I've been looking to build up a gravel bike for some time now and am having a hard time deciding on what frame to use.
I'm currently looking at two aluminum frames - the Kinesis Tripster AT (size 57 or 60) and the new Ribble Gravel AL (size XL). It's coming down to a tradeoff between tire clearance and geometry. The Kinesis has better tire clearance (Both offically can fit 700x45; the Kinesis has room for 650x52 and the Ribble 650x47). However, the Ribble geometry is slightly more mountain bike like, with a longer front center to give more stability when descending. The geometry of the Ribble is close to the DeVinci Hatchet and the BMC URS, both of which have gotten good reviews for their handling on rougher terrain.
I can get identical fits on either by using a shorter stem on the Ribble. The Ribble would have more seatpost exposed so the ride is potentially a bit more comfortable. They are also close enough in price so that isn't a factor.
Does anyone have any experience with either of these frames? Are the clearances conservative? I've found a number of positive reviews on the Kinesis but very little on the Ribble Gravel.
My rides will be a mix of pavement and easy to moderate trails - not many actual gravel roads out here. I'm wondering if having the option to run fatter 650b wheels will benefit me more than the increased front center of the Ribble.
I've also seen the Sonder Camino AL, which seems to offer the best of both. However, it's heavy, and the very low cost makes me suspect it doesn't have the same attention to detail as the others.
Any thoughts on these frames would be very much appreciated!
