When trying answer the question ” How can I choose the right bike frame for my adventures?” you should first ask yourself the following questions

What will I be using the bike for?

Are you planning on using it on single day sportif events or are you planning on using it for multi day bikepacking adventures or something in between. For shorter efforts a lighter bike might be something to look out for but as the event gets longer comfort can quickly outweigh speed as the number one priority. 

What terrain will I be using it on?

Will you be riding on roads only, gravel only or both. Your wheels and tires have a far greater role to play when it comes to the terrain type but you will have to consider this when choosing a frame. 

The main reason for this is tire clearance. Most modern bikes can take up to 28mm wide tires. Personally this is the smallest I run but that’s only because the roads in my country are pretty rough.

We will go into this in far more detail when I’m explaining the wheel and tire options but basically the rougher the terrain the wider the tires you will want to have as a wider tire will give you a smoother ride.

They can slow you down initially but for long rides the increased comfort can mean you are able to cycle longer before needing to stop.

If you’re intending on riding real off road sections then you can even get 650b or 27.5 rims which means you can run mountain bike tyres.

So if you want to ride rough terrain make sure your frame will allow wider tyres.

What part of the world will you be using it?

Imagine this, you’re cycling through a country you don’t know that isn’t known to have state of the art bikes, such as Rwanda. You hit a bump in the road and your bike has finally had enough and your seat stay snaps. 

If you’re on a full carbon or titanium or even an aluminium bike then you’re in trouble. The chances of you finding anyone that can fix it or getting a replacement is very slim. Your race is over.

But if you’re on a steel frame bike then you are sure to find someone that can weld it in any town. Yes, it’s unlikely, but these things do happen. And yes, titanium frames brake too. 

So now that you have a rough idea of what you need let’s have a look at every area of the frame that you should consider before buying.

Bike Geometry And What You Need To Know

These are the measurements and angles that make up the characteristics of your bike. Bike makers know what to use to dictate the feel of a bike. There are literally hundreds of tweaks a frame builder can make but thankfully you only need to know a few things to help you know choose the perfect frame for you.

Reach 

The reach of a frame is the horizontal distance between bottom bracket and the top of the head tube. Setting your saddle in relation to the bottom bracket is pretty simple due to the ease of adjusting the saddle position. However, the reach position cannot be changed. Having a long reach position will promote a more aggressive riding position and a short reach will prompt the opposite.

That being said, you should take into account your body shape. Do you have short legs but a long torso? Then maybe a long reach would suit you.

Stack

Stack is the vertical distance between the bottom bracket and the top of the headtube. Having a short stack value will promote a more upright position. So, if we go back to your short leg, long body example, you can still have an aggressive riding position with a long reach and a short stack.

Trail

The trail of a frame’s front fork will have a significant effect on how the bike feels. Having low trail will result in the bike being more twitchy while a big trail will offer greater stability in a straight line. But what exactly is trail?

If you look at your headtube you will see that it’s not at a right angle to the ground. If you could draw a line at the same angle as the headtube down until it hit the ground and then draw another straight down from the center of the front wheel hub, the distance between the two points on the ground is the trail. Headtube angle and fork rack angle affect this but it’s the trail that determines the feel of the bike.

Bottom Bracket drop

This is how much the bottom bracket is below the wheel axles. Having a lower bottom bracket (a high bottom bracket drop) will allow you to corner better because your center of gravity will be lower to the ground.

There can be issues if you go too low. Pedal strike while cornering being the worst. You should take into consideration the length of crank you intend on using when trying to decide what bottom bracket drop you should have.

Chainstay length

Chainstay length affects the overall wheelbase of the bike. Having a bike with short chainstays will cause it to be more nimble which usually leads to a much more fun bike to ride.

Size

If all this talk about bike geometry is a bit over your head then just make sure you get the right frame size of you. Any reputable brand will have a size guide, where they will show you how to measure yourself in order to get the right frame size for your body.

Which Bike Frame Materials Will Suit You?

Steel

Steal is real! When most people think about steel the first thing that comes to mind is the weight. True, if you want a super lightweight bike then steal won’t be on top of your list.

However, steel offers so much more than other bike materials and steel has had the benefit of years of development meaning steel bikes are now a lot lighter than before. 

Steel tubing can now be a lot stiffer. This means they don’t have to use as much of it in order to achieve the desired stiffness. And of course, because they use less means it’s going to be lighter.

In fact, it’s possible to get a steel frame lighter than a titanium frame for reasons stated in the titanium section.

Steal is also known for its shock absorbing qualities which make it ideal for long days in the saddle. 

Aluminium 

This is the affordable lightweight option. If you’re from a place that has perfect road surfaces then and don’t have deep pockets then this could be an ideal option for you. 

Aluminium frames can give a harsh ride of rough terrain because it’s so rigid. Also buy an aluminium frame from a reputable brand. Aluminium can crack over time leaving you stuck and as I said, it can be hard to find someone that’s able to weld aluminium. 

Carbon

Carbon has come a long way over the years and is still improving. If having a lightweight bike is the top of your needs then carbon is probably the way to go.

That’s not to say carbon gives a harsh ride. It all depends on what the bike way is designed to do. For example, a carbon race bike is built for speed. Having a rigid bike that doesn’t flex will ensure all of your power is transferred onto the road.

For carbon bikes that are designed for adventure riding, they are made to be comfortable. This means the frames will flex in specific areas, such as the seat stays to help absorb the bump but stay rigid in other areas, such as the chain stays so the performance is affected as little as possible. 

Titanium 

Considered as one of the most exotic materials, titanium is light, strong and comfortable. However, it does have its limitations.

Titanium has a certain amount of flex. This flex is what gives you the smooth ride but if you try to make a titanium bike lighter then that means using less titanium. If you use too little then the frame won’t feel stable as it would wobble all over the road, so to speak. 

There’s also another myth that titanium will last forever. Yes, it’s true that it will never rust but a titanium frame can crack just like any other material. 

That being said, titanium is beautiful. As it doesn’t rust, the metal can be left bare and anyone I know that has one swears it’s the nicest ride they’ve ever had. 

Consider Tire Width When Choosing A Frame

This will depend just how adventurous you want to get. If road riding is all you ever want to do then 34mm tires should be all you need. Venturing off road and you will want to go even wider. You could even have full on mountain bike tires if you want. Just make sure you’re aware that you need a frame to allow for wider tires.

What Braking Type Should You Get When Buying A Frame?

There are two types of braking. Rim brakes and disc brake. Both have their pros and cons which I will discuss below but basically if you are going to be cycling off road and/or in damp conditions then disc brakes will be a better choice.

Rim brakes are the type we all grew up with. Two pads rub against the rim of the wheel to slow you down. These work great in good weather. It also depends on the quality of the pads but when the weather turns for the worse then the stopping power can reduce significantly.

This is because the rims are closer to the road and pick up more water and grime than their disc brake alternative. 

Disc brakes have a (as the name suggests) disc near the hub of the wheel to help you to stop. Because they’re away from the dirt and grime of the road the braking performance isn’t affected as much.

Not all disc brake systems are created equal though. Some disc brakes are cable powered. Stay away from these. They will eventually leave you with no brakes.

On the other hand, a good set of hydraulic disc brakes are something to behold. These are very powerful even in the worst of conditions. The lightest of pulls on the brakes will see you stopping safely.

If your on the bike for hours the the last thing you want is have sore hands pull hard on the brakes as you head down hill at high speed 

What Type of Bottom Bracket Do You Want?

This is another important factor that you will want to consider when choosing a frame. The bottom bracket is where the bearings are housed for your cranks.

There’s a wide variety of bottom brackets. I attempt to cover everything you need to know about them in the Bottom Bracket section. The problem is that there seems to be a new standard every few months. 

Anyway, for now all you need to know for when choosing a frame is do you want a screw in or press fit bottom bracket. The reason you need to choose this now is you will want know if you need threads in the frame or not. 

Which to choose? If you want to keep things as light as possible then press fit is probably the way to go. However, they are harder to service. I also have a bad experience with them. If you opt for a carbon frame then a press fit bottom bracket can creek when you pedal.

Some people don’t have this problem but I was plagued with it and it ruined so many rides. Because of this, I swore never to use press fit again. But that’s just me. As I said, others have no issue.

What Type of Headset Do You Want?

Headset is the term given to the bearings which connect your front forks to the frame. This is normally part of a frame purchase but it’s good to consider the different types when choosing the frame. 

A headset consists of two sets of bearings. One at the top and one at the bottom of the head tube. They are not all the same size with bigger sizes offering more stability. Some frames will have two different sizes with the bottom bearing being bigger.

And then there are internal and external bearings. You will need to know the head set sizes when buying headset bearings and also the diameter of the fork crown (shaft). I discuss this in much more detail in the “How To Choose A Handlebar” section.

Bottle Mounts

Nearly all frames come with at least two places where you can attach bottle cages. If you are planning on cycling in remote areas or need to carry extra water then you might want an extra place to add more bottle cages. It’s common to have a third on the underside of the down tube. You can also mount on each fork.

Rack mounts

If adventure racing is your thing then you may not need these as you may get away with using a large saddle bag, frame bag and/or handlebar bag. However, if you’re planning on carrying a lot of bags then you’re going to need rack mounts to carry your panniers safely. 

Fenders / Mudguard mounts

If you want to fit fenders/mudguards then make sure your frame includes the eyelets needed to attach them to. You can get a fenders/mudguard that you can attach to your seat stays or seatpost but they won’t be as reliable as if they are screwed on. They nearly always move around after a while.

What Axle Type Should You Consider?

There are different ways to attach your wheels to your frame depending on the type of hub you want to use. The traditional 9mm quick release is still very common with rim brakes bikes but if you’re planning on using disc brakes then the chances are that at least your front axle is a thru axle. 

The forces on the axle are much different between rim and disc brakes. Because of this, a stronger way of attaching your wheels to your bike was created. The ride quality also increases and the whole handle just feels more solid. Thru axles can be on the front or rear of the bike or both and can be 12 or 15mm in diameters. The bigger diameters give even more rigidity.

What Size Of Seat Post Do You Need?

Seat post sizes vary between bike manufacturers. A reason for this is because traditionally the more expensive bicycle frames have thinner walls meaning your internal diameter is bigger. The outer diameter is kept the same to cater for clamp-on front derailleur. 

Nowadays the trend is to use larger diameter seat posts, especially on frames designed to be used on rough terrain. This is to give the seat post more support so that the frame won’t crack when you hit a large bump.

How Will The Groupset Determine What You Need On A Frame?

As this is a guide to show you how to build an adventure bike I’m going to assume that you want at least a rear derailleur. For this you are going to need a hanger to “hang” your derailleur from.

Most of the time this is a detachable part as it is seen as a weak point. Some manufacturers say it’s there to protect the rear derailleur. If it gets caught on anything then the hanger will break off leaving your derailleur unharmed.

Others say it’s to protect your frame. It is better to replace a small part of the frame than to destroy the entire thing.

And then there are others that throw caution to the wind and they have the hanger and the frame as one. If you do get a frame that has a detachable hanger then get a spare when you buy the frame and always keep it in your kit.

For front derailleurs, you can attach it by using a clamp on type if the seat tube is round. If the seat tube is an odd shape then there is normally a place were you can screw the front derailleur hanger. These are known as braze on derailleurs and I discuss them in more detail in the group-set section.

For now, you should be aware that if you want a front derailleur and the seat tube isn’t round then make sure there is a brazed on thread. Some manufactures are making frames that are only intended to have 1x (so no front derailleur)

These are the only things you need to think about in regards which group-set you want, for now.

Should You Get Internal or external cables?

Brake and gear cables can be routed through the inside of the frame. Not only is this more aerodynamic but it looks pretty neat too.

That being said, you should be aware of the downside to having your cables routed internally. Roadside maintenance can be a real pain. Trying to replace a broken cable can be tricky enough but when you have to feed it through the inside of your frame it can be frustrating to say the least.

Another common complaint is that the cables can rattle on the inside of your frame which can be really annoying on bumpy roads.