I'm looking to start a project bike. If you had $600 USD, or 500 GBP (excluding taxes shipping) what frame would you consider for a gravel build.
I'm looking for something like the Cotic Escapade (this might be what I decided on anyway). What other options are out there that I might not know about? Doesn't have to be steel, doesn't have to have a million mounts.
Ideally threaded BB and can handle up to 2" tires (650b).
Fearless Vulture looks pretty good, doesn't take a TA in the rear however. I probably would have gone for it had the 56 size been in stock. Not many frames offered at that price level, aside from Surly/Salsa sadly.
If the geo suits, I'd wait for the carbon Holdsworth Mystique to drop to 500 (which it will do at some time as they tend to do). Frames are in stock but are found through the 'gravel bikes' page.
Thanks for the suggestion so far I'll have to look into a couple of those you guys listed.
sonicw, I'm actually finding there are too many options! I live in Canada though, so some frames I can't get shipped here.
Any thoughts on alloy gravel frames? The NS Rag+ seems like a good value (it can take big tires and has modern dropouts/brake attachments) but would I regret alloy over steel or carbon if I was looking to ride it longer distances? I used to have an alloy road bike (Felt F70 something) and I would feel fatigued on longer rides. Maybe that was more geometry related, but I seem to recall feeling way more vibrations on that frame. In comparison I have a carbon mountain bike that I use for gravel duty right now and that feels way less tiresome. Again maybe that's tire/geometry related rather than frame material
