Mountain to gravel conversion
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Mountain to gravel conversion
I was just handed a project and thought I'd get some feedback-I was given this old Ultimax Snipe mountain bike (look it up!) with the request to try and convert it into a gravel bike. Not sure how this might be achieved, or if it can only be done partially, but it might be something to attempt, thoughts on a fairly inexpensive route to go with this? I do know it had some work done last summer with replacing the chain and cassettes and hasn't been used much since.
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I was just handed a project and thought I'd get some feedback-I was given this old Ultimax Snipe mountain bike (look it up!) with the request to try and convert it into a gravel bike. Not sure how this might be achieved, or if it can only be done partially, but it might be something to attempt, thoughts on a fairly inexpensive route to go with this? I do know it had some work done last summer with replacing the chain and cassettes and hasn't been used much since.
If it's an old rigid mtb I've done a similar conversion. If so I'll post a link when I get home this evening.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 05-17-21 at 03:52 PM.
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I was also unable to pull an image of your bike but these are items i would recommend for anyone doing this --- Most mountain bikes have longer top tubes than road bikes, so attempts to do drop bar conversions are not satisfying to me aesthetically in most cases --- because they were not designed to use drop bars -- to get a workable position, people typically use stems that are really tall and really short, so it looks cludged up (my opinion of course )
And i like bikes that are aesthetically pleasing most of the time -- although some modern bikes are not -- (Salsa Cutthroat is an example of an odd looking bike, but its cool in a monster truck sort of way)
So here are some items to consider -- tires can make or break it. Rene Herse makes some serious gravel 26" tires , as well bars like the Jones H bar (there are a handful of competitors making similar bars as well ) retain your MTB position, but give options to stretch out -- you would need a stem adapter and a shorty 31.9 stem as the 135mm stems common on a lot of old MTB's is too long for this setup
But thats really it ----- good tires and a good cockpit and youre set
26″ x 1.8″ Naches Pass TC Tire – Rene Herse Cycles
Store - H-Bars - Page 1 - Jones Bikes
And i like bikes that are aesthetically pleasing most of the time -- although some modern bikes are not -- (Salsa Cutthroat is an example of an odd looking bike, but its cool in a monster truck sort of way)
So here are some items to consider -- tires can make or break it. Rene Herse makes some serious gravel 26" tires , as well bars like the Jones H bar (there are a handful of competitors making similar bars as well ) retain your MTB position, but give options to stretch out -- you would need a stem adapter and a shorty 31.9 stem as the 135mm stems common on a lot of old MTB's is too long for this setup
But thats really it ----- good tires and a good cockpit and youre set
26″ x 1.8″ Naches Pass TC Tire – Rene Herse Cycles
Store - H-Bars - Page 1 - Jones Bikes
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Ah yep rigid 26'r
As promised here's my thread on converting one to a gravel bike: https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...e-i-could.html
Tldr, bullet form:
Fun bike. Fast.
Since then I've reworked it into a commuter and then again into a loaded touring bike: https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/1...onversion.html
The phases of a bike:
As promised here's my thread on converting one to a gravel bike: https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...e-i-could.html
Tldr, bullet form:
- Took the paint down to bare metal and Gun Blued the frame. Added faux faded graphics. Top coated with clear enamel.
- Went 1x with a wide ratio rear cassette. Added a granny bailout ring up front I could put the chain on manually if I encountered a big hill.
- Ground the big chain ring down to a bash guard.
- Added thin gravel tires 1.75 Panaracer Pasela's.
- Added a flipped North Roads bar to get a more road like stance.
Fun bike. Fast.
Since then I've reworked it into a commuter and then again into a loaded touring bike: https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/1...onversion.html
The phases of a bike:
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Step 1: Ride your mountain bike on gravel
fin
fin
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There's a long running thread in the Classic & Vintage subforum about turning old mountain bikes like this into drop bar bikes.
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Just put some different (faster) tires on it.
Maybe a different bar (or ends) if you find it uncomfortable on longer rides.
If the gearing ends up too low, maybe a crankset with bigger rings, or replace the rings you have. But I would only bother with this if you are spinning out in your highest gear.
Maybe a different bar (or ends) if you find it uncomfortable on longer rides.
If the gearing ends up too low, maybe a crankset with bigger rings, or replace the rings you have. But I would only bother with this if you are spinning out in your highest gear.
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SalsaShark pretty much sums it up in post 7. There is no need to overthink this.
That said if you want to make a 26 inch rigid MTB a bit better for gravel, run different tires and find handlebars that give you more hand positions. Trekking bars like I have on my '92 Trek 950 are easy to install as the old levers and shifters will fit. It gives you a lot of hand positions. Drop bars can work but this requires changing out brake levers and shifters.
1992 Trek 950
1992 Specialized Stumpjumper
That said if you want to make a 26 inch rigid MTB a bit better for gravel, run different tires and find handlebars that give you more hand positions. Trekking bars like I have on my '92 Trek 950 are easy to install as the old levers and shifters will fit. It gives you a lot of hand positions. Drop bars can work but this requires changing out brake levers and shifters.
1992 Trek 950
1992 Specialized Stumpjumper