New VeloBuild gravel race frame in the works...

[VeloBuild.Bikes]

We're working on a new gravel frame that will be race oriented, but we also want it to be practical and meet the needs of those riding in flannel shirts or pro-mutting to work.

Give us your thoughts on what features you would like to see incorporated and if the stars line up maybe we can make it happen! Thank you in advance for all your feedback.

[patliean1]

Nice!

1. T47 or BSA bottom bracket
2. Clearance for 50-53c tires
3. Traditional round seatpost. Option for 0 and 20mm setback
4. UDH
5. Option to route hydraulic cables externally. Through the side of the fork and an entry point though the downtube.
6. Mounts for fenders
7. FSA headset standard
8. Two independent bolts saddle clamp design
9. Bottom bracket height between that of a traditional gravel frame and CX frame.
10. Included hardware to run cables through the headset top cap port, similar to FSA No.69 system.

[rasch]

We're working on a new gravel frame that will be race oriented, but we also want it to be practical and meet the needs of those riding in flannel shirts or pro-mutting to work.

Give us your thoughts on what features you would like to see incorporated and if the stars line up maybe we can make it happen! Thank you in advance for all your feedback.

Wow! Great news!

You should do a refresh on the road models too. Particularly the endurance one.

As regards your question, and adding on top of what pat said

- optional version with full integrated cabling
- wider range of handlebar width/stem length
- storage inbuilt
- shorter frame reach (nowadays they have huge reach).
- drop chainstais
- T47-68 Bottom bracket
- no copycat. Simple can be beautiful too

[Tilmanstoa5ty]

10. Included hardware to run cables through the headset top cap port, similar to FSA No.69 system.

This so much!!! I hate the way it's handled on the VB268 frame. Having the ability to route it through the top cap port gives so much more flexibility when it comes to different handlebars.

[patto3]

3. Traditional round seatpost. Option for 0 and 20mm setback

I think for a gravel race frame a D shaped seatpost is better. Better aero, and can still be very compliant (Giant D-shape seatpost on the Revolt is a great example, it's as compliant as the Canyon VCLS seatpost imo).

Internal storage would be amazing too!

[VeloBuild.Bikes]

Thank you all for the initial comments!

If we were playing build-A-frame bingo with what we already have in mind, Patrick might be winning 

Keep'em coming!

Nice!

1. T47 or BSA bottom bracket
2. Clearance for 50-53c tires
3. Traditional round seatpost. Option for 0 and 20mm setback
4. UDH
5. Option to route hydraulic cables externally. Through the side of the fork and an entry point though the downtube.
6. Mounts for fenders
7. FSA headset standard
8. Two independent bolts saddle clamp design
9. Bottom bracket height between that of a traditional gravel frame and CX frame.
10. Included hardware to run cables through the headset top cap port, similar to FSA No.69 system.

[jonathanf2]

I like most the suggestions, but I have a few of my own.   

- T47 external BB (not the internal cup version) I've had issues with water seizing bearing with internal T47
- 180/160 disc mount front fork (no need for 140mm on gravel)
- UDH
- Option for cable routing through headset cover cap (with rubber gasket not just open hole)
- Internal cabling is fine
- No preference for round or aero seat post
- Fairly lightweight / doesn't need to be overbuilt for gravel racing
- Perhaps geometry between the GF-003 and CX-002

[ejump0]

- internal storage for tools. doesnt need to be wide (as long can fit electric pump at max) but preferably long.
- boss mount holes on underside of downtube (ala orbea)

/maybe im thinking 'unbound' long distance kinda race

[xicsx]

- internal storage for tools. doesnt need to be wide (as long can fit electric pump at max) but preferably long.
- boss mount holes on underside of downtube (ala orbea)

/maybe im thinking 'unbound' long distance kinda race

exactly what I'm looking for in my next gravel frame...together with what was written by @patliean1

[neobiker]

This would be for all your frames (especially the road ones):

- Stem should range from 70mm to 150mm
- Handlebar width from 340mm until 420mm on the top
- The top cap of the stem should be round so that we could play with the amount of spacer/stack easily (by adding round spacer available everywhere)
- Routing cable through headset so that we can swap stem/handlebar easily.
- Round seatpost for endurance models
- for d-shape seatpost offer 0 and 20mm offset
- Make them look aero even with an endurance geometry, there is no reason why we can’t have a nice looking bike with an endurance geometry (look at the Pinarello X1)
- offer smaller size frame for 145 up to 170cm (many women), and increase BB drop for smaller size so that short people can reach the ground with their feet when they sit on the saddle.
- standard thru axles (no mavic thingy like on the 268)

[planet_sammy]

For me the production would be important!

- EPS molded would be an important point

[RasmusWH]

T47 85,5 or BB86. No BSA or T47 68 as the narrowing of the frame around the BB-area wouldn't be a good match with the wish for wide tyres.
And please a two bolt saddle clamp and traditional thru axles (no SpeedRelease)

[ZacItaly15]

low stack bottle cage mount (so you can mount framebag)
bikepacking compatible (fixing bolt)
flat top tube (to better hold top tube bag)
threaded bolt top tube
2 bottle cage
large headset (Basso's style)
round seatpost (better choice if you need to change offset)
no specific hardware (standard seatpost collar)
better to have threaded BB
no 140 rotor required
50mm minimum tyre clearance
UDH
tool bag pouch

[Sebastian]

+1 for UDH and a round seatpost with a regular seat clamp collar, please. 

ALSO

- hub dynamo cable routing in the right fork leg, please!! + cable and brake line port on the down tube (with an optional cover if you want to go full internal routing)
- fork crown mount for front rack and/or dynamo light
- low seat stays, use the additional space on the back of the seattube for another bottle cage mount. This can be used for a bottle cage. Or you could mount a dynamo tail light there.
- rack mounts on the rear. Sure, there's Tailfin and Ortlieb quick rack and all these other options out there. But a good custom rack or even just a Tubus Fly Evo steel rack are basically just as light, much cheaper and much more flexible to use.

[jfcb]

For race oriented frames, I really like the features of the recent Cannondale SuperX tick a lot of boxes of what a modern gravelracer should be like. Not saying it should have the same look.

Slighlty modifiying Pat's list:
1. T47 or BSA bottom bracket
2. Clearance for 50c tires
3. D-shaped seatpost for more compliance
4. UDH
5. Sufficient chainring clearance. (46t single, 50t double)
5. Aero looking, it needs to look fast
6. Miminal mounts, or at least the option to have to have a fork without bolts
7. FSA headset standard
8. Lightweight (doesn't need to be sub 900, but rather close to 1000g than 1200gr for the small frames.
9. Frame/Bottom bracket stiffness and compliance: accelerating should feel like a road bike, but still should have compliance i.e. trhough features like thin seat stays, D-shaped seatpost.