Weresquatch

Hello everyone, I've done some searching before posting but just looking for some quick hits for guidance. I'm looking to build up a late 60s touring frame to a something that can take on a bit of fire-roading/bike camping but still mostly iffy pavement. For going places my road bike won't and well, I like keeping my MTBs on singletrack. Anyway, the frame came with 27/1.25 tires but there is PLENTY of room. I'm leaning toward going 700x38 (I have a couple spare 700 wheel sets). General recs for tires and gearing? I'll be using friction shifters so I have some freedom as to cobbling together spec. Thank you for any help.

Spoonrobot 

What's the bike? What brakes do you plan on using?

Weresquatch

Hi, thanks for responding. I have some pics of the bike over in "Vintage..." Evidence suggests it's a 1967 Kenko. I was thinking of using some vintage Dia-Compe center-pulls.

chas58

I hate down tube shifters and knobby tires. Ouch! Hopefully yours are up by the bars.

40mm is a little easier tire size to find. The trick of course is getting the calipers spread wide enough to squeeze the tire in without deflating it.

mstateglfr 

tires- whatever is big enough to fit in your frame with at least a few mm on either side for clearance.
suggestions- https://www.donnellycycling.com/coll...-bead-clincher or https://www.donnellycycling.com/coll...olding-120-tpi

as for gearing, use what is needed to get you up whatever hills you have while letting you also go as fast as you can on flat road. No idea what that will be, but for what its worth- typically gravel is tougher than pavement so you will want easier gearing. maybe a 46t instead of a 50t big ring. maybe 34t instead of 36t for the small. or maybe a triple.

Weresquatch

When I first started MTB racing in '89 I was using friction shifters on the down tube and a dirt drop bar (if it was good enough for Tomac). I just remember pretty much using two positions, slamming those levers down or cranking them up...not much trimming going on. Then I went to barcons....and same issues. I don't remember why but friction thumb shifters just seemed uncool. To this day I STILL have a pair of Sachs Extreme shifters I won that I use on my dualie.

I posted here as I'm new to the forum but I'm thinking this bike will be more crappy country road then gravel strewn double or single track. I'm mostly building it for fun and on the cheap so 700x38 paselas or maybe be like all the cool kids and go gravel kings :-P Advice welcome.

fietsbob

People have toured on unpaved roads, riding their bicycles .. past the end of the paved road..

Banzai

“Gravel bike” is the new marketing term for the older, less-sexy “touring bike” label.

mstateglfr 

Except in all the instances it doesnt mean that...which is a lot.