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The only things that matter are frames and wheels, if you get them right the rest of the bike will follow, it really is as simple as that, get a decent 90's lightweight ultra prstige steel frame and a nice set of top tier racing wheels weighing no kore than 1200g the pair including tyres, then you can bang on pretty much any group set from DX through to and including XTR and you'll have a bike that quite literally shits all over anything you can buy new today in every single way imaginable including price.
My ultra light prestige steel muddy fox monarch pro with full xtr groupset including wheels cost me a total of £340 last year, it's by far the best bike on the road in my town and I fucking dare you to find any other bike from the past ten year what can beat my bike in a gravel race and cost less than £3000
