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/

[atlet]

How are this "drop bars"? I'm also looking at them. Where did you buy it? Tnx

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.

[Tijoe]

How are this "drop bars"? I'm also looking at them. Where did you buy it? Tnx

Technically they are not a "drop bar"   They have flared bar sections that are dropped below the flat section of the bar.   I like them primarily because they allow the use of standard MTB brake levers and shift pods instead of having to run road/gravel drop bars that require integrated shift brake levers.   This makes it really easy to swap between the "H" and flat mtb bars.

Search Aliexpress for "ZNIINO H" and many or these bars will show up.   Several stores only carry one or two sizes, so you may have to look at all of the search results to find a set that is the correct size for you.

 (One example store)

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807158678750.html

[atlet]

@Tijoe tnx. It's comfortable for longer rides?

This one has a lot of sizes: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_omW8uhf

[Tijoe]

@Tijoe tnx. It's comfortable for longer rides?

This one has a lot of sizes: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_omW8uhf

I've used them on 4 sections of the "Tour Divide",   The LDW (log Drivers's Waltz) and the TATR (The Adirondack Trail Ride) - Over 2000 miles of usage.
I gave up on flat bars because I didn't have enough comfortable hand positions, (even when I added Aero bars for some faster rides.   In my older age, I have wrist issues that make it painful riding over about 30 miles on flat bars. (On bikepacking events, I often ride over 100 miles per day.)  Drop bars are as comfortable, but I can't mount my MTN brake levers and shift pod on drop bars and have to use integrated brake/shift levers and then it takes too much work if I want to switch the bike over to flat bars, or a suspension fork, or rigid carbon fork.
I use a dropper as well, and I like how I can drop the seat, put my hands on the flared drops, and can get a great stable tuck going down really rough steep forest service roads.