recommend me a Gravel frame set

[Kabu]

Looking for a gravel frameset. Will be building it up myself.
Looking for;
- light weight
- mud guard mounting options for winter commute
- threaded bottom bracket
- min 45, better 50mm tire clearance
- gravel roads 40% single track 40% tarmac 20%
- mostly rolling terrain with occasional day trip to the Alps for long climbs
- more emphasis on agility and playfulness on single track than aero features
- prefer in frame build compliance instead of moving parts
- available in EU
- need most likely size 58. I ride Tarmac size 58 and Epic EVO size L.
- would prefer something else than Specialized or Canyon.

[DrimeOser]

The Enve Mog would likely fit the bill. If you are willing to fork out the cash. I am building up a Stigmata V4 right now, definitely not the lightest but it should be right up your alley as far as the terrain you ride. Münchner Süden?

[Kabu]

Thanks, yes Münchener Süden would be the usual habitat for my envisioned new gravel bike.
Enve Mog is out of my price range or at least for that kind of money I would be looking for something Italian with heritage.
Stigmata looks interesting, perhaps a bit on the heavy side. What is your frame size and weight?
Others I currently have on my radar, but need to read more about this;
- Giant Revolt, seems to be a new model out. Unclear if with mudguard mounts?
- Orbea Terra
- Propaine Terrel cf

[CampagYOLO]

As you're German based, the Rose Backroad?

[DrimeOser]

I went for the Stigmata in size S at 172, recommended size would be M but I rode it at Rabe Schwabing and that felt way too big. Measured frame weight is 1120 w/o axle, storage core and collar. Not too bad though far away from Crux weight. Build up the bike today using Sram Force and Campag Levante wheels, it is at 8.2kgs. I am still missing two bolts in the mail to complete the build so the Jungfernfahrt still awaits.

If you are in Munich, the rose Backroad seems to be every second gravel bike you cross.

[DrimeOser]

Just a quick update on how the Stigmata rides build up with Force XPLR, light wheels, rather fast G-One R tires and rigid fork of course: It is a fast bike! It does handle a little more on the stable side due to the slack head angle. This means going downhill on the forest roads, it handles like no other. The tradeoff is that it handles less like a road bike on pavement, but that does not make it slower.

[ultyguy]

I’m also in the alps and use my bike similarly to what you expect. I have a Ridley Kanzo Adventure which is actually not that heavy, Felt Breed advanced is another option. I ride 2.1 inch thunder burts and definitely believe that these are better than almost any 45mm gravel tire.


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[Kabu]

Thanks for the replies. Rose Backroad just somehow does not rock my boat, although surely a good bike with excellent value for money.

On Ridley I was looking at Kanzo Fast as it just looks cool, but ruled it out as too racy. Perhaps I should take a closer look at the Kanzo Adventure.

@DrimeOser; Thanks for the Stigmata update, sounds nice. What is the complete weight? What wheelset are you running?

I’m currently kind of leaning towards Propaine Terrel cf, but have not made up my mind yet. Need to test a few bikes first. Will take the time required.
Also considering the Colnago G4-X, now that would be a beautiful bike, but perhaps I would prefer something a bit more slacker / stable and not even sure if it is available as a frame set.

[DrimeOser]

I weighted the complete bike with pedals at 8.2 kgs on my cheapo luggage scale. Not too bad, I think.

Wheelset is a Campag Levante with G-one R/RS tires in 45mm, Sram Rival/Force mix and Enve Gravel bars.

The new Colnago looks really beatiful, but I read in some review that it is crazy stiff. Somehow I have the feeling that italian brands are so road race focussed, that they still do not get the gravel idea as a whole.

[Requiem84]

Thanks for the replies. Rose Backroad just somehow does not rock my boat, although surely a good bike with excellent value for money.

On Ridley I was looking at Kanzo Fast as it just looks cool, but ruled it out as too racy. Perhaps I should take a closer look at the Kanzo Adventure.

@DrimeOser; Thanks for the Stigmata update, sounds nice. What is the complete weight? What wheelset are you running?

I’m currently kind of leaning towards Propaine Terrel cf, but have not made up my mind yet. Need to test a few bikes first. Will take the time required.
Also considering the Colnago G4-X, now that would be a beautiful bike, but perhaps I would prefer something a bit more slacker / stable and not even sure if it is available as a frame set.

Did you also check the Rose Backroad FF? Completely different frame compared to the normal Rose Backroad (which I also don't like very much).

[derosa2000]

The new Colnago looks really beatiful, but I read in some review that it is crazy stiff. Somehow I have the feeling that italian brands are so road race focussed, that they still do not get the gravel idea as a whole.

Italians have no idea ? cmon mate lol
Colnago has 3 bikes for gravel , C68 All road as one bike for road and light gravel, C68 Gravel as comfy real gravel bike , G4X as gravel bike for racing or simply for people who wants to be fast on gravel

[DrimeOser]

Guess that statement was a little provocative!
Thing is, I think some italian companies don't devote enough ressources to the gravel bikes they put out. Hence, those become road bikes with lots of tire clearance. A super stiff frame does simply not work that well on upaved roads (Likely Colnago, def. Pinarello). Or, making room for wider tires by lenghtening the chain stays on an otherwise sporty frame (Titici). Or having a super high bb as classic CX bikes have (Basso). Or doing everything wonderfully and almost perfect but not adding a UDH (C68 Gravel). For example. Of course, we would have to discuss every italian bike on its own to see if they statement would hold up. And then, of course it doesn't. So please forget my stupid statement.

[Aesch]

If you're willing to let go the "light" requirement check out the fairlight secan. I went from a carbon light gravel frame to the secan and it is a delight. Even at ~800 grams more I would pick it anytime. It is so good, I even consider swapping my allroad bike to a strael (their all road offering).

[CampagYOLO]

If you're willing to let go the "light" requirement check out the fairlight secan. I went from a carbon light gravel frame to the secan and it is a delight. Even at ~800 grams more I would pick it anytime. It is so good, I even consider swapping my allroad bike to a strael (their all road offering).

My proper gravel bike is a Secan and my allroad bike is a Strael. I couldn't be happier with them.

[hohnma]

Did the same research than you with nearly the same criteria.
Ended up with a crux expert (currently at 3630 eur at bike24) for EU customers (at this price it's very nice for the specs)
At start don't really wanted a crux, doesn't like so much specialized brand but seems a reasonnable choice (light, good tire clearance, threaded BB, no proprietary parts (hello the grizl with your headset bearing), simple, nice geometry (giant revolt tempted me a lot but 580 stack mm stack for size M comparing to my 545 propel is too much))

Rose backroad ff tempted me a lot but their 20 weeks waiting for the bike was too much for me