Originally Posted by
bikemig
I like this bike because it is one of the very first 29ers and today is closer to what we would think of as a gravel bike. There are three interesting bikes that are early examples of innovating away from the mountain bike towards something closer to what today are gravel bikes: (1) the Bianchi project; (2) Bridgestone XO series (not all of them but the ones with road frame geometry and 26 inch wheels); and (3) the GT Tachyon (with the weird 700D wheels). I have an XO bike and I'd pick up a Bianchi project or even the GT Tachyon if I ever saw one locally:
https://www.bikehugger.com/posts/the...at-wasnt-700d/
Don’t overlook the Volpe. Whilst not strictly a cross or gravel bike it’s original “do all” approach to cycling meant that it would be equally at home on the roads for exercise, commuting, Randonneurering or taking a short cut down a gravel road or rail trail.
Sadly mine has never seen gravel but is a fabulous comfy ride.
The same with my little Project 3, it’s seen little mountain bike time, but is a real terror on the rail trails. Surprisingly these ancient Avocet FasGrip tires do a pretty good job for “all arounding”
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk