N+1 bike: road

[v0llhirsch]

Hey folks,

With help of this forum I acquired a Mondince FM326 Chinese Carbon Gravel bike and I am super happy with it.
Since I have some components lying around (endurance wheels, SRAM rival AXS shifter, cranks, ...), I am entertaining the idea of an n+1 bike for the next season.

I started reading some of the threads here, but I quickly lost track of what is going on.
My idea would be a road bike, potentially more endurance than race oriented.
It should have T47 bb standard and ideally a wider, more modern tire clearance.
What are you riding, what can you recommend and how does the geometry compare to known bikes?
For instance, my Mondince comes after a Mondraker Arid and that helped me bail down the geometry and told me a told about the bike setup.
I have seen Mondince has road bikes, too, but the feedback here in the forum wasn't too positive.

[BeR]

Hey folks,

With help of this forum I acquired a Mondince FM326 Chinese Carbon Gravel bike and I am super happy with it.
Since I have some components lying around (endurance wheels, SRAM rival AXS shifter, cranks, ...), I am entertaining the idea of an n+1 bike for the next season.

I started reading some of the threads here, but I quickly lost track of what is going on.
My idea would be a road bike, potentially more endurance than race oriented.
It should have T47 bb standard and ideally a wider, more modern tire clearance.
What are you riding, what can you recommend and how does the geometry compare to known bikes?
For instance, my Mondince comes after a Mondraker Arid and that helped me bail down the geometry and told me a told about the bike setup.
I have seen Mondince has road bikes, too, but the feedback here in the forum wasn't too positive.

Maybe the LCR018 but long lead time.
Or LTK266 ?

[gribs]

I've also got a FM326. For the road I have a Light Carbon LCR017 which is similar in quality and finish to the Mondince but with slightly better paint. I've also recently built up a XMCS Gran Turismo which is noticeably higher quality.

[Takiyaki]

Im struggling to think what a whole new bike could do that your FM326 + a nice set of modern road wheels + tires could not. Only real wrinkle I see is FD + rear tire clearance but I feel like gravel FDs deal with that OK.

[v0llhirsch]

Im struggling to think what a whole new bike could do that your FM326 + a nice set of modern road wheels + tires could not. Only real wrinkle I see is FD + rear tire clearance but I feel like gravel FDs deal with that OK.

I don't have a FD on my gravel rig.
Instead I have the whole 1* 10-52 tooth range of the MTB rear derailleur which I very much love for off road hacking.

Sure, this would be a vanity project that I cannot approach with logic. Typical justification for n+1

[gribs]

Im struggling to think what a whole new bike could do that your FM326 + a nice set of modern road wheels + tires could not. Only real wrinkle I see is FD + rear tire clearance but I feel like gravel FDs deal with that OK.

I tried mine with road wheels in and didn't like it at all. The geometry is great off road and really stable, but felt really sluggish turning compared to a proper road bike on the road.

[Takiyaki]

I don't have a FD on my gravel rig.
Instead I have the whole 1* 10-52 tooth range of the MTB rear derailleur which I very much love for off road hacking.

Sure, this would be a vanity project that I cannot approach with logic. Typical justification for n+1

I think even a vanity project needs a clear vision. For example, to this day my favorite bike of all time was my total NYC hipster spec KHS Flite 100 fixie. If I did an N+1 vanity build, I'd recreate it in total weight weenie spec. I'd shoot to get it under 10lbs. I think you need to come up with an idea

[v0llhirsch]

I think even a vanity project needs a clear vision. For example, to this day my favorite bike of all time was my total NYC hipster spec KHS Flite 100 fixie. If I did an N+1 vanity build, I'd recreate it in total weight weenie spec. I'd shoot to get it under 10lbs. I think you need to come up with an idea

You're right.
I guess it's endurance road bike for joy ride, no races.
Refitting what I have on components I have flying around. I guess I would just need some items of a SRAM AXS Groupset (like FD and 2x crankset as well as the rear stuff)
That means it won't be the lightest bike, but that's ok - I am not the lightest rider :-)

The LCR018 looks pretty good, actually somewhat similar to the FM326 with the frame design :-)