Was gifted this old codger today. I want a road bike that is possible to ride on groomed gravel trails/roads. What are the steps I need to take?
I have stripped and rebuilt another road bike before, so I know the basics of ‘how-to’.
by RyanRot
Was gifted this old codger today. I want a road bike that is possible to ride on groomed gravel trails/roads. What are the steps I need to take?
I have stripped and rebuilt another road bike before, so I know the basics of ‘how-to’.
by RyanRot
3 Comments
Tyre size and choice will be your limiting factor given that these old bikes were often designed around old preferences of 23mm tyres and smaller. This will limit how aggressive the trails can be that you want to ride on as there may be limited to no clearance for anything that could be useful on a trail.
I can’t really see from that angle but there looks to be plenty of space around the brakes so see what you can fit in – I’d have a go with 30mm tires or something. It’s never going to be great but that would make a big difference.
Chainstays probably won’t reasonably take even a 28mm that has anything approaching shoulder knobbies. GT made a cyclocross bike that could take slightly wider tires but this one was made to be a pure road bike.