i generally do xc mtb but have done abit of roadie. i found straight up road to be a little boring so i sold her :'(
none the less, ive decided to build a "gravel bike", but kinda keep it on the cheaper side just to assure myself i like it.
i found this jamis commuter1 on kijiji for free so i picked it up. light aluminum frame w/ steel fork, straight 700cx32s, needs a new drivetrain tho.
i got an old deore xt and a regular 7spd freewheel for it since im not a huge fan of the megarange one on it already. ill either rebuild or replace the bb and keep the old single ring crank.
debating wither to keep the grip shift and fish it onto a drop bar or get an old skool thumbie or even spring for a bar end shifter.
the cockpit is going entirely to a quill adapter, a straight threadless stem with some reach(maybe 110mm), and a pair of wide drops (or whatever drops i can find on the cheap for the time being).
the question is, am i barking up the wrong tree for what im looking to get into? is there any other tips you guys can throw in to make my 1x7 hybrid to gravel grinder conversion abit more legit (inb4 a new bike lol).
im just trying to get into a new catagory of biking on the cheap so if i like it then i can go play with the big boys.