Has anyone built a Gravel bike using a retro frame

[Woz]

Re:

Ditto. How do you change gear? Shifter pod on the tops?

Great scenery too!

 

[novekili]

Re:

Ok, brakes have a longer slot for adjusting the brake pads. Bought them on aliexpress. They work really well, to be honest.
I can't find the very brakes I bought. These are similar. They are nicer but I didn't buy them because mine have long springs, these have canti-like springs and I think they are less reliable. Just make sure you bike long arm brakes (short ones are for BMXs)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000792 ... web201603_

this is another model, I think with long springs

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3282203 ... web201603_

I coupled them to Tektro v campatible levers I bought from Wiggle. Crisp braking, not on par with Shimano, but good anyway.


Shifters are XO units By Sram, push pull. The collar can be removed and I substituted it with a metal band from an old Deore derailleur to make it fit the oversize handlebar. Apparently barend shifters by Sram work hassle free with Sram rear derailleurs. They are for sure nicer but I had these lying around.

SUN XCD Rims were difficult to find, but they are not too heavy (not light tho) and they work well with tubeless kits, so I was able to get rid of inner tubes, which I hate.

Scenery? Beautiful indeed... that's Mont Blanc. I was on holiday, I live in Tuscany, which is nice, but nothing beats the Alps.

 

[Rod_Saetan]

Re: Re:

DBR Axis titanium, 27.5 wheels, rim brakes. Rims are Sunxcd rannonneé, brakes are Chinese units with the possibility to adjust the pads to rims up to 28". Tyres are Veerubber 1.90, Midge bars, Vbrake compatible Tektro levers. 38 front ring, 11 42 cogset

Can you tell/show us more about the v brake units, as I think the possibility to use 650b on a retro 26er frame would be interesting to quite a few of us.

FWIW, I used these cantis on the front of my Mercian 26” touring bike 650B conversion:
http://bicyclist.cc/shop/tektro-866a-cantilever-brakes/
with a Paul Motolite V brake on the rear.

 

[nobby the sheep]

91 meets 2014

 

[Woz]

Thanks Novekili.

From 2014 , a DBR Axis 26" Monster Cross - which of course is a complete misnomer.

I'll be building it up again hopefully sooner or later. Frame spent the last 4 years in a box and I miss it.

 

[novekili]

Wow Woz... for your knowledge, it has clearance even for Panaracer gravelkings knobby 1.9 tyres. The satin finish version is way nicer than the polished one...

 

[jimo746]

Re:

I've been riding this Marin Muirwoods recently, Shimano RSX brifters work very well with the Alivio Mtb mechs in 3x7.

 

[Woz]

Cool. Often wondered about RSX, but the 8 speed version. RSX is not too shoddy, basically Tiagra level.

 

[MT62]

Also had a build with RSX, the thing is, the only STIs from the 90s available in 3x7. It is Sora level, but they are just fine. Sometimes it might be difficult to adjust the FD to reach the outer ring because of different road-mtb FD pull, with some FDs it works fine, this is same with all STIs.
With 8sp, there are way more options, RX100, 105, 600, but personally can't say they would be that much better, from what I've tried. At least where I am located, the 8sp RSX is pretty rare.
Lovely bikes in this thread.

 

[benjabbi]

I'm currently experimenting with drops on my Giant, the stem looks a bit odd but it's comfy to ride and as above the RSX shifters work perfectly with the Exage in 3x7.