Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

From hhsb

Is that a 26" > 700c conversion? Or just a 700c bike? Or are they skinny 26"s?

Shame about the seatpost/saddle thing, it's great otherwise.

Edit: they take 700x38 by default. There's a cheap one (looks small) for sale in London on eBay if anyone fancies building up something similar...

I don't think a 559 to 622 conversion would work with stock cantis/cantimounts.

No, it doesn't; you have to get the canti posts rewelded. It can look decent - one of my favourite frankenbikes is a 26" to 700c conversion:

I just didn't expect there to be many 700c/chunky tyre bikes around in the 90s.

Project 12, a local framebuilder:

Really nice!

Nice but those tubes are mad skinny. Not sure if it's aesthetically pleasing, to me anyway.

For the same price (1000 GBP), what would you choose?
a) On-One Pickenflick - titanium frame with carbon fork, Apex 1, BB5 mechanical discs
b) Verenti Substance - 4130 steel frame with carbon fork, 105, RS505 hydraulics

I am still looking for something accepting wider tyres than my alloy Grade, both look quite appealing to me.

Arkose

pickenflick and swap the the BB5 to sypres or hydraulics. Nor sure why you would chose a aluminium frame over a ti frame?

I never wanted to choose aluminium frame instead, just was considering steel too, as Verenti has better specs with thru axles and full hydraulic system. Also I am not completely sure if 1x is a good solution when this is going to be my do-it-all bike, both for some offroad, as well as soe group road rides.
For braking I could alternatively swap my HyRD from Grade and sell the GT with BB5s fitted.

Nothing wrong with BB5s

I was talking about the Akroke suggetion below.

Unless you race I think 1x is great, mine have been set up with anything from 42t to 50t front and 36t to 42t rear. I much prefer the simplicity of just changing up or down. My pickenflick is currently WTB byways 650b and 50t front and 11-40t cassette

I was mostly worried about the cassette spacing, I see there is not a single jump of 1 tooth between cogs. Never ridden such a wide-ratio cassette, so don't know how it feels in real ride on roads.
The second concern is wheelset, PX offer this 2,4 kg heavy Gipiemme that I would prefer to get ri of ASAP (the other offered Vision Team 30 Disc at 100 extra is not much ligther either).

I think SRAM is better for gravel stuff in almost every way; for some stupid reason Shimano won't let you go above 11-32 with drop bar levers. If you ask me 50/34 and 11-32 is just barely low enough for gravel riding (try riding up a 30° gravel slope into a headwind with bikepacking bags on 34/32 if you disagree). Having said that a Wolf Tooth RoadLink and new cassette is a good whack cheaper than changing the SRAM groupset to 2×11.

If you're really not sold on 1× you could also consider swapping your current groupset onto the Pickenflick. You'd get a fair bit of money for a complete Apex 1 groupset on here/eBay.

However I do think you should give 1× a go! It's just really nice not having to think about your front derailleur. Doesn't sound like something that you'd notice but it does feel a bit more relaxed.

I work a couple of days a weeks for Cardiff Cycle Couriers. My roadie was in pieces on Sunday night and i had no option but to do a shift on my gravel bike on the road Monday. I’m running Sram 1X Rival 38-42 and i had an absolute blast. I was worried I would just be spinning out but the 10t on the back proved to be more than enough. I’m new to this groupset, but i can already see why people rave about it!

Cost. Why would you choose Ti over Alu out of interest?
It’s more expensive, arguably more prone to cracking, not noticeably lighter

However I was just being facetious. Thread title n all

Are you racing? No? Then you won't give a crap about a 2 teeth jump. I find I change gear less now than when I had a double, always adjusting just to get the right cadence, fook that, spin a bit more or grind a little more, either way you just get used to it.

The Grade is a great bike, I've been riding one for years now, only downside it's that it won't clear 40c tires. If you going to replace it get something that feels like a real upgrade.

although i agree you can pair their mtb rd and cassettes with a wolftooth tanpan. i run 50-34 x 11-40 and it works pretty well. currently the only option that gives you good range and spacing. you also get the clutch which is nice for really rough stuff.

Because it offers a far superior ride to aluminium, especially off road, and the frame finish is going to out last any paint finish by years.

I've a 6 month old aluminium cross frame that's been raced five times and ridden off road probably less than 15 times, washed after every ride and the paint job is already heavily marked.

It’s only £125 more than the cheapest akrose and a better spec. Arguably nicer ride, full carbon fork, doesn’t scratch or chip like a painted frame.
Five year guarantee should give peace of mind

far superior ride

Debatable

Aluminium will do fine raw when the paint chips anyway. Dunno what you’re chipping paint on if you’re not locking up.
@pryally arkose has full carbon fork. Haven’t looked at specs, I don’t buy new when you can get the same a year old for half the price