rustystrings61 

I just realized I haven't posted this bike to this thread! 1973 Raleigh Competition Mk. II running 44/42T chainrings with a 17/19T Surly Dingle for a 70-in fixed gear for pavement and a 60-in fixed gear for gravel. Since this photo was taken I've acquired a 20/22T White Industries Dos Eno freewheel for the other side of the Surly hub, so I now also have a 60-in freewheeling gear for general roads and a 52-in in case I feel brave enough to attempt single-track. Lots of clearance for bigger tires, and I could easily run fenders with the depicted 35 mm Continental Cyclocross Speed tires.



Though in truth, I've done a lot more gravel miles on this Mercian Vincitore fixed-gear with 28 mm tires. I got pretty good at flipping the rear wheel around from the 42x16/70-in side to the 42x18/63-in gear.

Scrapegote

I just finished my 1991 Stump Gravel Project (Gandalf). I love this bike, it was my first MTB. A lot of love went into this bike/build. I am too new here to post pics or links, but I uploaded a few professional shots to my profile.

eom 

Assist.

Korina

Nice build. Want to tell us about it? Five posts per day, 10 posts total, and you're in!

Scrapegote

Thanks eom.

Scrapegote

Sure thing ...
The why: a 94 stumpy was my first real mountain bike, I had it when I was in the service (on a ship in the Navy), and just loved taking it out in ports and roaming around. I recently fell in love with long gravel rides and bikepacking in general, and just wanted to turn an old stumpy into a gravel bike. I also love the way these things climb. This frame was on Ebay, in pretty good shape. I had replica decals made, and had it repainted with a clear coat over the decals. I named it Gandalf (the grey), cheesy I know, and had a custom Gandalf badge made that turned out amazing. Other build stuff ...

• FRAME/FORK 1991 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp 20", Direct Drive Tange Prestige
• RIMS Velocity Cliffhanger Black 32H 27.5"
• HUBS (Front) SRAM 900 15/12/QR x 100mm, 32H, (Rear) SRAM 900 32H, 6 Bolt Disc XDR 11/12 27.8mm Driver
• TIRES Ultradynamico ROSE Race 650b
• HANDLEBARS Salsa Cowchipper
• HEADSET Ritchey Logic Comp 1-1/8" threadless, 30mm spacers. Black
• CRANKSET SRAM GX 175mm Boost
• CASSETTE SRAM XG-1275 GX Eagle Cassette 10-52t 12-Speed
• REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM SX Eagle Rear Derailleur - 12 Speed, Long Cage
• BRAKES BR-T4000 V-Brakes
• SHIFTER Gevenalle 1x12 GX Compatible Long Pull
• SADDLE Brooks Saddles Men's Imperial B17 Standard Bike Saddle, Antique Brown
• SEATPOST Post Modern
• STEM Black TIG 10Deg Alloy Wedge
• PEDALS RaceFace Chester
• FRONT BAGS Roadrunner Middle Earth Jammer
• REAR BAGS Roadrunner Drafter
• OTHER ACCESSORIES Blackburn Outpost Cargo Cage, 15" Voile Straps

I should also mention that my local bikeshop in Colorado did the bulk of the difficult work, and was responsible for finding components that work, and build the bulk of the bike.

Korina

Nice. When you look around a bit you'll see that we already understand the "why". I love your Gandalf headbadge! It gives me ideas...

My LBS built my RockHopper for me. Looks like yours did an excellent job. I look forward to your ride reports.

PS Where are you? I promise no one here will stalk you.

Scrapegote

I live in Colorado Springs, but get to travel, at least within the states somewhat regularly for work/school.

mountaindave 

One good Stumpy deserves another!




My ‘84 Stumpjumper Sport. About the only thing I did to it was swap out the rear solid axle for a quick release axle and add VO fenders. I absolutely love this bike on gravel, even though it’s not a drop bar conversion. The Bullmoose bars are rad!

It’s hard to tell in the photo, but it had poured rain before we started a 49-mile gravel ride and it briefly rained a couple more times before we finished. (Makes for great flowers!) I was able to ride directly to a friend’s house and sit down for dinner after only washing my hands. My friends had to do a complete clothing swap just to get back in their truck. I love fenders, too!

I know it’s cliché to say that modern gravel bikes are just 80’s/90’s drop bar mountain bikes, but they do make good conversions - like this 1984 Peugeot Urban Express (not quite finished yet - it needs racks and fenders).

fvernon

Here are two of my favs:

A 1989 Stumpjumper Comp with WTB BB1 dirt drops:


And a 1998, just-before-Ross-left Salsa La Cruz:

lonesomesteve

I think there are 2 or 3 other "vintage gravel grinder" threads around here in which I've already shared pictures of this bike, but I don't seem to have yet posted my '82 Trek 710 on this thread. So, here you go. Always happy to have an excuse to show off a bike of mine.

I brazed on cantilever posts and a few other odds and ends, and dimpled the chainstays to make room for wider rubber. The wheels are 650b and the tires are 42mm RH Pumpkin Ridge. This bike is a lot of fun!

DorkDisk

Slightly newer, a '96 trek 750

smontanaro 

Not mine (my son's) and I'm not sure it really qualifies as a gravel rig, but I have Jake's Raleigh Competition back at my place to give him a bit better shot at the forest trails and hills in his neck of the woods. Changes: chunkier tires (Gravelkings vs Gatorskins), wider range rear derailleur (Cyclone GT vs Cyclone), IRD freewheel gives a little lower low, replaced the chain and broken Power Shifters.

mhespenheide 

I love that thing every time I see it. You've inspired me to look for my own possible Trek (or other) vintage frame to similarly convert. I might have to ask for your help, if you're willing, since I'm also in the Seattle area...

Scrapegote

Love the bike Mattface. I'm wondering now if the Rene Herse Cantilever rack would work on my v-brakes ...

Scrapegote

Lonesomesteve ... that is a CLEAN looking Trek. Curious about the pump/mount.

lonesomesteve

Thanks! For the pump mount I just brazed on one of these guys purchased from Framebuilder Supply:


The bottom of the pump fits nicely against the "armpit" of the rear dropout.

Thanks! Take a swig, the Kool-Aid tastes great.

lonesomesteve

I should also mention that in my opinion there are some good reasons for carrying the pump on the NDS seat stay. First of all, I'm not a fan of mini pumps, especially when you have tires with some real volume to fill. So for me it has to be a full frame pump. Second, for long distance riding I need two water bottles, so mounting on the seat tube won't do. And third, on a gravel bike, I want to be able to easily shoulder the bike for short hike-a-bike sections and stream crossings, so that rules out under the top tube. I've seen similar pump pegs mounted on the back of the seat tube, but on a fenderless bike ridden in the mud, that makes a mess of your pump.

ehcoplex 

I don't know if my PX-10 strictly qualifies as a 'gravel grinder', but it is vintage and it does see a lot of gravel....


Was really nice this AM when the above seasonal road opened up to the vista below (though the road surface actually got worse...!)-

yangmusa

Gorgeous bike! Looks like some fairly wide tires - what are they, and how wide?

ehcoplex 

Grand Bois Hetres- 42c. It's a little bit tight at the chain stays- if I cut the fender rather than dimpled it, it'd be a little less tight. Have to have the wheel all the way back in the drop-outs, and deflate to get the wheel on/off, but I'm willing to 'pay the price' for the sake of a very nice ride on any surface! When the Hetres wear out I'll go with Rene Herse Babyshoe Pass tires and expect the ride with be even nicer (I've got RH 38c tires on another bike, and they feel more comfortable than the Hetres).

yangmusa

So you did a 650b conversion, cool. It looks like centerpull brakes still - are they the originals, and did you have any issues with reach?

ehcoplex 

Yes, 650b conversion. The original Mafac Racers don't have the reach, so I've got Mafac Raids on there. Weinmann Vainqueur 750s would work, too (what I'm using for the Holdsworth conversion I'm working on now).

motochick 

This very special bike, 1996 Torelli CX, came from the estate of a man who had many high end vintage bikes, this is one of two I own. This one was found as a frame/fork with the wheel set (also Torelli) sitting nearby. The guy who got the bikes after his death built this up from as many parts as he could from the pile and added anything missing from his own parts stash. It is made of Columbus Brain tubing, the forks are Oria. There were less than 100 of these made. It is an amazing ride!




1996 Torelli Cyclocross bike, Columbus Brain, Oria fork

Less than 100 made

JaccoW

Not exactly vintage (or cheap) but what do you thinkg of the new Shimano GRX LE groupset? 11-speed road pull and unfortunately only for hydraulic brakes as far as I can tell. But is has been a while since silver components were a thing.
Those derailleurs and crankset look like they would look great on some vintage rides.

Shame they are only available as a complete groupset.