bikebreak

meet my 29er conversion, early 90s multitrack



Tons of fun!

rear tire is kenda honey badger 2.05, actual width is 47-48mm (but it may stretch out...)

fit is very tight, and in middle or big ring the shift cable attachment point rubs the knobs when I corner.


FD is Shimano STX. As you see, the cable attachment arm is bent backwards. I don't know if that is normal, or perhaps I should bend it forwards to give the tire more clearance.

Or if that is normal on the STX, I may put this tire on the front and find a 29x1.9 for the back

LesterOfPuppets

Suntour BL has much better clearance. The BL works great with Sram Attack front shifter, which has 10 positions, dunno how it would work with 3 or 4 position shifters.

Henry III

Hybrids are like a empty canvas of the bicycle word. Not to mention you can pick them pretty darn cheap. I turned a mid 90s Cannondale H400 hybrid into my do all gravel bike. Toss some dropbars onto it and you've got a completely different bike.

NormanF

Early hybrids were disguised touring bikes!

It took awhile to work out the hybrid geometry.

IcySmooth52

I find the new gravel bike design is really a 'racey' hybrid. Look at where it's meant to go? And what are many hybrids ideal on?

(I also think gravel bikes are enduro versions of cyclocross.)

Pompiere

I have one. A 1992 Performance Parabola touring bike with 135mm hybrid wheels, and hybrid derailleurs. Even the drop bars say "hybrid". But it has dual pivot side pull brakes, 170 mm cranks, bar-end shifters, and front & rear threaded rack mounts. It is a bit heavy, but it rides nice, at least unloaded. I would like to try it on a gravel road.

NormanF

By all means, go for it! What is old is new again. The first gravel road bike was designed by Grant Petersen of Rivendell fame, who at the time worked as a brilliant, idiosyncratic designer for Bridgestone - appeared in the form of the XO-1:



At the time, no one knew what this bike could do because it defied all the conventional wisdom about a road bike and was a market flop.

Today its a classic and a highly sought after collectible.

corwin1968

Find the geometry chart for the mid-90's upper level Trek Multitracks and then compare it to the Surly Cross Check and the Soma Double Cross. The Treks probably have a little more trail but other than that, they are almost identical, right down to the BB drop.

1995 Trek 730

IcySmooth52

The Cross-Check isn't a gravel bike. "There is no such thing as one bike that can do it all, but the Cross-Check does" is directly from the Surly website describing the Cross-Check. It can be set up to do what a gravel bike does, but it's more a touring bike.

Compare the geometry you pointed out to modern gravel bikes like the GT Grade, Raleigh Tarmac, Felt V, Giant Revolt, etc... Gravel bikes. Longer chainstay, greater BB drop, more upright (stack/reach).

corwin1968

My post was more in the spirit of "hybrids are also very similar to a couple of very popular so-called cyclo-cross/all-rounder bikes" in order to point out their versatility, although I didn't specify that. I'm just a big fan of the Trek Multitracks and praise them every chance I get.

Ludeykrus

Very cool, glad to see another! I also recently started slowly building up my '95 Trek 750. Making a touring/gravel ride out of it, I always loved their geometry.

Just from looking at a picture of my bike on my phone, it does look like the back-bent FD arm is normal.

GravelMN

My "Mutt" is a 1993 Trek 720 and I've used it for lots of mixed surface riding. I've got Schwalbe Smart Sams in 700 x 40mm on A719 rims which gives me just enough clearance with trail type fenders. Great bike for gravel and reasonably solid double and single track. I wish I could find a higher end frame of the same era, but it appears the 700 and 720 were by far the most popular in this area. I rarely see a 730 and not in my size (21") so far.

Ludeykrus

Keep an eye out, I've seen a few 730s pop up on the local Craigslist. I got started biking by fixing up a 730 and using it for mountain biking and commuting. Gave it to my mom since the frame was far too small.

bikebreak

My poor man's niner Multitrack - now with kenda honey badger 2.05 moved to front, as you can see, clearance is tight
back tire is a vee 1.9", plenty of clearance

yeah, bike needs a bath after I rode it in the mud

andrepinnola

...Hi! I saw your 29" conversion and would like to do the same with my 750 Multi-track. I found Small Block Eight Kenda 29x1.9, (700x48), I think It's gonna be fine and not too tight. Is you frame 17"? Thanks

ksryder

OP was 3 years ago so he might not answer you. My experience with the Trek 750 is that I think 47 or 48mm will be the max.

I'm curious as to why the OP said this was a conversion -- the bike came stock with 700c wheels, which is the same thing as a 29er. That's like saying New York, New York.

andrepinnola

Thanks! I thought It may happen because of the long time of this quote. I'm really curious about the 700x48 Kenda Small Block Eight in the 750 wheels. In fact It's not a conversion.

Metieval

I heard the Maxxis Rambler is coming in a 700x45. so there is that option also. will you notices a 3mm difference?

StarBiker

He just wanted to be a part of it.

andrepinnola

I could only find 700x40, even at Maxxis website. The 700x40 is enough, I think, but It's too expensive in Brazil. We have very unfair taxes to import bike tires. Thanks!

Metieval

https://bikerumor.com/2018/09/19/max...igger-rambler/