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    This Is How I’d Spend My Money on a Race Gravel Bike



    This might be one of the smartest ways to spend your money on a race gravel bike.

    For more custom builds – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_0xT3OkFswrEE5RwifxtUcxPLtChFUxk&si=dU8wzBJFkicvt1MF

    The frame is a Yoeleo Altera G21, custom painted in a design from PandaPodium, and I’ve built it with SRAM Rival XPLR and Zipp 303 SW XPLR wheels.

    It’s definitely not the kind of frame I usually build on the channel, but that’s partly what makes this one so interesting.

    You could spend considerably more on a frame from one of the big Western brands. You could also spend a lot more on SRAM Red XPLR to save a relatively small amount of weight. But would either actually make you much faster?

    Personally, I’d rather save the money on the frame and groupset, then spend it where I think it can make a real difference: the wheels.

    Rival XPLR gives you almost all of the performance of Red, with a little extra weight. The Zipp 303 SW XPLR wheels help make up for some of that weight difference while also being one of the most important performance upgrades on the entire bike.

    And when so many carbon frames from Western brands are manufactured in the same part of the world anyway, I think it’s fair to ask how much extra you’re actually getting for your money.

    This isn’t about building the cheapest gravel bike possible. It’s about spending money where it matters.

    And for a race gravel bike, I think this build gets that balance very right.

    Would you rather have the expensive frame and top-end groupset, or spend the money on the wheels instead?

    If you enjoy custom bicycle builds, handmade frames and premium components, don’t forget to subscribe for more builds featuring Italian steel, titanium and carbon bikes.

    XMiles – For all your nutrition needs – https://xmiles.avln.me/c/CHbXersYliQk
    Redshift Components – https://redshiftsports.avln.me/c/vucdEhJiiIIZ

    Tools from ‪‪‪@KNIPEXofficial‬ ‪‪@TopeakCycling‬ ‪@endurobearings‬ ‪@WeraToolRebels‬ ‪@pedroseurope‬ ‪@KNIPEXUK‬

    #custombike #gravelbike #pandapodium #bikebuild #yoeleo #sram #zippspeed #enduroinside #cycling #bikemechanic

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    46 Comments

    2. @cb6866 on

      Thank you Nic …and crew? That was awesome ! Love the stem cap . Coolest cutter jig I've ever seen . Be well , safe travels

    15. @bikebudha01 on

      100% a waste of money…. "gravel" and "race" should not be mixed. Totally kills the vibe of what gravel is meant to be. Now 'grand fondo' and "gravel'… that's a winning combo.

    18. @Jayneflakes on

      What a beauty, also the prefect video for a hot evening when all I want is peace and solitude. Thanks for another lovely film, to remind this retired bike mechanic that some jobs are as much about the art as they are the engineering.

    26. @darraghmcb on

      Wasted money with zipp wheels, awful quality. Should go with some of the Chinese brands like Tavelo's brand or Far sports, they're up there with enve/rovals

    32. @martinmorsch7507 on

      Hi Nik, you were absolutely fanboying over an hydraulic hose connector in the wild ones Pod. Is that now out and can you tell us what it is?
      I thought it was at least as cool, as you think it is!

      Also is there an other reason for the rival groupset other than price? I mean I guess going with a different crankset the weightsavings would be marginal but im curious anyways !

    34. @MTBScotland on

      all those bits labelled and packaged is nice. Always thought yoeleo were cheap. I personally wouldn't be spending my cash on that frame and wheels but everyone is different.

    35. @EwwDirt on

      Now that's a good build video! But I just realized that I'm missing an axe on my pegboard—clearly, I need to step up my bike tool game.
      (Calvin Jones must have accidentally left that out of the Park Tool manual.) Beautiful shop, by the way!

    42. @NicVieriMechanic on

      Yes it’s supposedly out, but I haven’t gotten one and the tool to fit it yet. I’ll see if I can get one ordered.

      I just don’t think the buttons on Force and Red levers are worth the upgrade. The shifting is exactly the same. Weight is the only penalty. And that weight is marginal. You can always upgrade the crank like you said. And if you really want to the chain and cassette (they are more durable on the Red version) also with all the kit we carry on gravel bikes, what’s an extra few grams? 🤷🏻‍♂️

    43. @toddmcdonough on

      I like it, but the frame colors are gay. Nothing wrong with gay. I'm just not gay so I don't want a gay bike. If you are offended by my comment, congratulations, you are now gay.

    44. @ABlanch on

      Nice to see the Topeak tools back! I have a couple of questions:
      Where can you get the Rule stuff in the UK? Their website lists some stores around the country but those sites never have it listed. All I want is some bar tape and I’m not going to Italy for a while.
      Secondly, the rear derailleur mount UDH thingy. Doesn’t this lose the ability of a rear hanger to bend and therefore make it likely to damage the mech if the bike falls over?

    45. @woduk on

      Great videos as always, think these are better than the other channel doing bike builds as I never even heard of the brands featured here

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