I do have a small ti frame that might work for you. V and disc mounts, small. I was going to build it up for my son or wife, the former is growing fast and it would be too small already, it may fit my wife but she's happy on a 12 inch frame I built up.
Has anyone built a Gravel bike using a retro frame
- Thread starter bjellys
- Start date
dirttorpedo
Senior Retro Guru
Definitely get the correct sized frame. Personally I'd try to get a frameset that's a bit nicer - Equivalent of a Kona Cinder Cone or Caldera would be my target. And I personally like fully rigid frames - don't feel like messing around with vintage suspension - particularly on a gravel bike.
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Stodgy
Retro Guru
This picture popped up on some feed or other today and made me think of this thread.
Does this remind anyone of the classic nineties xc race pose? I’m not sure about anyone else, but this chiropractor-friendly pose is not my chosen bike fit these day. This is what the marketing folk seem to be selling at the top end.
As for the gravel bike thing, I have a Light Blue Darwin frame (shop soiled) I have built up with 10 speed campag daytona shifters, a 9 speed xt mech onto an 8 speed cassette with Spyre mechanical disc brakes. I really like it a lot - comfort, handling, fun. I like drop bars and don’t get sore wrists like I do on flats. I use the drops for descending. The bars are level with the saddle and it took me a while to find a frame with short reach and high stack. I’m 6’1” on what is a medium but hta is slack enough I don’t get toe-overlap.
Just did the Dorset dirt dash on it fully loaded - handled it superbly. It done much cycling in the last couple of years. Sit bones hurt, legs knackered but I got back on it for the second day and I instantly thought this is super comfy. Just works for me.
Others were there on all sorts of bikes including 26ers. We all seemed happy.
Does this remind anyone of the classic nineties xc race pose? I’m not sure about anyone else, but this chiropractor-friendly pose is not my chosen bike fit these day. This is what the marketing folk seem to be selling at the top end.
As for the gravel bike thing, I have a Light Blue Darwin frame (shop soiled) I have built up with 10 speed campag daytona shifters, a 9 speed xt mech onto an 8 speed cassette with Spyre mechanical disc brakes. I really like it a lot - comfort, handling, fun. I like drop bars and don’t get sore wrists like I do on flats. I use the drops for descending. The bars are level with the saddle and it took me a while to find a frame with short reach and high stack. I’m 6’1” on what is a medium but hta is slack enough I don’t get toe-overlap.
Just did the Dorset dirt dash on it fully loaded - handled it superbly. It done much cycling in the last couple of years. Sit bones hurt, legs knackered but I got back on it for the second day and I instantly thought this is super comfy. Just works for me.
Others were there on all sorts of bikes including 26ers. We all seemed happy.
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It was all so supple then….
Could we…should we….
Memories, of the way we were.
Could we…should we….
Memories, of the way we were.
Mickeyspinn
rBotM Winner
Don't forget to allow for BB height! A sniff more rise a little less reach....uhhh hmm ...been there!! it ends not being about what looks right but what feels right
I suddenly had a flash of "ah f#@k it" inspiration and flipoed the drop bars over and hacked the ends off ! It's like a bar end position but in the curl!??Looks erm well...
But heck is it comfy 
Takingabreak
Dave Yates Fan
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does a hybrid count as a gravel bike? It does have gravel king tyres... I'm still tweaking the set up and will run new cables once I'm happy with everything.
Mickeyspinn
rBotM Winner
Definitely does....it's the original gravel bike!
Doesn't get any better than that ...that's lovely
