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Vintage gravel bike conversion

Old 04-29-21, 02:44 PM
  #1  
mharter
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Vintage gravel bike conversion

I rode my old 3 speed on a gravel path and now it's a gravel bike. Is there any way to convert it back?

Thanks!
Matt
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Old 04-29-21, 02:55 PM
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Have you tried riding it on the road again?
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Old 04-29-21, 03:46 PM
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if you use the kickstand a couple of times, and put something back into the wicker basket up front, it should remember it's a 3-speed.
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Old 04-29-21, 04:47 PM
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Old 04-29-21, 05:11 PM
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No. Sorry Matt. It's permanent. The only option now is to buy another bike for non-gravel use.
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Old 04-29-21, 06:04 PM
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You tried that without disc brakes? R U insane?
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Old 04-29-21, 06:23 PM
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Once you go gravel, all else unravels.
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Old 04-29-21, 07:24 PM
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Schrodinger's 3 Speed

As there are no pics.
It didn't happen.
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Old 04-29-21, 07:25 PM
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Just be sure to press the gravel/not gravel button.
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Old 04-29-21, 09:20 PM
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The surface selection is automatic. Ride it on gravel and it's a gravel bike. Ride it on pavement and it's a road-ish bike. Ride it in the mountains and it's...still a 3-speed.
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Old 04-29-21, 10:34 PM
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it's a 1x. it's destiny was always a gravel bike!
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Old 04-30-21, 12:20 AM
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I've jumped a few curbs with my 1951 Raleigh Sports.

It's a BMX bike.

-Kurt
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Old 04-30-21, 01:21 AM
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my 3spd got stolen years ago. it's just a byecycle, though

Last edited by thook; 04-30-21 at 01:26 AM.
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Old 04-30-21, 01:43 AM
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Originally Posted by niliraga
if you use the kickstand a couple of times, and put something back into the wicker basket up front, it should remember it's a 3-speed.
Then it becomes a city bike...
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Old 04-30-21, 02:52 AM
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Originally Posted by mharter
I rode my old 3 speed on a gravel path and now it's a gravel bike. Is there any way to convert it back?

Thanks!
Matt
The best post of the week winner! I have been mocking the young guys over here in Sweden in the same manner but using an old French touring bike...
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Old 04-30-21, 03:17 AM
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Once the bike gobbles gravel it will grumble, no matter how much you grovel, it will still want to remain a gravel gobbler. There is a trick to pave the way to helping it return to the pavement - patience!-)
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Old 04-30-21, 05:15 AM
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Originally Posted by styggno1
The best post of the week winner! I have been mocking the young guys over here in Sweden in the same manner but using an old French touring bike...
such fun, right? Always a kick to end up at the top of the trails with lugged steel & chrome & general-purpose tires -- the "I just spent a fortune for the gear to ride up here" crowd usually stares in wonderment.
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Old 04-30-21, 06:50 AM
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My 1980 Raleigh Sports has a kickstand.

It kicks me every time I try to stand up.

-Kurt
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Old 04-30-21, 08:35 AM
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So does this sort of work like alchemy? You ride your bike on gravel and the frame automatically morphs from steel into pure carbon fiber then sprouts some hydraulic disc brakes and is now worth $3,000. OH! and don't forget, it will lose a few spokes as well.
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Old 04-30-21, 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by cudak888
My 1980 Raleigh Sports has a kickstand.

It kicks me every time I try to stand up.

-Kurt
well, good thing there's no motor. otherwise, you'd have a kickstart, too! <<har, har>>
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Old 05-01-21, 09:58 AM
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It'll just require a ride in a tweed jacket with elbow patches and wool trousers.
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