I couldn't afford a new gravel bike, so I made my own.

I got this nice Niner RLT9 for under $100 because it's dented. In today's video, I show how to repair a dent in an aluminum frame. I then build the bike up for under $850 by using parts that I've repaired or restored. I fixed a set of unrideable wheels by replacing spokes and grinding the hub bearings. I repair a set of shifters that won't shift. In the end, I've got an awesome gravel bike, for less than you'd think. 0:00 – Can we build a budget gravel bike in 2026? 0:32 – Repairing a dented aluminum frame 2:48 – Bodywork: Filling, sanding and painting the repair 3:53 – Restoring paint luster and adding protective vinyl 4:30 – Restoring the headset bearings and fitting the fork 4:58 – Fixing the shifters that don't shift 6:38 – Making junk wheels usable again 9:41 – Trueing Wheels using zip ties 10:15 – Resurfacing hub bearings with a grinder 11:57 – Final wheel assembly 12:34 – Thread together bottom bracket and GRX crank 13:11 – Installing the derailleur and wide-range cassette 13:42 – Bleeding the hydraulic brakes 15:47 – Final cost breakdown