Budget custom steel or titanium

This is a concern. I going to have a conversation with a local framebuilder about the geometry.

? I spoke to CSG (Cannondale distributors)

Haha what the fuck do they know?

The slightly tricky thing with the current SuperX is you need 6mm offset chainring/s or spider.

It's such a non-problem when the intended chainset is one of the best and best looking in the business.

Offsetting the rear wheel is a bummer though if you like system wheelsets.

I don’t feel I have unrealistic expectations. I’m an average rider who rides at an average pace and goes on average adventures. I’m not hoping to have a bike to do crit races and the TCR. Just one that I can do faster rides and but also allow me to bomb along the camels in relative comfort.

It’s true that the market has a wealth of options and some do meet some of my requirements, but not all. I’ve been riding bikes in various guises (courier, cycle paramedic, trans-America x2 and a hi-viz nodder) so I have a pretty good idea of what I want. If I can get something built that meets all of them why would I settle for something else?

I’m not set on titanium. Steel would be good. Carbon would be great but the cost of a custom carbon is well beyond what I’m willing to spend.

If anyone can recommend an off the peg bike that meets the following requirements I’m more than willing to try something out:

Threaded BB
Internal cabling
37c with full mudguards
Three bottle cage mounts
Thru axles

The main issue is the geometry as I am all legs. The 61cm CAAD is a great for leg wise but was terrible in the reach. So I went down to the 58cm and had to run a 90mm stem (which was still a bit long).

37c with full mudguards

At 700c? An Arkose would barely accept this.

You are in Gravel Bike territory with this requirement.

Thanks for the info. I’ll definitely look more into it.

I know.

Thought about a GT grade or Isen*? Both are close to what you are looking for.

GT aesthetics are obviously challenging but the de-coupling stuff and the flip chip are interesting. Might be closer to the handling you are after.

* budget stretcher there.

If I can get something built that meets all of them why would I settle for something else?

What you're proposing is settling for something less. If you are absolutely limited to having only one bike, you are stuck with something which is not as nice on the road as a CAAD12 and not as disposable as a commuter as a Viking Urban X, to take a completely random example of something tow-path ready which you wouldn't be distraught to find gone when you went to unlock it from wherever you park your shopping bike. This is why most of us find any way to keep a fleet rather than be stuck with a jack-of-all-trades, which is inevitably master of none.

maybe this one:
https://nordestcycles.com/en/product/albarda-m2-bike
https://nordestcycles.com/en/product/albarda-frame

takes 700c 50mm tyres and has a short reach.
has everything you want except internal cables.
Titanium option too.

Shand Stoater? Or Salsa Vaya?

Both pretty close. I’ve been pondering something similar

Soma Wolverine? Possibly the closest you can get to a proper all rounder

Subbed. Am in the same process atm (not custom, but n-1). Must be possible.

Going to the Middle East?

also allow me to bomb the camels

Mother Of All Bikes?

Update. I discovered the Kinesis G2 adventure. Fits pretty much all my needs. So I’m going to order one ASAP.

Kinesis G2 adventure

but its alloy?

alloy?

That's alright, his original idea called for one or more selections from a couple of groups of common engineering alloys, so adding the aluminium alloys to the pool isn't much of a change.