Drop bar mountain bike recs

[DrHumongous]

Hey team,

I haven't bought a new bike in almost a decade. It's time! Back when generic China carbon frames were a relatively new phenomenon I built up a couple frames and wheelsets from Light Bicycle, but they dont seem to offer what I am after. I am looking to build a drop bar mountain bike frame for dirt road/gravel road bikepacking - tour divide kinda terrain. Needs to fit 2.2" tires at a minimum so most carbon frames are out, and Im no good at interpreting bike geometry to figure out what frames would work well with drop bars so Im here asking for help. I also figure there are some new brands out there that I am less familiar with than just Light Bicycle.

I'm good with a slightly more upright riding posture- Ill be in the saddle for 8-36hrs at a time without much rest so nothing crazy aggressive in terms of reach. Looking to put something like Salsa cowchipper bars on it. Maybe a frame with similar geometry to a Salsa Cutthroat but from some searching here on the forums seems like maybe that doesn't exist?

Any recs?

Also looking to build a new wheelset- whose the best carbon MTB rim manufacturer these days? The last set of wheels I built up were awesome Derby wide carbon rims but those have gotten pricey

[Mtnbykr]

What size do you ride?
I have a 58cm Cutthroat frame/fork/cranks/ hbar that needs a new home.

Email me...thekurtlange@gmail.com

[DrHumongous]

Too big for me but thanks.

[hongbetta]

Try to look for Ragnar dropbar mtb from Berm Cycle

[Tijoe]

I just saw this thread.

Use the Salsa Cutthroat as your baseline for frame geometry.   Then go to this website and find the Aliexpress/Brand frame you are interested in and compare it to the Cutthroat.  This will give you an Idea of what hardtail frame will work well with drop bars

https://bikeinsights.com

I am using my Spcycle M05 for my bikepacker these days.  It is a longer frame and slacker than the Cutthroat, but I am still able to run drop bars as needed.   This being written, i evolved to where I use a set of "H" bars on this bike rather than flared gravel drop bars.   The nice thing about this is I can reconfigure the bike to flat bars in about 20 minutes, often swapping out a rigid carbon fork with a suspension fork.

Edit:  The nice thing about "H" bars is that you can run mtb components/levers on the "H" bars because they are the smaller mtb flat bar diameter.  With Gravel bars you are stuck using integrated gravel/road brak/shift levers, adding a lot more cost to your build. 

[rtuk]

Is that a tailfin rack copy on the bottom pic there?

[Tijoe]

Is that a tailfin rack copy on the bottom pic there?

No, it is based on a significantly modified $12.00 Ztto rack with side supports I machined on my mill, and a front seat clamp plate I kludged together.
* it weights about 1/2 the weight of the original rack.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807174905398.html

[SG49]

Love the DIY rack--what did you use for the axle to mount?

[Tijoe]

Love the DIY rack--what did you use for the axle to mount?

The Robert Axle Project axles.  Purchased from Old Man Mountain (Other shops sell them too.)  You have to measure and select the correct thru axle type and length for your bike.

https://oldmanmountain.com/product/12-mm-rear-thru-axle-1-75-mm-thread-pitch-and-167-174-mm-length/