Vintage Gravel Grinders
08-24-20, 02:15 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Vintage Gravel Grinders
As if there’s really such a thing. But let’s play along. Anyone care to post a pic of there bikes? Honestly, I think a Schwann Varsity with knobby tires is probably the ultimate vintage version.
08-24-20, 02:20 PM
#2
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08-24-20, 02:22 PM
#3
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The ultimate vintage version would be one of the wide-tired pass-hunting machines from the high-end French framebuilders of the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. The constructeurs were some of the few framebuilders making bicycles that take wide tires (650b) and wide gear ranges that were also very lightweight and sporty, meant for racing through the French Alps. They are probably the closest analogues to the modern gravel bike.
Last edited by TenGrainBread; 08-24-20 at 02:25 PM.
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08-24-20, 02:27 PM
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And then there's this one of mine - '73 Raleigh Competition Mk. II running 42/44T chainrings against a Surly Dingle 17/19T fixed cogset on 35 mm Continental Cyclocross tires -
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08-24-20, 02:53 PM
#6
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All bikes are gravel bikes...
...well at least most tourish.
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08-24-20, 03:06 PM
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These are my designated gravel bikes
Dirty Bike by L Travers, on Flickr
Katy Machens 23 mi 2 res by L Travers, on Flickr
Dirty Bike by L Travers, on FlickrKaty Machens 23 mi 2 res by L Travers, on Flickr
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08-24-20, 04:26 PM
#13
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This one is almost entirely original, early-90's Performance Parabola "Road Hybrid". Bought a pair of them from Goodwill for $80 about 15 years ago.
It uses huge dual-pivot calipers with cable-release QR arrangement to accommodate huge tires. Tange Infinity DB CrMo tubing and unicrown fork w/1" steerer.
I used it for lots of mtb trail riding and a half-dozen CX races over the years.
Also bought, rode and raced this one from around the same time:
My current all-round road/gravel bike is this 1977 Pro-Tour, which gets by using Pasela tires maesuring only 26mm wide:
Then versus now, six months of abuse on said 1" Paselas:
It uses huge dual-pivot calipers with cable-release QR arrangement to accommodate huge tires. Tange Infinity DB CrMo tubing and unicrown fork w/1" steerer.
I used it for lots of mtb trail riding and a half-dozen CX races over the years.
Also bought, rode and raced this one from around the same time:
My current all-round road/gravel bike is this 1977 Pro-Tour, which gets by using Pasela tires maesuring only 26mm wide:
Then versus now, six months of abuse on said 1" Paselas:
Last edited by dddd; 08-24-20 at 05:01 PM.
08-24-20, 04:50 PM
#14
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Motobecane Le Champion
Some sort of Diamondback hybrid (I think.)
Carré Lejeune
Brent
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08-24-20, 05:00 PM
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I keep this early eighties Bianchi Touring in Jamaica and, generally, put about 3000km on the bike each winter. Did not do that this years, though, as I had to leave the island six weeks ahead of schedule. Anyway, what a great, solid, dependable and ugly old bike. I love it..!
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08-24-20, 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Sluggo
Everybody rode on gravel until the '60s or '70s.
This is Anquetil and Bahamontes, TDF 1963.
This is Anquetil and Bahamontes, TDF 1963.
Last edited by bikemig; 08-24-20 at 05:09 PM.
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08-24-20, 05:15 PM
#17
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Bridgestone, Bianchi, and GT
Before gravel bikes became a thing, they reminded me a lot of the the early days of MTBs. Old bikes were repurposed to handle gravel and it was a way of avoiding cars.
Vintage MTBs obviously make good gravel grinders. There are also some bikes that pushed the design envelope: the Bridgestone XO series (many of these had road geometry with 26 inch wheels), the Bianchi project bikes that were early forerunners of the 29ers, and the GT Tachyon bikes.
Here is a good piece on the Bianchi Project and GT tachyon bikes
https://www.bikehugger.com/posts/the...at-wasnt-700d/
I have a 1992 Bridgestone XO 2. The bike is a great gravel and all around bike with plush 26 inch tires and road geometry:
Vintage MTBs obviously make good gravel grinders. There are also some bikes that pushed the design envelope: the Bridgestone XO series (many of these had road geometry with 26 inch wheels), the Bianchi project bikes that were early forerunners of the 29ers, and the GT Tachyon bikes.
Here is a good piece on the Bianchi Project and GT tachyon bikes
https://www.bikehugger.com/posts/the...at-wasnt-700d/
I have a 1992 Bridgestone XO 2. The bike is a great gravel and all around bike with plush 26 inch tires and road geometry:
Last edited by bikemig; 08-24-20 at 05:28 PM.
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08-24-20, 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by dddd
This one is almost entirely original, early-90's Performance Parabola "Road Hybrid". Bought a pair of them from Goodwill for $80 about 15 years ago.
It uses huge dual-pivot calipers with cable-release QR arrangement to accommodate huge tires. Tange Infinity DB CrMo tubing and unicrown fork w/1" steerer.
I used it for lots of mtb trail riding and a half-dozen CX races over the years.
It uses huge dual-pivot calipers with cable-release QR arrangement to accommodate huge tires. Tange Infinity DB CrMo tubing and unicrown fork w/1" steerer.
I used it for lots of mtb trail riding and a half-dozen CX races over the years.
1992 Performance Parabola
The aforementioned brakes with 28 mm tires. I mounted fenders over 32mm tires with room to spare.
08-24-20, 06:51 PM
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For the budget-minded, a lot of these '80s tourers make great gravel bikes!
But I'll give a plug for Jack Taylor's work as well. He was making purpose-built mountain bikes for his customers while Gary Fisher was still messing about with old Schwinns! And I still take this old '59 Taylor tandem on gravel.
But I'll give a plug for Jack Taylor's work as well. He was making purpose-built mountain bikes for his customers while Gary Fisher was still messing about with old Schwinns! And I still take this old '59 Taylor tandem on gravel.
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08-24-20, 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by iab
The shift paddle on the LH side just an artifact?
08-24-20, 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by repechage
I am not a proponent of single ring, but this looks well planned.
The shift paddle on the LH side just an artifact?
The shift paddle on the LH side just an artifact?
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08-24-20, 08:20 PM
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My Mark I happily eats dirt all day.
Paused at Hastings-On-Hudson
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08-24-20, 08:53 PM
#23
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Univega is for shorter rides 700x38, Rockhopper is for longer self supported rides, usually has a rack on the back, 26x2.0
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08-25-20, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by cs1
As if there’s really such a thing. But let’s play along. Anyone care to post a pic of there bikes? Honestly, I think a Schwann Varsity with knobby tires is probably the ultimate vintage version.
But what about a Schwinn Excelsior Klunker?
Schwinn Excelsior Klunker
That would make a cool vintage gravel bike.
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08-25-20, 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by droppedandlost
Univega is for shorter rides 700x38, Rockhopper is for longer self supported rides, usually has a rack on the back, 26x2.0
How the heck did you get 38c tires mounted on the univega? Just asking because not a lot of road bikes can handle a 38c which is one reason why 650b has become popular.
I started a thread on this a while back:
700 x 38c tires on a vintage bike?
