Choosing a frame for drop bar / gravel bike conversion

[bolly]

Re:

Only curious but why a drop bar mtb ? what's wrong with a normal retro mtb for gravel riding that's what they were designed for and saves a lot of messing around and having to buy new parts

 

[Woz]

old world retro road bars; generally too narrow and too deep drops and too long reach;
plus there is a right faff with 26mm or 25.8mm diameters - of course there are exceptions but
thin on the ground.

26mm or 25.8mm are the ones that thin on the ground. Older road bars are more commonly 25.4mm and there are plenty of them about in plenty of different configurations of bend, drop, width and reach with lots of stems to choose from.

Carl

?

Now I'm obviously looking in the wrong place. My attic suggests otherwise for starters. AFAIK, only ITM flirted with 25.4mm. Probably some more modern Nitto's, but they were road/track come fixie so tend to be more apt for sprinters or wannabe sprinters wirh a deep drop. Old Cincelli, no way except for the obscure Tomac productions. If we are taking some vintage 70s GB or similar fair enough, but they are usually only about 38/40cm wide.

There's probably a lot of old French porteur / moustache bars around.

 

[Woz]

Re: Re:

Only curious but why a drop bar mtb ? what's wrong with a normal retro mtb for gravel riding that's what they were designed for and saves a lot of messing around and having to buy new parts

Because they are ace or fab if you prefer. Messing around is also ace or fab if prefer.

 

[ultrazenith]

Re: Re:

Only curious but why a drop bar mtb ? what's wrong with a normal retro mtb for gravel riding that's what they were designed for and saves a lot of messing around and having to buy new parts

I have loads of MTBs these days and I'm curious to mess around with something a bit different.

 

[The History Man]

Re: Re:

Only curious but why a drop bar mtb ? what's wrong with a normal retro mtb for gravel riding that's what they were designed for and saves a lot of messing around and having to buy new parts

I have loads of MTBs these days and I'm curious to mess around with something a bit different.

This is why.

 

[drcarlos]

Looking at the description for gravel bike from road.cc I would say a late 80’s Raleigh 531 lightweight frame fits pretty well into that description, also something like an 87/88 muddyfox courier or roadrunner. The only difference being the modern uses disc brakes. A set of 25.4 drops and some levers/shifters should give you pretty much what a modern gravel bike offers.

Carl

 

[drcarlos]

Well someone thought the same

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3991441018

Although I’d have waited and used a 531 lightweight frame rather than a ‘cooking’ 501 frame but still other than needing to put on a stem with more rise i reckon they aren’t far way.

Carl

 

[Captain Stupido]

Well someone thought the same

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3991441018

Although I’d have waited and used a 531 lightweight frame rather than a ‘cooking’ 501 frame but still other than needing to put on a stem with more rise i reckon they aren’t far way.

Carl

Those Yukon frames are pretty nice IMO. There's nothing wrong with 501, the weight differences between it and 531 are negligible especially as many MTBs used plain guage ATB tubing. The different tubes do have a different feel though. I actually like 501 and 500. I did some mods to a Yukon and I liked it better than the Raleigh Ozark it replaced. The Ozark was 531 but was a heavier bike despite similar ish spec.

I've built a couple of drop bar MTBs - the first was based on the Ozark. The second was based on a Specialized Rockhopper. The Ozark took me on a couple of Sustrans route tours which involve a fair bit of unpaved paths, the Rockhopper sadly never left town... kids etc got in the way of any proper expeditions.

Both were super comfy and great for loading up with bags, and made decent tourers/commuters, although both ended up heavier (and slower) than a "proper" road based tourer (and probably a modern gravel bike). I wasn't entirely convinced off-road, my conclusion is kind of that if you're covering tricky terrain really you want wider, flat bars for control. Drop bars, to me, are better on the road. But then I had touring tyres so there were compromises all round. Part of the issue for me was actually using bar end shifters - I personally find them a little fiddly and not conducive to good control off road. Although I shouldn't say that as I'm trying to sell as set.

The other issue is wheel size - a modern gravel bike has 700c wheels so maybe a hybrid frame or a tourer with good tyre clearance is a better starting point for a fast bike?

Definitely worth trying and fun to do. Both my bikes were admired by a particular breed of bike nerd, even if normal people found them a little funny looking.

 

[drcarlos]

Nowt wrong with 501 but 531 is double butted, seamless and thinner walled as it was reasonably exotic. I'm pretty sure that 501 was main tubes only too, no stays either. The Raleigh frames in 501 used fairly plain att23 rear triangles. The 531 frames feel a bit nicer.to ride, a bit more lively well does anyway, almost up there with prestige.
I reckon they'll be a few of these 531/501 frames reappearing and carrying some value now as they are bang on trend again after 30 years!

Carl

 

[Woz]

Re:

Despite tube tech, it's always the old nutshell of fit for purpose. Just like a CX race bike, or modern 700c gravel bike it will always fall behind on technical rooty or rocky stuff. Put it on unpaved / paved roads it will whop any MTB, and be a bit better except against a skilled reckless Paris Roubaix winner on 25c skinny tubes.

What is a bit sad, is finding that right balance with 26" wheels. The ingredients are there but there is virtually no template except for a Cunningham.

So it's down to us tinker'ers to find out by just having a go with what is at hand. It's always going
to be a compromise, but personally the market missed that you may like a 2" wide tyre to get you
off the beaten unpaved track too.

Thorn flirted wirh 26" tourers which is also a candidate.

As said, there is a handfull of bike nerds who like
this catalogue void.