Cycling is an amazing sport that comes with so many benefits. You can improve your fitness, get out into nature, and it can hugely expand your social circles. In recent years we have been introduced to gravel cycling, and nobody expected gravel bikes to get as popular as they have. Gravel bikes come in all shapes and sizes, and they are the kind of bike you can really personalize to your riding style and character. Unlike other cycling disciplines, instead of buying a bike straight off the shelf, many cyclists are building gravel bikes instead. In this article, we’re going to tell you the best way to build your own gravel bike by running through all the parts you will need and the order in which you’re going to want to put it together.
Table of contents
Why build your own gravel bike?
You might be wondering what the advantages are of building your own gravel bike compared to just buying one off the shelf. As someone who has built his own gravel bikes and also bought one, I can honestly say it might seem like more hassle, but it’s well worth it in the end. Here’s why;
It’s built to your specifications
Gravel bikes straight from the shop are built to the company’s specifications of what they want you to use. When you build your own, you get to pick everything. You can put better gearing on for climbing, more powerful brakes, or you can even use a different wheel size.
It’s fun building a bike
Building a bike is a very fun experience, and it really does make you feel a bit more attached to it. The process is easy to follow, and if you know what you’re doing and have the tools, you can do it in a few hours. If you have never built a bike before, it could still be completed in a day.
It teaches you about bikes
I found that when I built my first gravel bike, it taught me a huge amount, and that knowledge helped me in the future when my bike needed servicing or repairing. The confidence you get after building a bike is very valuable.
It’s cheaper
When you build a gravel bike, you can save yourself a fair bit of money if you are smart. Finding the right deals on part and even using second-hand goods can save you a fortune. It also allows you to invest more into certain components or less if you don’t require them.
Related Reading: 7 Best Gravel Bike Shoes
How much does it cost to build a gravel bike?
Gravel bikes hugely vary in cost. You can spend $500 on a basic gravel bike using a mix of new and second-hand parts, or you can invest $10,000 into a gravel bike that would be fit for a professional.
It comes down to personal preference. How much money do you have to spare, and how much do you seriously want to spend on a gravel bike? I think $1000 to $1500 is an ideal budget, and you can build an excellent bike for that.
How to Build Your Own Gravel Bike
Now for the fun bit of building your own gravel bike. Before you start, we highly recommend making a checklist of everything you are going to need and ensure it has all arrived when build day comes around.
| Component | Obtained |
| Frame and Forks | |
| Headset | |
| Bottom Bracket | |
| Wheels | |
| Tires and Tubes | |
| Groupset (Derailleurs, Crankset, Cassette, Chainrings, Shifters, Chain) | |
| Brakes (Calipers, Mounts, Discs, Pads, Hydraulic Hoses and Fluid) | |
| Handlebars (Including Bar Tape) | |
| Stem | |
| Pedals | |
| Cables (Inner and Outers) | |
| Seatpost | |
| Saddle |
Compatibility
When picking parts for your gravel bike setup, we highly recommend checking that they are compatible with one another. Doing your research can save you a huge amount of money and time. A good example is if you’re using hydraulic disc brakes, you will need hydraulic shifters. If you use a front derailleur, ensure that the band is the correct size. Also, double check the headset size, as that can be an expensive mistake. Some people try to make a drop bar mountain bike setup and that’s when you need to double check everything.
Tools
Then we also will need to think about tools too. Depending on the kind of bike, your building tools will vary. We’re going to keep it simple and use tools required for a mechanical groupset and hydraulic brakes. Although you might need to invest some money in buying the correct tools, it’s well worth it because they will come in handy for repairs or if you plan to build another bike. Here’s what we recommend you have: Allen keys, torque wrenches, headset press, bottom bracket tool and grease, chain breaker, cassette tool, cable cutters, bleed kit, and bike stand. You might not need them all, depending on the frameset you buy.
Frame and Finishing Kit
The first thing you need to do is get the frame into the bike stand. You are going to want to ensure it is nice and clean. Once it is in the stand, you will want to install the headset using the headset press. Depending on the headset you put in, you might need to grease it.
Once the forks are in, you can add the stem, handlebars, and seat post. Ensure they are done up to the correct torque when installing and if you’re using carbon components, use carbon paste.
Now it’s time for the bottom bracket you’re going to want to install using the bottom bracket tool and a torque wrench to the correct specification, don’t forget to use bottom bracket grease. If you use a press-fit bottom bracket, you will need a press.
Drivetrain – Part One
Next, we move onto the drivetrain or groupset, this is what is going to power the bike forwards. Getting the crankset into the bottom bracket is the first place to start. Ensure proper torque of the bolt or bolts on the chainset and the chainrings are tight.
Now attach the rear derailleur, and if you use a front derailleur, that too. Once they are on, grab the shifters and get those attached to the drop bars. Don’t worry too much about them being in the perfect place as long as it’s close.
Wheels and Tires
Next, the wheels and tires. The first step is to get the tires on and inflated. You can use tubeless or innertubes. Either will be fine. Tubeless, in our opinion, for gravel bikes is much better. We highly recommend checking the tires are not too big for your frame by checking your frame specifications.
Once the wheels and tires are on, you need to get the cassette on the rear wheel. When doing this, make sure to get it torqued to the correct amount. Typically most are 40nm, but depending on the brand, it does vary. On some freehubs, you might need a spacer. If the cassette is loose when the lock ring is tight, then it will need the spacer.
Now the cassette is on, you will want to get the brake discs attached. Once the wheels are all together then, you are going to want to get them into the bike. You will then need to use the thru-axles or quick-release skewers to tighten them up, so they are safe and secure.
Brakes
At this point, you will have half of the groupset on and the wheels and tires. It’s now time for your brakes. You are going to want first to add the calipers to the bike. Most modern frames use flat-mount calipers, but if you’re on older technology, you might need post mounts to make it work.
Now the calipers are on. It would be a good idea to start running the hoses up to the shifters. Now you will need to use the bleed kit to bleed the brakes. If you need help with how to bleed brakes, we recommend following this:
Drivetrain – Part Two
At this point, the bike will look very good, but it is missing a working drivetrain, so let’s get straight to it. Now you will want to get the chain attached and cut to the correct length. If you need help with how to get the correct length check out this:
Once the chain is in, it’s time to get the cabling done for the derailleurs. Ensure the length is correct, and you don’t get the inners until it is adjusted properly. We recommend adjusting them now. Here’s what you need if you’re unsure how:
Finishing Touches
We’re so close to the end now, and I’m sure you’re already planning adventures. Wait right there. We still need to do all the finishing touches. The first being you’re going to want to get all the cables tied up nicely and secured on the frame. Now you will need to wrap your bar tape to making it as neat as possible and then get your saddle and pedals attached.
Finally, we recommend going around with a torque wrench and just making sure everything is nice and tight, and nothing is loose that could cause you any issues. Now take it for a test ride, ensuring there are no strange noises and it feels solid and secure.
Can I make my bike a gravel bike?
A question we get asked all the time is, “can I make my bike a gravel bike?” Well, this is a very complicated answer as it’s different depending on what bike you have. In our opinion, there’s only a limited number of bikes you would get away with doing it on, like road bikes with a large tire clearance or mountain bikes with a long top tube.
On top of that, there’s a fair amount of cost in switching it over. For example, to convert a mountain bike or hybrid bike, you will need new handlebars, shifters, and you will need to rebleed all the brakes.
The biggest issue with converting a road or mountain bike over to a gravel bike is that you are trying to create a bike to do a job it wasn’t designed for. It either won’t be comfortable, work as well as it should, or it might break because it’s not designed for that job. You can do it, but we wouldn’t recommend it. It might be worth selling your bike and putting it toward buying a gravel bike.
Building Your Own Gravel Bike
We highly recommend building your own gravel bike, it is not only a lot of fun, but you can make a bike completely unique to you and your specifications. You will learn a lot about bikes along the way, and it will be a bike you’ll know everything about.
With what you have learned today, you will also be able to build a road bike, cyclocross bike, or even another diy gravel bike. Now it is time to get outside for some gravel riding and enjoy such a bike built all by yourself.