so old MTB frame to gravel bikes? thoughts? update on 30/06/24

[Rocket Rich]

Heres mine !

That's awesome. Still 26" wheels?

 

[coomber]

so i decided to do a bit of moving bits about as i had pretty much decided to try the drop bars on the bike, obvs this means quite a spec change, and a few gremlins have raised their heads.

so the bike had Hope brakes, XTR, mechs and shifters, the drop bar i was using was from a previous build, so i'm using that again and it's fitted with 2x10 GRX shifters, i didn't think the XTR mech would work with the GRX shifter but i thought i'd see how far out it was, it didn't work, i have found that Wolf Tooth make a cable pull adaptor can which might work but i couldn't bothered with getting one so i have fitted the GRX mech which obviously works. i then turned my attention to the front gears, the GRX shifter does work with the XTR front mech ok, it's not quite the same as the shift on the complete GRX front end set up but it shifted fine, but then i noticed something sucky, my intention was to run the MTB gearset, the top ring on it is a 38t which is fine, nice and spinnable, but the spider is warped, not happy really this is the second spider i've had on this chainset and it's seen bugger all miles, i can just about adjust it out but i'm thinking swap the GRX chainset on instead, i haven't done that yet as i ran out of time, now the BB shell is 68, so fitting a road/gravel BB should be ok, but the GRX chainset i have is a 46/30 and i'm not sure if it will clear the chainstays, will find out tomorrow, the other issue is i am not sure if the XTR from mech will work on it, it was from the Demon Frameworks originally and was running a 42t i think so it might, the reason i can't use the GRX front mech is the frame is top pull, i know i could use a mech verter but i'm hoping not to.

brake wise i haven't decided what to do yet, i see my options are GRX levers and see if i can get flat mount GRX calipers to fit the IS mounts with a converter bracket, but i think i'd need the frame/fork +bracket + bracket +caliper, which would look crap so i might use which ever mtb post mount shimano caliper i have lying around in the shop as i'd only have to use IS to post mount bracket as normal, the other option is maybe look at Hope calipers, the mineral oil versions, but that would be a chunk of money, but here's the thing, obvs as some of you know, i can be a bit pedantic with my builds, not so much it has to be retro etc, more i like my brands to match or have a theme, now the original set up of this bike had Hope brakes/rotos/mounts/BB/hubs/qr's/seatclamp/stem/post with xtr mechs and shifters, when i built the wheels i used some older shimano XT hubs, i kind of wish i'd just used the original Hope hubs as then i would have just fitted the Hope Mineral brakes, but because i used the Shimano hubs i feel i should remove the Hope disc rotors and fit shimano rotors and calipers and mounts, this would be cheaper and i can sell all the older Hope bits as it all works fine, will probably do that but it sort of snnoys me that the bike has just the Hope post and headset left, the bar assembly has a matching stem which was 10mm shorter so fits better length wise with the drop bar.

now i just set up the gears and test rode it around the car park without any brakes just to see if the position was in the ball park and i have to say it felt pretty good, i'm going in to the shop tomorrow mainly to wait for a delivery and to sort some admin stuff so i'll probably sort the gears out properly tomorrow if i can, and maybe decide what i'm doing brake wise.

excuse the tape, it matched the previous build, i will be changing it!

anyway here are some pics!

View attachment 864288

View attachment 864289

View attachment 864290

Is your butt not quite far back over the rear wheel on this set up? Looks like you be popping a wheelie at every rotation of the cranks

 

[oligali]

A ´92 Tange Prestige Stumpjumper comp with 27,5" wheels and chinese V-brakes working (more-or-less) with Tiagra 3x9 brifters and shimano xt/xtr mechs... not light nor pretty but very comfortable and, being even more important, enjoyable to ride.


now it´s delegated to cafe racer duties, and a 2002 C´dale F3000 SL has taken over the gravel rides...

 

[oligali]

...and here´s the current gravel bike:
Cannondale F3000 SL (disc only) with 27,5 (conti race kings 2,0 fit just about up front, the back is good for bigger rubber), full xtr 3x9, MT-8000 brakes w chinese carbon copy (in carbon) of surly corner bar. Headshock´s 75 mm of travel are working almost flawless.
Good enough for road, gravel and light 90´s xc riding. One Bike to rule them all.

 

[nicklej]

...and here´s the current gravel bike:
Cannondale F3000 SL (disc only) with 27,5 (conti race kings 2,0 fit just about up front, the back is good for bigger rubber), full xtr 3x9, MT-8000 brakes w chinese carbon copy (in carbon) of surly corner bar. Headshock´s 75 mm of travel are working almost flawless.
Good enough for road, gravel and light 90´s xc riding. One Bike to rule them all.

View attachment 886195

Bit of me that. Love Cannondales from this era and stills looks damn good (to me!) Do you have a link for the bar you're using? With it being chinese, I'm hoping it is budget friendly as I'd quite like to add drops to my 29er to see if I like being able to run it both ways.

 

[Fatal Swan]

My current Cannondale gravel conversion isn't retro though it is a 26er so most of the issues are the same. For modern gravel bikes based on road bikes, I only really want to be on fairly decent paths otherwise rigid it's just like riding juddering rigid MTBs back in the day. But I don't have a lot of that where I am, it's roads and rough tracks. So I wanted a bit of bounce still, but a bike that was going to be light enough (it's 9.5kgs, probably about the same as a decent modern gravel bike or maybe lighter) to ride locked out on the roads and better paths. Given that gravel bikes seem to be getting geared more and more towards off-road, this seems to be a bit like that.

Getting the stem length and bar with the right reach at the levers was the hardest bit, but the fit and handling feels completely natural. I needed a spacer to get the XTR crank with a 1x 38t ring to clear the chainstay - I could have just used a 34 or 36 but I'd miss the extra teeth on the road. STIs are Ultegra with Deore calipers, GRX rear mech and XT 11 speed 11-46 cassette which all plays together very nicely.

 

[oligali]

Bit of me that. Love Cannondales from this era and stills looks damn good (to me!) Do you have a link for the bar you're using? With it being chinese, I'm hoping it is budget friendly as I'd quite like to add drops to my 29er to see if I like being able to run it both ways.

here you go:

ZNIINO no logo new Carbon Gravel H handlebar Big Flare Bar Cycle cross Road MTB Bike handlebars carbon fiber Travelling bicycle - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

It´s actually quite light and absorbs vibrations well. So far, no issues.
The thing for me was to run the old shifters and brake levers, and achieve a gravelish position on it. It´s odd but it works, you effectively get two positions, tops and drops, as no real hoods are on the bar.

 

[nicklej]

here you go:

ZNIINO no logo new Carbon Gravel H handlebar Big Flare Bar Cycle cross Road MTB Bike handlebars carbon fiber Travelling bicycle - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

It´s actually quite light and absorbs vibrations well. So far, no issues.
The thing for me was to run the old shifters and brake levers, and achieve a gravelish position on it. It´s odd but it works, you effectively get two positions, tops and drops, as no real hoods are on the bar.

Thanks for that. I see they have some other options so i will do some research. I share your thoughts on wanting to re-use my current controls, particularly to see whether i enjoy the gravel positon. My 29er is used mostly on road as i don't drive so having a sportier position simply by changing bars is really attractive for me.