26er -> 650b conversion on Old Chalk Way

[L-Painter]

26er - 650b conversion



I picked up a Velo Orange fork with loads of mounts on eBay a while back and been wanting to do a bike packing build with it for ages.



Been keen to try a 26er-650b conversion and picked up this Genesis altitude 853 frame for £70. Managed to get 27.5x2.0 tyres with plenty of clearance. The handling was surprisingly good, even if a little taller!



Finished it last week on day of the trip and did a great route from Luton to thetford on the old chalk way!



First 42 miles were 90% off road and loved it! Never cycled that far in the uk without seeing cars. Loads of smaller areas on route to break it up and would defiantly recommend. Going to try do the whole route in sections over the year.

https://bikepacking.com/routes/old-chalk-way/

 

[JCS]

That route looks great, would love to ride it one day.

 

[sam_white]

I hadn't heard of the old chalk way route before. It sounds very interesting and ends in my neck of the woods.

 

[madjh]

You are not alone. I have converted my S-works to 27.5 because the CB Cobalt wheel set has lot of cracks and there are no good quality or light weight 26 rims, so I went 27.5. And it is quite nice but 26 too.


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[oligali]

You are definitely not alone
I did the same to my ´92 Stumpy and to Mrs. Oligali´s ´95 KHS.




Both bikes are built up non-period-correct, with various parts from the parts bin. Just because I could .

Cheers.

 

[Attempted Mustache]

You are definitely not alone
I did the same to my ´92 Stumpy and to Mrs. Oligali´s ´95 KHS.
View attachment 954359

View attachment 954360

Both bikes are built up non-period-correct, with various parts from the parts bin. Just because I could .

Cheers.

What brake calipers are those?

 

[oligali]

What brake calipers are those?

I found them on Aliexpress:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...=scene:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller|query_from:

They look nice, although the tensioning spring is hidden and somewhat fiddly to adjust, but they work fine...
If you look around at AE, there will be plenty of others like these...

 

[oligali]

I even tried to adjust them to 700c wheels, and they worked