Building CAAD10 gravel bike
I’m currently in the process of buying this Cannondale CAAD10 from Marketplace for €250. I have been cycling on the road for a few months, so I already own a road bike (Wilier Cento1SR). My idea is to rebuild the CAAD10 into a gravel-oriented bike for dry gravel, forest trails, and cobbles.
Current specs:
- Shimano 105 2x10 groupset
(not sure about the cassette range yet, but I’ll probably change it)
- Shimano R510 wheels
- 25mm road tires
The bike is slightly too big for me, but I’m thinking that might not necessarily be a bad thing for gravel riding. Maybe a shorter stem could fix the fit.
My current plan:
- Upgrade to 30mm tires (which should fit based on the tire clearance)
- Install a wider range cassette, maybe something like an 11-32
- possibly te stem to make the bike fit better
This would be my first time building something specifically for gravel. I’ve worked on a few road bikes before, but nothing too major.
Do you think this build makes sense, or is it a bad idea? Any tips or advice are very welcome.
What’s your opinion on a CAAD10 “gravel” conversion? Is it ruining a great road bike, or could it turn into a really nice build?