Wildnfreebiking

Hoping to get help and input. I'm wanting to overhaul a 800 mountain trek I bought for $20 on offer up. Currently the drive is a 3 x 7 with 26" x 1.75. I would like to put a wider tire on fore sure. Also I want to convert the drive in to a 1 x 7 as the front derailed shifting could be replaced anyways but looking to simplify the bike some. This bike has a rigid front fork I'm not sure if I could get away with addi g a suspension fork or stick with the rigid. All in all it a very solid bike and what i thought was a steal for $20 bucks. Think of it as my gateway into mountain biking except I know this isn't quite as capable as i would like to hit any kind of heavy trail, mostly just a light trail and gravel bike is what I had in mind. Or would it be better to scratch the whole idea and find a road bike to covert into a gravel bike?

Hudson308 

These Trek Mountain Track/Antelope frames make great gravel bikes, with the right tires. You'll get alot of different opinions on this, but I've had great luck on gravel and pavement with Kenda Kiniptions. They're designed to be used anywhere from 30-80psi.

2cam16

If you're thinking of a gravel grinder, convert it into one. There are a couple of threads here on mtb drop-bar conversions.

Wildnfreebiking

Awesome. I know a 2 inch tire should fit with minimal interference if i could go bigger that would be nice.

Wildnfreebiking

Thanks I'll check it out. Going for a Franken bike/ adventure bike.

wrk101

Just remove front shifter, adjust the FD with its limit screws to whichever chain ring you want to use, and you have a 1x7. Later you can replace the crankset (and Bottom Bracket). But you can just stop shifting for now.

Velo Mule

I have 2 Trek 800's and my wife has a 830. These are versatile bikes that can do anything that you would like them to do.

You know we like pictures. When you get 10 posts show us your 800.

Wildnfreebiking

I'll give it a go thanks.

Wildnfreebiking

It"s a fun bike to ride for sure.
I'll have some pictures up soon.

madpogue 

Or just remove the FD and cable, and pack them away with the shifter, and hang the chain on the selected chainring.

Velo Mule

Here is the 800 that I keep at work. It is used to get lunch, groceries or supplies. It is not pretty however, it works perfect, gets me to the store and back.

Wildnfreebiking

I must say as a newbie to this forum I greatly appreciate the welcoming responses I have had. Thank you.

mijome07

I built one back in 2015. Only stock parts I used were the seat post/ wheel skewers. Had frame/ fork powder coated. Some parts I put on were either brand new or ​used.
Only mod I did to the frame was shave off that hideous top tube cable stop and ran the brake housing all the way back.
I'll post a pic later. I actually just got done today tearing it all down and doing the usual maintenance, along with polishing the frame/ fork/ metal bits. Basically I detailed the sh*t out of it.

mijome07

SS w/ drops and v brakes.

ryansu 

Here is the $20 one I got on CL , I fixed the front flat and have restored 18 of 21 speeds just need to do a session with the RD to get all 21 back but its better than the 6 working gears it had when it came to me. I am going to go for the Schwable jet city tires as i mostly ride in an urban envorinment but for $20, some brake Kleen and a tire patch I have a functional bike. Have fun with your gravel grinder OP I have a 1x9 that is my workhorse


Post flat fix but pre FD adjustment

Digger Goreman

My '95 do it all. Over 5000 commute miles since I resurrected it from a Goodwill in Dec. 2013.
Since then, I've switched rims, which came with 9 speed cassette, so shifters too. And dérailler. Later front crank/BB. Accessory mods. Flipped it a couple times... still solid as a rock! NOT considering another ride

simmonsgc

Such versatile bikes. I rebuilt this 800 for a friend. It's his longtime commuter and townie bike, now ready for many more years of reliable service.

madpogue 

^^^^ Looks about like my '87, which also sports salmon Kool-Stops. Those entry-level Shimano components were heavy, and not exactly eye candy. But they were (ARE) pretty unstoppable.

BTW, there's a cat coming out of your downspout.

simmonsgc

Ha! Wow, you must have young eyes, or you're really observant! I've never noticed the cat hidden in the spokes of the rear wheel. That's hilarious. About those 'entry-level Shimano components' ... I think you're right there, too. This bike had the lowly 100GS components on it, which I had never gone to the trouble to break down and re-furb before. They're heavy, more parts swaged together than we're used to on nicer groups, etc. But I gave them the full spa treatment like they were XT or XTR. They'll probably be ticking along 50 years from now. Like you said, unstoppable.

The mighty GS100 groupset

Phyoomz

Depending on the terrain you're trying to traverse, you may want to consider a single speed. I've had luck with a Trek 800 as a single speed freehub and even a fixed gear with some fat-ish tires. These are old pics and it was kinda ugly back then. lol. It's since been taken apart and stripped of all paint. I plan on putting it back together over the summer as a ss gravel grinder with some spray.bike artworks.

mijome07

^brake cable/housing a bit too long there^

madpogue 

^^^^ Accomodating stem raising, maybe?

mijome07

Could be.

Phyoomz

lol, yes, that was a result of the high stem. That build was years ago though. It currently looks like this

...just waiting on me to put some time (and paint) into it over the summer (or hopefully spring).

BengalCat

Had a Trek 800 from 1989 or so until it was stolen in 2019. For me, 2-inch tires were definitely the best for road and light trails and or gravel. Boy could that sucker descend down Chantry Flats in the San Gabriel foothills. Only two cars over a period of 18 months riding were faster than me coming down. The rear axel broke for reasons unknown in 2012. I just had it welded and it was good until the bike was taken.