’d done it again - I am pretty confident for what I paid I could have down-graded my spec, got an extra frame and had one with S&S and manual brakes and another with hydro and shared wheels
Stock trek Boone 9, di2, stages power meter, road pedals but switch to mtb for cross races. I swap to conti 28 for road use. Will probably get a second set of wheels for cross racing.
2012 Redline Conquest Team
Easton ec90xd tapered fork
TRP hy/rd disc brakes
Stans Grail rims (setup tubeless with sealant)
Novatec hubs (rare 130 rear spacing)
12x32 cassette
WTB Cross Boss tires
Force CX1 bb30 crank
40t narrow wide ring
Rival 1 medium clutched rear derailleur
sram xsync chain
Rival levers (left gutted)
3t ergonova 44cm bars
Easton ec90 seat post
Fizik Arione
Switched to 1x and a clutched rear derailleur last year after a few untimely chain drops. The setup has been flawless since. Switching all my bikes to 1x w/ clutch now
