A local seller is offering a custom steel framed gravel bike. He is the builder and now works for a major bike corporation doing prototypes. This was only his third frame. very clean welds
$1700. SRAM 12-speed Apex. 4130 steel tubing but felt pretty light. He claims it is 22.3lbs without pedals.
it felt great riding it.
Here are my hangups:
1) very tight clearance on the front chain ring and frame. has a 40t but no way it could go bigger
2) very tight clearance between the crank arms and frame. like just a few mm at best. when I intentionally flexed the crank arms inward I was able to make them brush against the frame
3) no rear rack mounts
4) the Cable routing is exterior and goes underneath the down tube
I'm not even sure I need a gravel bike. I am signed up for a gravel race in a month, but was just going to put some wide tires on my old Surly Long Haul Trucker. but maybe I would do more gravel riding.
it seems cool to maybe buy something truly custom an handmade by a local young guy
by Fun_Impress_9625
4 Comments
You could get a Primos Super Dame for $200 less and ~2 more pounds with wireless shifting (10s, but good for up to 12 with a cassette swap), and chainring clearance up to 46T officially and potentially 50T (they told me they think it’d fit but aren’t 100%). And there’s also the State All-Road 4130 which can be similarly spec’d at a similar price. They both at least look cooler too lol.
This bike seems like it’d be an okay buy but given other options, I’d prolly pass. If this were closer to a grand I’d be more interested.
I’d wait for something else unless custom (but not customized to you) steel is exactly what you want. My brother held out for a couple of months to find the right deal and got a Ventum GS1 with APEX XPLR from their outlet for $2200. A solid Apex level gravel bike for $1700 or so will show up of you keep an eye out.
He’s got a cool story and it looks like a nice bike, but you can get a steel frame Kona or Surly or something with a warranty for $1700. Price feels high for this bike.
I would also look for the geometry charts