Is an Overbury's Pioneer suitable for dirt drops?

[Swede]

I know people have done it but how well do they ride?

 

[doctor-bond]

The right shape with tall head tubes, and come in different flavours of steel: I had a Cromor one and found it a bit leaden. Lots of folk love ‘em.

(Cough, 80s Cannondale)

 

[Swede]

I’ve been incubating an idea for a while and I like the idea of using an Overbury’s but that’s only because I grew up around the corner from the shop. I guess finding the “right” steel frame for drops is probably more important.

 

[Attempted Mustache]

I considered the dirt-drop approach when building mine up, but opted for an ‘alt-bar’ set up with a Nitto Albatross in the end. I don’t regret the decision. The Pioneer does have a decent height headtube but to get a satisfactory fit with drops I think the key factor is always going to be finding a stem with enough rise.

 

[Swede]

Maybe I need to research the stem options more thoroughly. Could you go with a slightly bigger frame than you’d usually take?

 

[27motorhead]

Maybe I need to research the stem options more thoroughly. Could you go with a slightly bigger frame than you’d usually take?

100% you can go with a bigger frame than you normally would. Depends on what your intended use of the bike is. Lots of 80s bikes are pretty small/not too stretched out so you can go bigger to get a more upright position to compensate for riding on dirt drops. I'm 5' 7" and happily ride a 1988 22.5" Hardrock. I have negative ball clearance, but not stretched out.

I would recommend trying to set-up a test bike at home if you can. Can just be static trying to work out potential height of bars to see what frame size and stem extension/rise you might need.

 

[doctor-bond]

+1 to bigger frames- I think the key to building one that you actually like riding is to get the bars way up level with the saddle.
Nitto do some super tall stems, but mating them to a big frame with a tall head tube and sloping TT is ideal. A tricky shape to come across in steel (Overbury’s are the obvious choice - maybe early Konas, Swallow, the odd Brodie, custom stuff.)

 

[27motorhead]

This is what happens when you add dirt drops to an 80s frame that is probably a little too small even with just flat bars and then when you add dirt drops you end up with a bonkers high stem or crazy quill extension...
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/scabby-ritchey-ultra-dirt-drop-build.446415/