Looking at custom Gravel bikes, any recommendations for a custom carbon gravel bike or is metal the only way to go? Finding it hard to choose with so many smaller brands; curious to hear how you guys decide🧐🧐
In general anyone who can make a steel or titanium frame can make it to custom dimensions. The processes are different and a lot more complicated for carbon or aluminum so I expect costs would be higher and choices would be fewer.
You can also customize the component selection. For that it's important to think about frame dimensions for headsets, bottom brackets, brakes, axles, derailleurs, etc. I try to avoid getting locked in to uncommon or proprietary components.
The term "Custom" means different things to different people. Do you want the ability to hand select each component of a build, or do you truly want a frame built to your specs and all the parts you choose? There are plenty of small shops that allow you to build the bike you want, far fewer that design custom frames. I had a great experience with Rodeo-Labs, and their Trail Donkey would be a great platform to build a one-of-a-kind carbon gravel bike.
I've had a couple of custom mountain bikes. I'm currently on a Samsara steel frame. Matt was great to work with. I had to fill out a measurement sheet and a week later I had the cad drawing. Six weeks later I had the frame. It's been almost 4 years and it's still my favorite ride. First perfect and the feel of steel under you is fantastic.
I've been riding steel for over 10 years. Personally, I've only bought and will only buy/ride steel. So if what you are looking for is a custom frame built to your measurements, start looking at small steel independent frame makers. There are lists out there if you search for them.
Currently I'm riding a Soma Wolverine with carbon fork and it's been great. I plan on upgrading to a Samsara gravel in a couple of years.
Good luck and you are in the fun part of the process right now. Discovering, researching, deciding which frame maker to work with. Enjoy it.
It's tough to choose what builder to go with. I had a custom steel and a custom ti gravel bike built last season (long story on why I ended up with two). There are lots of good builders out there. I'd suggest first getting a frame fit and having a pretty good idea on what you want for geometry ahead of time. Then choose a material - I think ti is more optimal due to its toughness. Then look at builder websites and look for a builder that makes bikes close to what you want for design and purpose - you want a builder who's built lots of gravel bikes because they've likely received feedback on what works and what doesn't. Then shoot one or two an email and see what their lead time is. I went local for my steel frame but across the country for my ti frame.
Some custom builders are very flexible and will build a frame the way you want, while others will steer you into certain things that you may not end up liking - like a certain fork, a style of dropouts, specific top tube slope angle, tubing, etc.
Prices are all over the board. I had DeSalvo build a ti frame for me and his prices are very reasonable and less than what steel frames cost from other builders. He's considered one of the old masters, too. Very nice guy and easy to work with. For example, he downsized the gauge of the ti tubing for me to give me more flex, got me a near level top tube, and had another local custom builder make me a custom steel fork for it (didn't want carbon).
If you aren't shocked by sticker, Moots or another Ti frame option, then line up the wheels and groupset, which are limited/multiple choice decisions. I went Moots, G23 and GRX.
Nice thing about speaking with a (small) frame builder is that you will describe the type of riding you do, where / what surfaces you ride, any previous issues you've had, what you think you're looking for, etc. And then after some back-and-forth discussion you would be presented with one or more possibilities and a description of how the build meets your needs (some of which you may not know of, but a good builder can help tease out).
Do you already have a gravel bike and want something new? Do you have a road and/or mountain bike and want to get into gravel?
I'm sure you can manage through the whole process via video chats and e-mail, but the idea of a local builder that you can drive to (multiple times if needed, and afterwards for service if that's their thing) would be my choice.
If I could do it all over again, I would probably go with a custom Ti frame, the specs I want, and two easily interchangeable wheelsets, one for road and the other for gravel.
I'm having a steel gravel frame built right now by Fitz: http://www.fitzcyclez.com/. He's into the rando thing and has been embraced mostly by that scene, but he'll do whatever you want. He's made MTB's for two of my friends and they're both beautiful! Super cool guy as well who does lots of gravel riding and is a geometry nerd, so he'll build you a bike that is dialed for you.
Another builder who I would have just as easily gone to is Jeremy Sycip. That's who I'l be going to when it's time for a new hardtail. He'll build you aluminum, steel, or titanium and he's an equally nice guy who loves the sport and is a true artist. https://www.sycip.com/
Personally, as long as I'm riding a 2x, I think I'm done with carbon gravel bikes. On the last carbon gravel bike that I had, I dropped the chain and it cracked the chainstay. To be fair, I foolishly made the mistake of pedaling it back on and sawing away at the carbon, but then a friend had the same thing happen on his a few months later and he didn't pedal it back on.
Moots, Firefly, and no.22, are fantastic. There is a Canadian company (ex-GURU guys) and I love their stuff (T-Lab) as much. I think if custom, Ti is my thing. I love carbon and ride a Stigmata now, but Ti is forever and is almost as comfy without giving up too much in the weight department. I'd definitely consider Ti and am thinking about a custom frame very soon. I like shorter top tubes and taller headtubes, though I can easily make regular frames work. Ever since I sold my Moots YBB 29er 10 years ago, I have wanted Ti again.
If custom carbon, I like Alchemy here in Colorado. That is about it, and you have a lot of great choices for Ti. I'm not a Lynskey, Dean, or Litespeed fan, but they are cheaper for sure. Many like them.
