Vintage Gravel Grinders
05-20-19, 06:34 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 25
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Vintage Gravel Grinders
I have been thinking about building a vintage gravel grinder from an old touring or old school mountain bike. If you've built one please share some pics. I need some inspiration!
Likes For HTupolev:
05-20-19, 06:49 PM
#3
Pedalin' Erry Day
Okay.
(pics link to larger versions)
Third pic isn't on gravel, but it's a bike I routinely use on fire roads. Frankly I'm not a fan of a the term "gravel bike" since I think it can be fairly applied to any bike ridden on gravel, and in my opinion all it takes is a set of sufficiently wide tires to turn almost any road bike into one that's fun to ride on gravel.
(pics link to larger versions)
Third pic isn't on gravel, but it's a bike I routinely use on fire roads. Frankly I'm not a fan of a the term "gravel bike" since I think it can be fairly applied to any bike ridden on gravel, and in my opinion all it takes is a set of sufficiently wide tires to turn almost any road bike into one that's fun to ride on gravel.
05-20-19, 06:54 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,047
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3011 Post(s)
Liked 3,786 Times
in
1,405 Posts
Likes For iab:
05-20-19, 06:57 PM
#7
Sempiternal Newb
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 637
Bikes: '92 Trek 750, '85 Univega Gran Turismo, '95 Stumpjumper,
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 232 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
11 Posts
05-20-19, 07:01 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,047
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3011 Post(s)
Liked 3,786 Times
in
1,405 Posts
A fine tire. 50 up front, 55 in the back. Great for the fire roads around the cabin.
05-20-19, 07:03 PM
#9
Senior Member
It's a 1984 Stumpjumper. The tires are 26ers, just like the bike had originally. Switching to 650b would have reduced my tire clearance, and made brake setup more challenging (the posts for mounting the brake arms are positioned with 26er wheels in mind).
Likes For BoozyMcliverRot:
05-21-19, 03:04 AM
#12
shaken, not stirred.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Shaky Isles.
Posts: 5,248
Bikes: I've lost count.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1412 Post(s)
Liked 968 Times
in
388 Posts
Mid 80s Diamond Back Ascent on the Central Otago Rail Trail.
c1915 single speed on the gravel road at Dansey Pass Hotel.
__________________
Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. ~Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
vBulletin: snafu
05-21-19, 07:33 AM
#13
Death fork? Naaaah!!
First-gen hybird (Miyata Triplecross) converted to drops:
Top
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
Likes For top506:
05-21-19, 07:41 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,748 Times
in
937 Posts
I have been thinking about building a vintage gravel grinder from an old touring or old school mountain bike.
And this is the doner bike, supplying me with an eight speed Brifter transmission...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
05-21-19, 08:12 AM
#15
Señor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,921
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Liked 1,089 Times
in
637 Posts
Debating putting mud guards on this
or taking them off of this...
or taking them off of this...
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
05-21-19, 08:59 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,177
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 71 Times
in
51 Posts
LOTS of bikes will work for gravel--if you want to specifically look for an older mountain bike, Diamondbacks used to feel quicker and roadie-er than their 1980's contemporaries. Look for the Ridge Runner/Mean Streak models. Pre-suspension mountain bikes also sell for peanuts on Craigslist and the like, some crazy deals on those available.
05-21-19, 09:41 AM
#17
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,605
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,473 Times
in
4,181 Posts
Early 90s hybrids are a great place to start. They have modern spacing, the 3x7 gearing is good for gravel climbs as is, and there is a ton of space for wider tires.
I think that in general, early hybrids are better due to the geometry when compared to MTBs. That is just in general though.
This was my first gravel bike- a Univega Via Activa that was too small for me, but I made it work for a couple years to make sure I understood what I liked and what I didnt like to ensure my proper gravel build would meet all my wants.
Ended up selling the frame and some components on this site, and donated the rest. All told- out about $100 for a couple years of riding and some learning.
My brother in law built his up from a Trek 750 frame. This is a pic from when it was being built.
I think that in general, early hybrids are better due to the geometry when compared to MTBs. That is just in general though.
This was my first gravel bike- a Univega Via Activa that was too small for me, but I made it work for a couple years to make sure I understood what I liked and what I didnt like to ensure my proper gravel build would meet all my wants.
Ended up selling the frame and some components on this site, and donated the rest. All told- out about $100 for a couple years of riding and some learning.
My brother in law built his up from a Trek 750 frame. This is a pic from when it was being built.
05-21-19, 11:10 AM
#18
my name is Jim
Early 70s Melton frame with various vintage and retro components.
__________________
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso
05-21-19, 11:15 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,433
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
1993 Bridgestone XO 2
Maybe too recent to be "vintage" but this was one of best designs, I think, for a gravel bike before gravel bikes became a "thing." It has road geometry and 26 inch wheels as in the 90's fat tires were 26 inch not 700c and 650b was not widely available. This bike rocks 26 x 1.75 tires comfortably with lots of room for fenders.
05-21-19, 08:21 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,146
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3803 Post(s)
Liked 6,639 Times
in
2,602 Posts
05-21-19, 08:39 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,644
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1604 Post(s)
Liked 2,569 Times
in
1,217 Posts
Not ready yet, but getting a Miyata 618gt in shape. Wish it had a little more room on the front fork.
05-28-19, 06:11 PM
#22
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: North East Ohio
Posts: 56
Bikes: 1977 Trek Tx700, 1978 Trek 510, 1969 Raleigh Competition, 1985 Univega Viva Sport, 1991 Bridgestone RB-1, 1986 Schwinn Voyageur, 1987 Bianchi Limited, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 2019 Surly Karate Monkey
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times
in
16 Posts
I have a '73 Raleigh Record that rides amazingly. Of all the bikes I have this rides the best and is by far the lowest quality. I've even thought about bringing it to a frame builder to create the same geometry but with modern spacing and modern threads. This was my first experience with the Raleigh threads on lower quality older bikes.
I shoved 700c x 42mm tires in. I actually built the bike up around the tires. The local co-op had a pile of these tires donated. If I were to buy a different size I'd go down a size. I think part of the success with the tire clearance was the original 27" wheels. I also dimpled the seat stays to allow for a touch more clearance.
I shoved 700c x 42mm tires in. I actually built the bike up around the tires. The local co-op had a pile of these tires donated. If I were to buy a different size I'd go down a size. I think part of the success with the tire clearance was the original 27" wheels. I also dimpled the seat stays to allow for a touch more clearance.
05-28-19, 07:11 PM
#23
Senior Member
My 94 Trek 520 was as someone else said pretty mountain bikey for a touring bike, it would have been a fantastic gravel grinder had I kept it... I sorta have sellers remorse now the more I think of it. I should have kept that bike and sold some other stuff. I guess I will have to find another early 90's 520 ... Oh boy..
05-28-19, 07:44 PM
#24
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,844
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2296 Post(s)
Liked 2,046 Times
in
1,253 Posts
'84/85 Norco's. Upgraded lot's, kept original parts.
05-28-19, 10:40 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,249
Bikes: 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Peugeot PR10, 2002 Specialized Allez, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2013 Culprit Croz Blade
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 818 Times
in
421 Posts
I built this '73 Raleigh Super Course from a found bare frame after walking several previous Eroica hills on my '64 Legnano with classic old school Campy gearing. It has a Sugino AT triple, 32/40/50t, and 34t Megarange freewheel. Fun bike. As a tune-up for Eroica I joined a 44 mile club ride over Sulpher Mtn in the hills above Ojai, CA. There were about 14 miles of gravel fire road. Everybody else showed up with either mtn bikes, or hybrid gravel grinders. With a set of Pasela 28s, the old Super Course was first over the hill, ridden by a rider that is decidedly "over the hill". I guess you could say the Super Course is my gravel grinder now. I took it on last year's Eroica, and still walked three hills.
Ist ever bike build, after lurking on BF, it all works great!
My fat self on the left.
The burned hills of Ojai from the bars.
Who needs fat tires?
Ist ever bike build, after lurking on BF, it all works great!
My fat self on the left.
The burned hills of Ojai from the bars.
Who needs fat tires?
