Sweet!
Apologies for derailing your thread to talk inventory. To get back on topic: I think the AXS mullet spec (road shifters w/ MTB derailleur) would be a very cool setup for this build. Are you thinking a UDH for future-proofing or standard dropout (like the DR2065 that Nick recommended above)?
Probably something I have or what Nick recommended. Not fully sure yet.
I will probably do the AXS setup with Paul Clamper.
I am not worried about future proof since I will build more frames since I am just beginning.
Sorry, misunderstood what you wanted with the Ratio Kit. Most of Ratio’s products are mechanical groupsets!
If you don’t mind electronic, Sram and Shimano still offer their cable brake + electronic sifting.
I want to do it as inexpensive as I can. I may look for used SRAM shifters with the Ratio parts.
I’m a little late to the game but wanted to comment about the brakes. I don’t mind cable brakes but I haven’t had good luck with flat mount cable brakes. Tektro/TRP and Shimano are not as good as Avid’s and the paul brake is so wide that my shoe won’t go past it. Down tube brake “cable” routing can also be a problem because the cable gets loaded with dirt and water because the cable points up, then that stuff gets stuck in the cable under the bottom bracket because it’s the lowest point. Top tube routing and Avid BB5’s (because BB7’s don’t have the barrel adjuster) avoid these issues. (Yes, I know this is “old school” but it does work well…)
The shifting stuff is evolving faster than I am so I’ll be curious to see what you do…
I mirror the comments about makeing the chainstay a little longer and using GRX 50mm chainline and avoiding nasty construction for clearance.
Good luck!
Hi Daniel,
what is your reasoning for this?
edit: I initially read “HTA”. If anything that should have been the other way around then. But your sentence makes sense as it is to me now:)
Bringing this back from the dead. I have registered for the PA Grinduro. Will ride the gravel bike I have but want a nice comfy bike for the Green Mountain Gravel Growler for the fall. It will be pretty packed since I will be carrying the majority of the stuff.
I think I will go in the route of a drop bar mountain bike with like 2.1 tires.
Working on the CAD drawing now with the recommendations from @manzanitacycles and @Daniel_Y I do want it to ride like the family truckster.
Sweet! I’m hoping to be at Grinduro PA as well.
29x2.1 is right on the margin of gravel bike drivetrains and construction. Here is a @Meriwether design we are working on:
You could get around this by:
In my personal opinion, gravel bikes should have a narrow Q factor and short wheelbase. However, that makes them much harder to design with wider tires. If the design intent is a drop bar mountain bike, then you can do whatever!
If you’re looking for a good reference to all the gravel specific cranks, I made this Gravel WIDE Cranks google sheet with every option I’m aware of.
These cranks retain a lowish q factor and push the chainline out to non boost mtb spec (47.5-49.5). There are basically three ways to go about it.
I’m working on a frame designed around 2.3’s and hope to get around 435-438 chainstays with Gravel WIDE Crank compatibility
I’m still of the opinion that since you’re a big dude you should ride a big bike. While you can make a steel clone of the Diverge with a short wheelbase and snappy handling, why not just buy a Diverge? Do something different and see what you think. That’s one of the main reasons to make your own frame isn’t it? If the big bike sucks then you’ll hopefully learn something from it and make another frame with all that new knowledge.
This is the stupidly long bike I recently made. The weather has been shitty here so I haven’t taken it on many rides yet, but first impressions are that it handles just fine. Am I going to clean some tight switchbacks on it? Nope. But otherwise it’s super comfy, corners normally, and feels like a bike. The worst thing about it is the 2x drivetrain 
I forgot how annoying they are.
Thats a long bike. Will ride so comfy. I want something like that. Maybe not that long but I do want a big comfy bike for long miles and packs.
I’m a big fan of longer rear ends. It will smooth out the ride add stability and give clearance for big tires and narrow cranks. All of those things lead to a better ride IMO.
