Let's see your gravel grinder/CX conversions!
10-03-14, 11:02 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Let's see your gravel grinder/CX conversions!
I'm getting ready to build a gravel grinder/cross bike from an old hybrid or road bike. I need some serious inspiration.
10-03-14, 11:18 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Bridgestone XO series bikes make great gravel bikes:
10-04-14, 07:47 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
26 x 1.5. The cool thing about the XO series is that many took a 26 inch wheel and you can run a fairly fat tire on them. A bianchi project bike would be another good platform as those took really fat 700c tires (up to a 40c tire I believe). You can convert a lot of different bikes to a gravel bike but ideally I think you'd want the capability of running something as fat as a 700 x 40c tire or a 26 x 1.5 tire.
Another (and much more readily available) alternative for a gravel mutt is the old standby, a vintage mountain bike. They're cheap and readily available and obviously can take a fat tire. I used trekking bars but you can also add drops to them. The trekking bars are an easier conversion and offer a lot of hand positions. This is my other vintage gravel bike:
Another (and much more readily available) alternative for a gravel mutt is the old standby, a vintage mountain bike. They're cheap and readily available and obviously can take a fat tire. I used trekking bars but you can also add drops to them. The trekking bars are an easier conversion and offer a lot of hand positions. This is my other vintage gravel bike:
10-05-14, 12:06 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 202
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus Sport, Kona Kahuna 29er, Santa Cruz Nickel 650b, Cannondale CAAD 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
This is my Specialized Sirrus Sport, started as a hybrid I put drop bars and shifters on. Currently running 35mm Continental tires.
10-05-14, 12:23 PM
#7
Senior Member
The older 27" road bikes make great gravel grinders. Often room for something in the 700x40 range and nice geometry. Or. 27x1.25" tires are great on gravel also. I'll have to pull up some pics of my Schwinn.
10-05-14, 12:34 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 681
Bikes: the bikes own me
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
That Lotus is nice. You would want to move the shifters to the bar. The fork obviously can take at least a 27"x1" tire.
10-05-14, 09:40 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 202
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus Sport, Kona Kahuna 29er, Santa Cruz Nickel 650b, Cannondale CAAD 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Thanks for the compliments, I really love the bike. Just an all around go anywhere bike for me now. Hoping to do my first CX race on it shortly.
10-06-14, 07:48 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Schwenksville, Pa
Posts: 2,772
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Liked 339 Times
in
179 Posts
This Mongoose Crossway 450 will take up to a 700x40 tire. Not one part on it is original, but it all came together well and it makes a nice beater gravel bike.
__________________
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
10-31-14, 08:35 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Katy, TX
Posts: 206
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
) all this time. Earlier this year, my entry level road bike finally bit the dust and I upgraded. I'm thinking I could strip my old/broken roadie and mix and match a franken-cross-bike. Mmmm....
10-31-14, 08:49 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Here is mine. Built out of an old commuter frame from the 90's. Specialized Crossroads.
Before
After
Before
After
Last edited by ricohman; 10-31-14 at 09:07 AM.
10-31-14, 08:39 PM
#17
Senior Member
Why o why do you need a special gravel bike. It is industry creating something else to sell. If you are comfortable and can put 28's or greater you will be fine.
10-31-14, 08:40 PM
#18
Senior Member
Oh yea, I puchased a Gunnar Crosshairs because I always wanted one and I have no regrets cause it is my do it all.
11-01-14, 04:58 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: St. Pete, Florida
Posts: 1,258
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Come ride your 28's in a Florida GG race. For us, "hardpack" means only an inch of loose sand. I'm sure there are plenty of other places in the country where local road conditions call for something much wider.
11-10-14, 06:24 PM
#21
Senior Member
My only road bike.
11-10-14, 06:40 PM
#22
.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Posts: 3,981
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix Comp, Soma ES
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I use to ride mountain bikes in the Tampa area and hated the sand. I wonder if a fat bike would work well in that scenario.
__________________
Demented internet tail wagging imbicile.
Demented internet tail wagging imbicile.
11-11-14, 05:06 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Schwenksville, Pa
Posts: 2,772
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Liked 339 Times
in
179 Posts
Thanks Erik_A, now that we are getting more rain and mud around here I am riding it even more. The only aesthetic I don't like about the bike is that it has so much seat post showing. Unfortunately I think a 23" frame is the largest hybrid made, but I keep looking for a 25".
__________________
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder