Stop Buying Gravel Bikes. Build This Instead.

I refused to pay $4,000 for a new carbon gravel bike that wasn't even "right" for me. Instead, I built this: a custom Surly Grappler designed for everything from SoCal commuting to bikepacking adventures. The bike industry is in a weird spot, selling stock bikes at ridiculous prices. After riding a budget 1990s gravel conversion and a mountain bike, I realized I wanted a "New and Improved" version that didn't cut corners. I wanted confidence on the trails and a bike that could actually handle the Fullerton Loop without feeling "sketchy". This wasn't just a "piece of cake" build—I learned the hard way that a Surly Grappler is more of a mountain bike than a road bike. From cutting the fork to figuring out "cable nopes" for the dropper post and jimmy-rigging a custom headlight mount for my front rack, this project was a massive learning experience. FULL BUILD SPECS: Frame: Surly Grappler Drivetrain: Shimano Deore XT | https://ride.shimano.com/SOCALBIKING Brifters: GRX 12-Speed, GRX Hydraulic Disc with custom adapters Brakes: Shimano ICE Rotors 160mm Handlebars: Redshift Kitchen Sink Handlebars Stem: Redshift Suspension Stem Saddle: Title MTB Upcycled MS2 Saddle Racks: Old Man Mountain Divide Rack Wheels: Shimano Deore XT 27.5-inch (the sweet spot between 26 and 700c) Shimano Pedals - https://ride.shimano.com/SOCALBIKING Bar Tape - https://amzn.to/4sYistt Frame Bag - https://amzn.to/4mYbhzZ Tourbon Bags - https://amzn.to/3OqjcJI FRONT FLASHLIGHT CONTRAPTION PARTS: Headlight - https://amzn.to/4mQo1Zl Mounting Bracket - https://amzn.to/41S43E0 Handlebar Extender - https://amzn.to/4mOyxjW TOOLS I USED: Headset Press - https://amzn.to/4mKNVh3 Crown Race Setting Tool - https://amzn.to/3OqiNaa I’m planning to take this build to the Tour de Big Bear later this year. If you’re thinking about skipping the bike shop and building your own ATB, ask me anything in the comments. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro 0:19 - Why ANOTHER bike?? 2:30 - Who needs a budget? 3:01 - Building the Bike 3:43 - Thought Process Behind the Bike 5:24 - I Fixed a Problem! 7:05 - KNARP! 7:43 - FULL TEST! 9:18 - GRAVEL v ATB 9:59 - Did I find the right bag? 10:41 - Dad's Thoughts & Conclusion 11:14 - Outro #SurlyGrappler #BikeBuild #GravelBike #Bikepacking #SoCalBiking #CustomBike