Ruthless

I'm upgrading my schinn sidewinder mountain bike to gravel/hybrid. Looking at new wheelset and tires. I will be changing the straight bars to drop with flare. Right now it has 21 speed. In time it may end up a 7 speed some where in there. A longer crank personal preference. It's a 26. I need to find out if the 26 can be swapped out for 650b? I know it sounds like a nightmare. I'll send picts when the build is done. The dreaded sidewinder has been sent back to the trainer. It's been replaced by a Bombtrack beyond 1.

alcjphil

Is this the bike? https://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Mens-S...Bike/151457759
If it is, this is not a good candidate for conversion to a larger wheel size. The rear rim brake will no longer line up with your rim, not to mention that you may not have clearance for a larger diameter tire, depending of course on which tire width you choose. Whatever you do you will still have a low end bike. The number of parts needed will cost most of what a properly suitable gravel would sell for. If this were a good quality 27.5" wheel mountain bike, the conversion might well be worth it, but if your bike is the one in the link I provided, you might spend a ton of money for less than a zero return

shelbyfv

More info in your other thread https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...avel-bike.html Still not a good project.

veganbikes

I wouldn't put money into anything from Wal-Mart, Target, or any other box store. If you want a decent conversion candidate for a cool touring or gravel bike find an old steel 90s mountain bike of high quality and work around that however if you don't know what you are getting into you could end up spending too much for something that isn't in good shape.

Really the best thing to do is get a dedicated bike that is already built up to what you are looking for and something again of quality.

Paul Barnard

I say go full speed ahead! I'd hang some carbon and titanium parts on it.

Ruthless

Point taken. I've only so far bought an acrobat and inner tube. Thanks for the heads up. I was going to get a dedicated gravel bike, and ended up with my fatbike. I love my fatbike. But I'm looking to build up my stable. It's a girl thing, upgraded to a bombtrack beyond 1. Now I have something to look forward to.

MikeyMK

Nobody ever upgraded to drop bars.

veganbikes

Inner tube is fine, those aren't super expensive.

I am all for building up a stable but I would rather have one really nice bike then a bunch of cheaper bikes personally. I have been lucky to build a large stable of some rather nice bikes but if I couldn't do that I would probably build a really top notch touring or gravel/adventure bike so I have some versatility. For me and where I live, a fat bike is just not practical but I do love them.

Wilfred Laurier

Terrible choice for an upgrade project. Find a decent quality older rigid MTB second hand.

Also, I don't understand the obsession with converting perfectly serviceable 26" wheels to 650B - what are you hoping to accomplish, or, alternatively, what disadvantage do you think 26" wheels have?

Ironfish653

Hate to jump on the pile; I know it's the bike you've got but it's a poor choice for an upgrade.

If you want to play with fat tires and drop bars, that's cool, you could probably do it for about a hundred bucks in parts. That's just bars, controls, and a new stem to make it work.
Probably more. There's always a couple of little things that come up, that nickel and dime the cost up.


An 'everything-but-the-paint-job' upgrade like you're looking at will probably go about triple the original cost of the bike, and at the end, you've still got the frame and finishing bits of a $150 department-store bike, and the shortcuts and cost measures that go with it.

Keep in mind that building your own bike, especially if you're buying parts retail, will cost 30%-50% more than a complete bike of similar specs. If you don't have a clear goal for the project, other than 'a gravel bike' or specific knowledge of the components you need; there are lots of rabbit holes to fall in to that take a lot of time, money and frustration to get out of.

jade408

I am a fan of updating/replacing/customizing your parts. But I concur that it only makes sense with a good base! I think getting a good used frame and starting from there is a better use of funds!

Ruthless

Dont worry about adding good money on a bad project.
I ordered a bomber track beyond 1. It cost a lot more. But at least its quality.

JanMM

'bomber track' = Bombtrack Beyond 1 MATT METALLIC BLUE 2019 ? Bombtrack
I was puzzling over your buying an acrobat, too, in a previous post.
Have fun with the new bike.

Ruthless

No problem, I order a real bike. I'll keep the titanium for later. If I'm thinking right either scandium and or titanium has a tendency to chip.

Wilfred Laurier

Good choice.

I feel I was a bit glib in my previous response...

While Upgrading your current bike is a waste, it could be a perfectly serviceable bike as-is - replace what you need to keep it on the road, and ride the hell out of it... but no matter how many 'upgrades' you do it is still not a great bike.
I am sure the Bombtrack will be a much better starting point.

ThermionicScott 

What do you think 650B wheels will accomplish on gravel that 26" wheels won't?

freeranger

I still have my old mtn.bike with 26" wheels--it's taken me over many mtn.bike trails, rail-trails (most were crushed limestone, but some were gravel). Never had a problem with those 26" wheels taking me where I wanted to go (and they still do!). And the flat bar was just fine over all types of terrain. Just because it isn't noted as a "gravel" bike (the term didn't exist when I started riding) doesn't mean it can't work on gravel.

veganbikes

Ti doesn't chip, it is super durable and reliable and plus if you get a scratch you can just use a brillo type pad and remove it pretty easily. I got a ti mountain bike because it is going to be much easier to clean, and won't have to worry so much about rust or paint issues (as this frame is unpainted and Ti doesn't rust) However good quality ti tends to be a bit more expensive then you can get good quality steel but it is a really excellent ride quality, not super heavy generally and looks cool.