I'm thinking about building up my first bike. I currently have a gravel bike but I didn't build it so I'm completely new to building a bike. My current gravel bike is a 2x and I want to try a 1x and bigger tires.
I'm thinking about the Mondince FM376 frame with a SRAM Rival AXS E1 XPLR 13-Speed Groupset. My thinking is saving a bit on the frame and using more well known quality groupset. Not sure what handle bars or wheelset to get. I was thinking some Elitewheels or CSC, I honestly have no idea about what to look for when looking at wheels. Not trying to spend too much, just something that will work with my parts. I'd probably get some Sram crankset, no idea what one or what other company to try. Midwest US gravel racing, so anything from 40-44 seems like it would be good? I'm thinking about getting some dubnitals and thundero 48's to choose depending on the race/trail.
I'm mostly curious if anything looks off with my idea and if anyone has recommendations for different parts. I see most builds with parts from companies I've never heard of and I'm assuming there are lower cost options I can look into. I'm not super knowledgeable about bikes overall so I don't really know how you know what parts will work together. I know it might not be the easiest thing to build a bike but I've seen plenty of youtube videos and won't be riding outside until mid-end March at the earliest so plenty of time to figure it out. Also if anyone has recommendations of specific videos of people building bikes, let me know, I figure I'll need all the help I can get. Thanks.
Seems like a fine build.
Maybe spend a little more on the wheels - the cheaper Elitewheels/CSC aren't particularly light.
A lot of the discussion around unknown brands are either for specific purposes or weight-wrangling.
If you've never built a bike up from a frame, you might need to buy a ton of tools/sockets/supplies.
For the crankset, in 1x setups it heavily depends on what chainline you're looking for, especially with a power meter.
You can also mix and match SRAM cranks with Chinese chainrings to figure out exactly what size you want.
Good thing you have all winter of Zwifting to figure it out.
Quote from: rovescio on October 31, 2026, 10:54:45 PMMaybe spend a little more on the wheels - the cheaper Elitewheels/CSC aren't particularly light.
Any suggestions for slightly lighter/better wheels.
I have favero power meter pedals that I'd be using so no need for a power meet crank. I don't even know what the chainline really means as far as choosing, guess it's time to google. I do have some basic tools and my dad used to bike so I have some of his old tools but I'll be looking on aliexpress for any ones I need. If anyone has recommendations for solid choices that would be helpful as well.
Quote from: vruton on <strong>Today</strong> at 06:19:35 AMAny suggestions for slightly lighter/better wheels.
I have favero power meter pedals that I'd be using so no need for a power meet crank. I don't even know what the chainline really means as far as choosing, guess it's time to google. I do have some basic tools and my dad used to bike so I have some of his old tools but I'll be looking on aliexpress for any ones I need. If anyone has recommendations for solid choices that would be helpful as well.
When I did my first bike build I watched some YouTube videos of similar builds and just noted down the tools they used. It's easy to forget stuff and can be pretty expensive to go buy locally. And really frustrating when you're doing the build and realize there's some small tool you need RIGHT NOW.
I have ordered the same frame, and will be building with di2.
The CSC wheels are a better weight if you opt for the pillar wing spoke rather than pillar 1423.
For a bit more choice have a look at Zen Carbon. Latest rims released last week have a 32mm internal and wider c.44.5 external, so will play nicely with 2.0 dubs. I plan to get a set of 59mm deep with CX ray spokes and h works sr330 gravel hubs. Had a set of their road wheels and they've been superb.
This is what I've come up with some help from Gemini but I don't really trust AI's answers so wanted to double check with some actual humans and see what you guys think.
SRAM Rival AXS XPLR Gravel Groupset (Black) (1 x 13 Speed) (10-46T) (E1) (UDH) - comes with shifters, derailleur, cassette, flattop chain, 160mm centerlock rotors, and a AXS battery.
Rival E1 XPLR DUB Wide 1x Crankset - 42t
Hoping for some Black Friday deals but curious what other budget options people would recommend.
Gemini said 32mm internal wheels would push the tufo thundero 48s out a lot and make them flatten out and it also square-profiles the tread, which exposes your rim edges to rock strikes. Not sure if that's true or not or what people think about that.
It also said it would stretch out the dubnital 2.2s to more like 56mm which it's worried about clearance in the frame. In the FM376 thread I saw posts of people using tires like the 2.2s and they seemed to have plenty of room so not really worried about that.
As far as wheelsets it suggested 26mm internal, 54t ratchet, 12x100mm thru-axle front, 12x142mm thru-axle rear, Sram XDR freehub and center lock for rotor style. I'm not sure about the internal size or ratchet but the other numbers seem correct from what I can see.
I saw someone else post these bars and stem - they seemed pretty solid. Kocevlo carbon handlebars 380mm at the hoods, 440mm at the drops and it has a channel underneath to hide the cables. And a Kocevlo aluminum stem that seems like it works well with the handlebars. Open to other options, not really sure what else to look for, main thing is 380mm at the hoods and flared out at the drops.
Anything else that it sounds like I'm missing? I already have pedals, saddle, bottle cages, bike computer and mount, saddle bag. Thanks in advance.