crank_addict

Indeed! That's always been the first thing that comes to my mind when I see these levers used off-road.

I think one needs to answer... what is a 'dirt drop MTB'? Is it a 'mountain bike' with just road race bars and controls? Whats that for?

All things considered, a 'X racer' is purpose built and for specific terrain. That's a different animal.

A 'CROSS' bike is different than a Cross -X- racer too and is a broader application type. I'm most impressed riding a '10 Giant Rapid 1 'CROSS' bike for both on and off road. Not the best in any category but tackles most very well. It basically resembles a 29er lightweight hardtail but is a 700c w/ flat bar- ATB controls plus road drop bar ends. Using the road drop bar ends are NOT ideal for the paceline, yet thats the only compromise. Has fine road manners, climbs like a monkey off-road, not a scream on descents but gets down them at a much slower pace. Fits my use perfectly.

Italuminium

I like my cockpits slammed. But it's an interesting concept and I'm sure it fits a niche, and IMHO it's far better to have big wheels than tiny 26". For a guy like me at 5'11" I think I can fit it fine without loads of spacers or wonky stems. But, as others have said, other bikes like that Fargo have slightly nicer tubing layouts without that segmented rear forks.

likebike23

Has anyone made a drop bar conversion out of a modern 29er with a high head tube? I think that would be a cool project if a donor could be found on the cheap.

jyl

I don't see what is special about this bike, that can't be achieved with a drop bar conversion of a mountain bike.

The wishbone stay is really unattractive, appears to be from the Transformers school of design.

Stems should not look like periscopes.

gomango

Like this Singular Gryphon?

JAG410

It's growing on me. If you look at the pics, it sure seems like that bike is too small for the rider, look at seat height compared to leg extension. It might end up having reasonable proportions after all. Excited to see the geometry chart.

Chrome Molly

To my eye that's a much better and cleaner looking option.

I was also thinking of these as better muddy all rounders...

likebike23

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm talking about. I'm thinking more along the lines of a geared bike and something in the spirit of the drop bar conversion thread. I googled 29er drop bar conversions and MTBR has a bunch of threads I'll need to check out.

gomango

".Yes, those look fantastic.

Anyone that might have interest in the VO might also check out a Rawland rSogn.

I was really thinking about one before I picked up my Fargo.

crank_addict

I don't understand all the cut and weld look plus short head tube on the VO. Just seems too fussy and as mentioned, using dual control road levers for off-road is a big no.

This doesn't belong here as its no classic but I love this 19 pound appliance (without even trying a diet). Compact frame geo. Two sets of 700c wheels ready for whatever the days ride is, mudguards on/off in a few minutes, squeeze 34c under road calipers. Flat bar off-road leverage for safe hand position brake / index triggers, road drop ends. Hidden bosses for racks, impeccable frame finish. Laughable fast in the single tracks, although its a slower pace in challenging rocky descents. For road use, the bar ends are not ideal if riding a paceline but other than that, its fine.

Some time has passed since these pics and its gone thru some tweak changes, but its surely has taken the hammering off-road.
Ideally would love to have an identical set-up including this carbon fork, but in a stainless steel frame and having disc brakes.

dddd

This one sure isn't a "modern 29er", but does have an off-road-specific frame/geometry, and with somewhat-flared drop bars.

Performance sold these, circa 1991, and there was a sticker on the stem that read "Road Hybrid".
I think that it works so well off-road because of the brake levers I added to the bar tops, which allow a huge amount of rearward weight transfer relative to using the hooded levers from either the drops or from the hoods. The original, ~short 9cm stem seems to match the 71-degree headtube angle well, handling-wise.
Calipers are huge DiaCompe dual-pivot units, and the drivetrain is the unusual Shimano "CX300" with 30-40-50t triple.

It's good for all kinds of usage, and came with the 38mm Avocet "inverted-tread" tires that are still on it. I used it for utilitarian purposes, for trail riding and even raced it and won at a couple of cyclocross venues.
It's 29-lb heavy, but works well for such an inexpensive model.
You never know what will turn up at a Goodwill store! Maybe everything old is new again?

likebike23

@dddd: that looks like a fun bike. I have a 21cm square Univega Activa hybrid that I built as a drop bar bike a while back. I had 38mm on the back and 40mm on the front. I still have the frameset. I remember really liking that bike. Now you've got me thinking of resurrecting it and abandoning my idea of a 650b fuji conversion.

cyclotoine

You're probably right, but I could go on about it via PM. I am of course an amateur but I think I asked the builder to step out of what he does a little but too much and he was frustrated. It seems to me builder develop a way and it's like telling an artist what you want them to paint... that never turns out well does it? I think that was my mistake. In retrospect I should have had Chris Inglehart build me a segmented TIG fork. But I thought it wouldn't be right on a fillet brazed frame, however, Chris was making what I wanted, more or less, in spec, but not in style. Now I would prefer that style... but that is the process of learning and changing tastes.