FS: Advocate Cycles Sand County touring/gravel bike

[Reid Echols]

[Cross posted with iBOB] For sale is a brand new (taken on two rides around the lake) Advocate Sand County touring bike, custom built with gently used components. Advocate (now re-branded as Esker Cycles) was founded by a head designer for Salsa, so this bike is essentially an updated Vaya, built from quad-butted custom steel tubing at the same factory that produces tubing for high-end companies like Jones, etc. Livelier than a cross check, with clearance in 650b mode for 2.1-2.3" tires (it's built 650b now, but can also run 700c if you want more of a roadish feel), this build was inspired by something like the All City Gorilla Monsoon (which was itself inspired by the Crust Evasion, etc.). It has a low bottom bracket for a very stable "in the bike" feel, which means it's better for gravel grinding, dirt touring, bike camping, etc. than for full-out mountain biking--that being said, I've taken it on some local single track with no trouble. 

Asking $1150 plus shipping/packing at LBS. 

It's a steal at this price--here are some highlights of the build spec: 
Sram X9 175mm cranks and 34t drop stop chainring
Sram GX clutch rear derailleur 
Sram 10-speed indexed bar-end shifter 
11-42 10 speed cassette (climb anything) 
Salsa Cowchipper handlebars with Brooks microfiber tape 
Sweet drillium levers 
Avid BB7 road-pull disc calipers 
Thomson x4 stem 
Velo Orange setback seatpost 
Brooks Imperial Saddle 
Formula oem wheelset, tubeless compatible rims 
Schwalbe Big One 27.5 x 2.3 tires 
Blackburn Outpost front rack 

(frame bag, cages, and pedals not included; I'll include some spd pedals for free though if you want) 

I'm selling this because, really, it's too much bike for me at the moment. It would be perfect for your next long tour, as a bombproof commuter, gravel grinder, or bikepacking hauler. It's a big bike, so it's going to work best for someone 6' 2" and up. Cool weather's coming, so get ready to hit the (g)road! 

[Jeff R]

Any idea what the frame weighs? And what size is this frame?

[Reid Echols]

This sold locally; the frame and fork weighed right at 7 lbs, and it was a 62cm frame.