Flat bar gravel bike suggestions (steel)

Looking for suggestions on a flat bar gravel bike frame.

I've been using a Salsa Vaya with a long 110mm stem, but I'm converting that to a commuter/grocery bike.

The terrain in my area works best with flat bars. Lot's of loose, sandy, rocky stuff.  I don't have any hand/elbow issues and have done centuries on my current setup (I rest when I need to). Hand positions aren't a problem for me.

My criteria/preferences:

1. Steel frame (maybe even carbon)
2. Prefer carbon fork
3. 45c tires (I'm using 44c Raddlers now, and these are ideal for where/what I ride)

What's out there that matches my criteria?  

The Norco Search XR would have been perfect, if it was steel. Same with the Giant Toughroad.  The Flaanimal 3.0 would have been good as well.

I've only started looking at the Hybrid options, and converting to be more 'gravel worthy' is an option, but I haven't come across one that will allow for 45c tires.

Thanks!

CC wrote:Looking for suggestions on a flat bar gravel bike frame.

I've been using a Salsa Vaya with a long 110mm stem, but I'm converting that to a commuter/grocery bike.

The terrain in my area works best with flat bars. Lot's of loose, sandy, rocky stuff.  I don't have any hand/elbow issues and have done centuries on my current setup (I rest when I need to). Hand positions aren't a problem for me.

My criteria/preferences:

1. Steel frame (maybe even carbon)
2. Prefer carbon fork
3. 45c tires (I'm using 44c Raddlers now, and these are ideal for where/what I ride)

What's out there that matches my criteria?  

The Norco Search XR would have been perfect, if it was steel. Same with the Giant Toughroad.  The Flaanimal 3.0 would have been good as well.

I've only started looking at the Hybrid options, and converting to be more 'gravel worthy' is an option, but I haven't come across one that will allow for 45c tires.

Thanks!

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but just a few off the top of my head...  

Norco Search XR S is steel (Reynolds 725) w carbon fork, and although complete bikes are spec'd w 42mm wide Resolute tires, those are quite a bit wider than 42mm, if I'm not mistaken

Rodeo Labs says their Flaanimal 5.0 will accept 50mm wide 700C tires 

All City Super Professional, although it's spec'd w a nice steel fork (I'm partial to lugged fork crowns) 

Soma Wolverine, sold as frame only, but Soma has a nice selection of carbon forks 

Soma Double Cross Disc, sold as frame only like the Wolverine 

Ritchey Outback 

Crust Evasion Lite (sold out) 

Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross Disc, sold as frameset w segmented steel fork 

Niner RLT Steel (can't get link to work 
https://ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-steel?variant=32890803060845 
¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ )

Don’t forget to look at geometry. I love the Rodeo Labs Flaaminal - their paint schemes are just super cool - but it’s way too long in the reach and short in stack for me. Definitely a racing type geometry if you ask me.

Reviews suggest the Ritchey Outback is really good.

My wife and another friend both have the Niner RLT Steel and it’s great. I think it would work with flat bars.

Check out Bombtrack’s frames, Kona Sutra (steel fork) and All City Cosmic Stallion.

Oh, and consider Ti. I love and have had many great steel frames. I currently have a Lynskey GR300 and it’s fantastic. 

Rodeo Flaanimal (and their other one) have a ridiculously high BB which might make it feel like an awkward mountain bike if you use 700c wheels.  It's probably designed for 650b with 700c compatibility as an afterthought.

I loved my Vaya and a Lynskey GR300 has pretty similar geometry. 

These are the three framesets I sorta whittled down for myself this year:

Jamis Renegade S1 - Reynolds 631, T47 BB. I'm in line for one, but the dealer said the supply is still far from guaranteed when they start to ship in December.

Brother Mehteh - Reynolds 725, UK based

Ribble CGR 725 - Reynolds 725, paint can be customized for a reasonable fee, UK based

They are all about the same geometry wise (not super slack) with external cabling. Soma Wolverine Type A also looks pretty good with Tange Prestige tubing, but geometry is a bit big...that might work better for flat bars though.

Knolly Cache is a nice steel frame that seems to fit what you are looking for.

Lots of great suggestions here!

One thing I'm wary about is choosing a frame designed for drop bar geometry and forcing a flat bar onto it.  It's basically what I'm doing with my Vaya.  It works, but not without it's issues.  I would really like to find a frame that was designed for flat bars.  As an example, the Norco Search XR has a steel (drop bar) and flatbar versions.

Search XR (drop bar): Reach/390 / ETT:565
Search XR (flat bar):  Reach/435 / ETT:608

Probably same with the Diverge flat bar.

Anyway, I'm going to go through the other bikes you guys have listed and try to narrow this down.  At least something to do on this current lockdown.

@Volsung - thanks for the heads-up on the Flaanimal.

@Lammark - I actually have a custom Ti road bike, and it's incredible in all aspects. 😁 I was actually thinking of experimenting with a Waltly  (or some similar option) if I don't find what I'm looking for.

@Sherwin24 - Thanks! I just emailed Knolly.  This could be the ONE!  and that ED anti-corrosion thing sounds interesting!

Thanks again everyone!

 I was getting ready to turn an extra Fargo I have ('20 Apex) in to a flat bar SS and then came across this bike that a friend who works at a LBS had for sale at a great price:  SOMA Juice with carbon belt SS set up, Whiskey fork, Cobalt wheels. Added 2.1" Mezcals. All I need to do to finish the build is order a set of Carbon Whiskey flat bars and Whiskey stem. Will probably finish it off with some carbon Whiskey wheels too. It's a great ride

I’d just go with a Salsa El Mariachi frame. 

The Fairlight Secan has a “tall” option that might help with stack height, but if you’re looking for long top tube/short stem it probably wouldn’t work.
https://fairlightcycles.com/product/secan-deposit/?v=79cba1185463

The Niner RLT has a fairly tall stack height.

Hardtail MTB frames tend to have higher bottom brackets than gravel bikes.

If you need more inspiration this showed up in my feed today.

https://bikepacking.com/news/readers-rig-nigels-norco-search-xr-steel/?fbclid=IwAR0sLRPRYy8GKYkXF-Cy5wN_zSYTQO_nN1nJ6OAjUuwo1b8YNz4iyijPZwU

I made a flat bar gravel rig for my wife based on an All City Cosmic Stallion frameset.  Since then I have seen quite of few at the races in the hands of some pretty good racers.  I think it checks all the boxes for you, and definitely worth a look.

Sherwin24 wrote:Knolly Cache is a nice steel frame that seems to fit what you are looking for.

I think I'm going to end up with a Knolly Cache (Ti). It's got everything I'm looking for and I do like Ti!  😁 They've also been great at answering any questions I've had.

Sweet! Post some pics when you get it built up CC. I have a Ti Cache myself, Noel put some magic into it. I always daydream about being out riding, with the cache I daydream about the feel of the ride.

Sherwin24 wrote:Sweet! Post some pics when you get it built up CC. I have a Ti Cache myself, Noel put some magic into it. I always daydream about being out riding, with the Cache I daydream about the feel of the ride.

 

That's about as strong an endorsement for a bike as any I've read, so I'm glad to hear the Knolly Ti Cache has such a great ride quality 👍. 

There was an interesting discussion last year on this other RG thread, that focused on ride quality and frame material.  And the perception was that many bikes today are overbuilt, including some made with steel or Ti, often sacrificing ride quality for durability--despite ad copy making generalized claims that anything made from steel or Ti will be compliant and supple simply based on the material (as opposed to tubing dimensions, etc). 

So to give it some perspective, would you (Sherwin24) mind telling us your riding weight and if you find the Ti Cache to have a great ride quality when loaded down w bikepacking gear, versus being ridden unladen with nothing more than water bottles & a mini-tool, and whether you mostly ride unpaved roads or more technical trails?  

Thanks!

Gunnar Hyper X

slo_rider wrote: 

So to give it some perspective, would you (Sherwin24) mind telling us your riding weight and if you find the Ti Cache to have a great ride quality when loaded down w bikepacking gear, versus being ridden unladen with nothing more than water bottles & a mini-tool, and whether you mostly ride unpaved roads or more technical trails?  

Thanks!

I am 185, 5'11" and have the 58 Cache. I'm really not a drop bar guy and tried multiple bikes to see if something would work. I liked the Fargo a lot, but already have mtb's and 29+ for bikepacking. Road fit isn't something that suits me or what I ride, so quickly the search went towards more mtb/comfort/upright style bikes. The Cache isn't a Fargo, yet it isn't a racer either. I have loaded the Cache with a seatbag, top tube snack bag and a handlebar bag, filled with multitool, pump, tubes, puffy coat, gloves, snacks, and 3 water bottles. I will use it for longer days touring/bikepacking gravel and such, but not for really long off the beaten path stuff, that's what the 29+ is for. I have ridden the cache on pavement, gravel, and singletrack. My plan for it was a hop on and ride bike and if I cross some singletrack to ride it. When we travel to Pisgah and Oregon, I wanted a bike to explore forest roads. Just to give some background into what my intentions for this bike are.

So when I say feel, it's less about the material than it is about the fit, angles, geometry, tires. I am sure the Ti adds something, but what compared to say steel, I can't say. I do know it feels very natural and intuitive in it's handling on both smooth pavement and singletrack. On stuff my wife is riding on her steel gravel bike(her on 650b 47mm Byways compared to my 700c 42 Resolutes) and mentioning how rough a section is, I am gleefully unaware. This is such a combination of things, from frame material, to tires/wheels, my weight, weight bias on the bike, cockpit setup... etc. So maybe it's more apropos that I say this bike fits me and my riding very well, rather than how it feels. Even though it does feel very smooth and balanced. I don't feel it noodling around, yet I don't have it jacking me like my stiff rigid carbon mtb either. So somewhere between those two extremes is a very smooth, responsive riding bike that I have yet to find a negative for that keeps me from thinking this would be a good bike to ride today, when I am not sure what lies ahead, within reason.

I ended up putting a down payment for a Ti Cache.  April-May delivery.

I went with a size 56. I finally figured out proper sizing for me (5' 10.5") after hours of studying the measurements of my current frame and the relevant components.  I also got on call with Knolly and they confirmed the size 56.

Can't wait!

Thank you all for the suggestions!