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@karnali nice looking bike, shame it's a touch over budget…
The Hunt wheels will take a 15mm axle, just make sure that is what you ask for when ordering the wheels. ADVNTR.CC have a review of the Rondo Ruut AL on their site.
@k1100t - that's a nice build list, what follows is entirely my own opinion so discard as you wish
Unless you are dead set on all new Shimano kit and especially the GRX stuff then you could save a lot of money getting your brakes and STI levers secondhand. As an example I recently got some RS685 Ultegra STI levers for £155, some 105 R7070 brakes for £31 (for the pair) and an Ultegra RX800 clutch mech for £55 - all in very good nick on ebay.
The GRX chainset looks nice but you could get a SRAM Rival or Force 1 for less, depends if you are into maximum brand synergy. Personally I'd look for nearly new Ultegra mechanical, there's plenty on sale from Di2 upgraders and get some nicer finishing kit and some custom built wheels on Hope or DT hubs, just because 🙂
@wind-bag aye, it'll be a tough choice between the RAG+ and the RUUT AL. If I had the extra cash, I probably just buy the RUUT CF2…
@joemmo I was browsing the internet this morning, and to be honest, I was looking at trying to find a Force 1 set-up. Couldn't quite figure out which bits went with what, most online retailers appear to have a weird mishmash in stock… Plus, for once, I'd quite like to actually get what I'd actually like, the last few bikes have been compromises.
The problem I found with 28mm tyres in place of 38mm is you drop the bb by half an inch, and still have quite a long/slack bike by road standards, so it feels quite sluggish.
What big tyres gain in inertia you get back in BB height, the higher bb makes the bike feel more lively and nimble.
Bb height doesnt make the bike accelerate any slower or faster. If I run 30mm slicks my gravel bike is capable of group road rides, if I fit 38mm tyres I cant keep up with my normal group. The bike feels fine with either. "Nimbleness (is that a word?) and "liveliness" not really important in keeping up on a group ride.
@k1100t that's cool, it would be nice to build up something with an all new group set certainly. RAG+ seems to be out of stock at CRC though, if that's where you were looking.
Oh and the frame comes with a stem, looks very similar to a Deda zero to me
@joemmo still not a hundred percent sure what I'm going to do, or what my actual budget is. Shame Rondo don't sell the RUUT AL as a frameset…
I have a vitus energie (apex 1x11 hydro which I like, took about 3 days to get used to) and because I use it for commuting as its primary function I put 28 slicks on. it feels more efficient because the 28s are designed for tarmac. The speed is all down to me though 🙂
Have you looked at the Kinesis Tripster AT? That was my original first choice but the rag came up on sale so I went for that.
Bb height doesnt make the bike accelerate any slower or faster. If I run 30mm slicks my gravel bike is capable of group road rides, if I fit 38mm tyres I cant keep up with my normal group. The bike feels fine with either. “Nimbleness (is that a word?) and “liveliness” not really important in keeping up on a group ride.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/nimbleness
I just found it made the bike uninspiring to ride.
@joemmo there's not much I haven't looked at… Decided to cull it all down to the RAG+ and RUUT AL, otherwise I'd just spend all day being indecisive and not getting anywhere. 🤦♂️
I just found it made the bike uninspiring to ride.
Another word that means not much at all. Have you swallowed a bike test buzz word bingo card?
K1100t
Where are you based I got my xtrail with full ultegra for £2k from a shop in North East, that price included swapping chainset for 165mm arms and a bike fit.
@karnali Based near Cambridge. And to be fair, I've yet to trawl though the local bike shops, apart from Light Blue (ISON's local shop), which I passed on the way back from the pub…
I know it's over budget but spread it over 12 months interest free?
Currently trying to convince myself not to
@baddddad Christ, wish I hadn't clicked on that link… 🤤 Could easily stick it on a 0% credit card and pay it off over ~24 months…
I had a RAG+ it was well put together and quite sprightly on the road. I found it to be a bit crap off road though, even on the canal towpath between Macclesfield and Marple. So seriously mild stuff. Just wasn’t comfy and couldn’t really get a rhythm up. I’ve looked at the Space Chicken, but put off by the fact it’s probably going to ride like the RAG.
YMMV as I’m a MTB rider at heart, used to steel hardtails that you can rag about (pun not intended) and probably don’t have the skill or finesse to get the most out of gravel bikes off road. In short the RAG just seemed like a road bike trying to be something else to me.
Another word that means not much at all
I'll break it down to words under 2 syllables just for you.
It is a bit shit.
Funny mine seems fine, obviously you are more discerning.
Shimano R7020 (105) disc groupset currently £367 at Wiggle, which is a good saving.
(Flat mount callipers)
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-r7020-disc-groupset/
In a twist of fate, (🤬 HMRC!) I now have a budget of around £2.5k for an Aero Gravel Speed Machine; more if I want to wait till the New Year. With that kind of budget, I'm now torn between building something like the RAG+, or just buying an off the shelf bike like the Rondo Ruut CF2.
How do you move from a pipe dream to reality...?
Go GRX, the levers have an awesome shape for off road compared to road designed ones.
Bit over your budget but in true recommend what you ride I love my bokeh, very pretty to look at and lovely to ride.
Aye, the Bokeh has always been just outside my price range. Having said that, depending on what HMRC send me, my budget in the New Year maybe around £3.3k, so it's not totally out of the question.
https://www.merlincycles.com/argon-18-krypton-xroad-disc-frameset-112522.html
That frame and that amount of money from the tax man will see you build something really light and fast.
I've been looking at an Orbea Terra with GRX. Not fully sure I will make use of a gravel bike but have not been feeling it on the road recently so thought the change might do me good. Does anyone know if the 600 and 800 GRX levers are the same size or are they like the first gen Shimano levers where the lower model, 505 i think , was a lot bigger .Btw , I am very impressed with the Myo custom paint scheme on the carbon machines.