What does everyone think about this as a gravel bike/get around town bike? What would I need to do to realistically turn this into a drop bar gravel bike, also 700c’s are out of the question but do you think I could squeeze 650b/27.5’s on?
by sushimi123
5 Comments
No, 650b won’t fit unless you want to run skinny tires (you don’t)
There’s actually some pretty good 26er tires being made now that are more XC style.
These older XC mtbs really aren’t that different from what most gravel bikes are trying to be these days.
You could slap on a rigid carbon fork like this https://ritcheylogic.com/bike/forks/wcs-carbon-mountain-fork
+ some flared drop bars like this https://www.salsacycles.com/gear/cowchipper
+ some fast rolling 26er tires like this https://www.panaracerusa.com/products/gravelking-sk-knobby-folding-gravel-tires
Figure our the gearing compatibility for 9 speed (shimano road and mtb were cross compatible in this era). Or run 9 speed bar end shifters like this that will index with a 9 speed mtb derailleur https://global.bluelug.com/shimano-sl-bs77-bar-end-shifter.html
….or just ride it as is.
I can highly vouch for 26″ tires. They are amazing fun. Inf act, I’m looking for an MTB specifically with 26ers these days. Get some large volume tires with it, and you’ll have a blast
This bike I’d leave stock besides the cockpit and maybe seat.
If I had another build calling for that fork, I’d go rigid on this one, but otherwise I think this just needs some ergonomic changes and it’ll be good fun.
Drop bars on retro bikes are out, they aren’t as comfy as some alt bars and this bike is going to be a utility/comfort bike and never be fast and sporty pavement eater. It’s more capable off road than gravel bikes anyway so just throw some 2.25ish xc tires on it and it’ll be fantastic off road and on gravel paths. I put an H bar on a similar bike as a cheaper way to do drop bar as brifters/drop brake levers cost more than an old mtb. That fork is beautiful and could be using an old RL damper, which is really easy to service. If you keep that fork in it, you could just throw a fox 32 tc sticker on it and then you have the latest $1000 fox gravel fork.
It’s already a perfect gravel bike. All you need is a basket 😉
Make sure your contact points are comfortable: pedals, saddle, and grips. Adjust/swap cockpit, brakes, and fork if need be. Definitely keep the 26″ wheels. I’ve always loved those panaracer tires too.