Has anyone converted a MTB for long distance riding? I'm a big lover of vintage MTB's. They seem like they're made for long distance riding, vintage bikes that is.

Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur has had a category for MTBs in some previous editions (one bloke rode PBP and the World Crosscountry Championships on the same bike) but I've not noticed that option for a while now.

I know several people who use converted MTBs for long road rides. The 24 hr TT record was broken by Andy Wilkinson (541 miles) last month. He uses the same custom frame for record TTs, touring with panniers and off-road riding (uses V-brakes and flat bars, swaps wheels and suchlike).

I am in the process of converting a vintage steel mountain bike into a road bike. There is enough clearance on the rear for 700c wheels. And I used a brake adapter to get the brake offset. So the rear will have a linear pull brake. The front will have a new steel road fork so I can use a road brake caliper. I will see how it rides when I'm finished. One thing is that it will be kind of heavy. Probably not the best choice for hilly long distance riding. But for me it will be an inexpensive bike that I can throw in the back of the truck and take to work to ride on my lunch hour. I will be less worried about it than my good bike since it will be unattended for long periods. It will become my winter bike path bike when the weather gets cold.

After Machak, my Marinoni Ciclo, was stolen at Easter 2010, Rowan built me Frank ... a Frankenbike ... so I could ride a 300K the next weekend. I had about 5 minutes on the trainer and about 5 minutes around the parking lot before setting off on the 300K. Thank goodness for knowing my ideal bicycle measurements and for being married to someone who knows how to build bicycles!!

Machka,
What size wheels and tires are those?

You always seem to come up with the most interesting things. I've got several early to mid Eighties Specialized stumpjumpers. The geometry is very relaxed. They acutally handle great on the road plus they have room for fenders and plenty of eyelets.

700C wheels with 23 or 25mm tires.