What Frame Do I Want?

I’m looking at getting a frame to build up as a bit of a do-it-all bike.

It’s going to be for a little bit of road riding, the odd longer mixed ride (a 32 mile commute), a bit of gravel but nothing too gnarly, probably mostly bridleway riding. Last but not least, it’ll probably end up on the turbo trainer when the weather’s horrendous.

I’m after something with flat bars as that’s what I prefer. The current thoughts are…

Sonder Camino AL

Cotic Escapade

Ribble CGR

Any other suggestions?

What’s the budget squire?

Not sure on the budget yet, probably about £1k max.

Sonder Camino Al Flat bar is currently on sale.  You can get the whole bike for £949 with SRAM Apex groups.

Frame and forks is £499.

(Sale ends this weekend.)

That sale price on the complete Camino is tempting but I’ve got a load of stuff ready to hang off a new frame so it’s probably not worth buying and stripping it.

Salsa Vaya perhaps miester?

If flat bars… I’d perhaps look at the Cascade rather than the Escapade… it’s longer.

If flat bars… I’d perhaps look at the Cascade rather than the Escapade… it’s longer.

I’ve had a Cascade and got rid of it.
It seemed pretty good at first, as any new bike does, but I soon came to the conclusion that it was basically a less good hardtail MTB. An even more expensive mistake than buying a fatbike years ago.

The Cascade is a weighty beast with the steel fork, unless you do loads of bikepacking or rough gravel riding that’s verging on MTB territory I’d get a lighter, more gravelly orientated frame.

Ive got a camino al v4.

Currently thinking about swapping the frame and fork to a kinesis tripster at plus.

Got 60mm tyre clearance so should be a versatile bike.

Frame and fork can be had for 700 quid

I keep looking at Caminos but reluctant to spend that much on one of those frames, despite the good reviews.

I’m putting the Cascade on a diet with a carbon fork and lighter tyres which should save almost 2 1/2 pounds, I’m sure I’ll feel it…

I like the look of the fustle causeway

Causeway GR1.1 Frame + Fork Kit

I’ve been looking around this past week to get any more ideas for a frame and not got much further forward than the Sonder Camino.

Another option rather than a gravel frame could be an MTB frame.
So are there any nice, light HT frames that I can build up with rigid fork which will also take a decent size chainring, preferably 38t or 40t?
UDH hanger would be a bonus…