Let's see your gravel grinder/CX conversions!
#1
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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.
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Bridgestone XO series bikes make great gravel bikes:
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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:
#7
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Man... this thread is giving me inspiration to convert my old Rockhopper to CX. It's 20ish years old. Been hanging in my parents garage (see, hoarding can be a good thing ) 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....
#17
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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.
#18
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Oh yea, I puchased a Gunnar Crosshairs because I always wanted one and I have no regrets cause it is my do it all.
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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.
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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.
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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".
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