Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Budget Chinese carbon 1x gravel bike build, including total cost, weight, & parts list.
*SIROKO CLOTHING LINK* 10% off - srko.co/tracevelo
I have been building and riding road bikes for the last 15 years, and I love finding cheaper alternatives name brand parts. I have 2 road bikes (1 rim brake and 1 disc brake) which I have built using Chinese carbon frames and cheap components from AliExpress. Both have been fantastic, and both have many thousands of miles on them.
Gravel bikes have massively spiked in popularity recently, so I figured it was time to do a similar gravel bike build on the cheap.
The frame was supplied to me by ICAN Cycling, and it’s their X-Gravel frame. Lightweight carbon fibre construction, great gravel geometry, and really nice quality!
For the groupset, I did investigate the Shimano GRX 810, but it was FAR too expensive at over £900, so I have gone for the Sensah SRX Pro. An 11-speed gravel specific groupset, paired with a Senicx GR2 1x crankset.
But even though the groupset is fully mechanical, the disc brakes are fully hydraulic. I ended up using a discontinued brake setup from Giant, their conduct system, and it works far better than I ever expected!
So in this episode, I’ll show you all of the chosen parts, go over the build process from start to finish, give you my initial impressions, present the final cost and weight, and finally compare to some name brand bikes.
Got any questions or comments, stick them below 👇 and I'll try and get back to as many of you as I can!
ICAN X-Gravel frame - use code tracevelo05 for 5% off
icancycling.com/products/x-gravel-bike-frameset
Sensah SRX Pro & Senicx Crankset
aliexpress.com/store/5888062
Carbon Bars
aliexpress.com/item/4001171562384.html
ZTTO Cassette
aliexpress.com/item/1005001344683041.html
Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:28 – Sponsor Segment
02:07 – Intro
03:22 – Parts: ICAN Frame
07:41 – Parts: Sensah Groupset & Drivetrain
10:54 – Parts: Bar, Stem, Saddle, & Pedals
12:50 – Parts: Wheels & Braking
17:53 – Build: Wheel Setup
21:02 – Build: Frame & Headset Setup
24:57 – Build: Cutting Steerer Tube
26:53 – Build: Groupset & Disc Brake Install
35:10 – Initial Impressions
41:49 – Cost, Weight, & Comparisions
44:05 – Final Thoughts & Changes
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
About Trace Velo:
I love cycling, and I love getting pro cycling kit for less. If it’s cheap, from China, and made of carbon fibre, I’m interested!
Instagram: instagram.com/tracevelo
Email: tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
With the exception of Siroko, ICAN, & Sensah, all other products demonstrated in this video have been purchased by me, and I have no affiliation to any of the sellers or vendors shown.
In addition, I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
Budget Chinese carbon 1x gravel bike build, including total cost, weight, & parts list.
*SIROKO CLOTHING LINK* 10% off - srko.co/tracevelo
I have been building and riding road bikes for the last 15 years, and I love finding cheaper alternatives name brand parts. I have 2 road bikes (1 rim brake and 1 disc brake) which I have built using Chinese carbon frames and cheap components from AliExpress. Both have been fantastic, and both have many thousands of miles on them.
Gravel bikes have massively spiked in popularity recently, so I figured it was time to do a similar gravel bike build on the cheap.
The frame was supplied to me by ICAN Cycling, and it’s their X-Gravel frame. Lightweight carbon fibre construction, great gravel geometry, and really nice quality!
For the groupset, I did investigate the Shimano GRX 810, but it was FAR too expensive at over £900, so I have gone for the Sensah SRX Pro. An 11-speed gravel specific groupset, paired with a Senicx GR2 1x crankset.
But even though the groupset is fully mechanical, the disc brakes are fully hydraulic. I ended up using a discontinued brake setup from Giant, their conduct system, and it works far better than I ever expected!
So in this episode, I’ll show you all of the chosen parts, go over the build process from start to finish, give you my initial impressions, present the final cost and weight, and finally compare to some name brand bikes.
Got any questions or comments, stick them below 👇 and I'll try and get back to as many of you as I can!
ICAN X-Gravel frame - use code tracevelo05 for 5% off
icancycling.com/products/x-gravel-bike-frameset
Sensah SRX Pro & Senicx Crankset
aliexpress.com/store/5888062
Carbon Bars
aliexpress.com/item/4001171562384.html
ZTTO Cassette
aliexpress.com/item/1005001344683041.html
Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:28 – Sponsor Segment
02:07 – Intro
03:22 – Parts: ICAN Frame
07:41 – Parts: Sensah Groupset & Drivetrain
10:54 – Parts: Bar, Stem, Saddle, & Pedals
12:50 – Parts: Wheels & Braking
17:53 – Build: Wheel Setup
21:02 – Build: Frame & Headset Setup
24:57 – Build: Cutting Steerer Tube
26:53 – Build: Groupset & Disc Brake Install
35:10 – Initial Impressions
41:49 – Cost, Weight, & Comparisions
44:05 – Final Thoughts & Changes
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
About Trace Velo:
I love cycling, and I love getting pro cycling kit for less. If it’s cheap, from China, and made of carbon fibre, I’m interested!
Instagram: instagram.com/tracevelo
Email: tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
With the exception of Siroko, ICAN, & Sensah, all other products demonstrated in this video have been purchased by me, and I have no affiliation to any of the sellers or vendors shown.
In addition, I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
