Hey everyone,
I have a bit of a weird (?) commuter bike challenge: We just moved to the suburbs and I now have a flat 20km-each-way commute on mostly pretty great tarmac, ~2km are well-packed gravel through a park. I have tested my three current bikes, and it is crazy how much time I am saving with my Canyon Ultimate CF SL (36min avg. on 25mm and aero wheels, 22sp Ultegra Di2) vs. the Cube Nuroad AL (42min avg. on 40mm semi slicks, 20sp Tiagra) and the Cube Cross Race C62 (40min avg. on 32mm cross tires, 11sp Force).
Now, it won't be summertime in Berlin all the time, so I want/need to
build a racy commuter that takes 32mm tires and mudguards through proper eyelets (no SKS race blades pls). Which frames would do the trick? The vast majority of frames with fender mounts are comparably heavy gravel frames and they are increasingly extremely wide with up to 50mm space. The one I like the most right now is the LightCarbon 071
https://www.lightcarbon.com/new-carbon-gravel-frameset-with-integrated-stem-system_p171.html at 1050g in size 55. I like the Carbonda 707's looks, but it's some 2-300g heavier already. I don't want to spend 2k on a Cervelo Caledonia frame, although I really dig it! CAAD13 could be an option, too.
Don't need the latest bells and whistles, planning to do a semi-weight-weenie build; got some Farsports Kaze wheels with 46mm depth coming my way, have plenty of carbon seatposts and handlebars in my basement, thinking of going 1x12 Rival eTAP or plain old but trusted 2x11 Ultegra.
Grateful for your recommendations!
