MTB Gravel Bike Conversions

Ooh nice one. That's right in my wheelhouse.

Only slightly wierd thing is their disclaimer:

“We designed this bike to be an off-road tourer, not a mountain bike, even though it feels like one and can take some real abuse from the roads and trails. It is not MTB-rated, meaning it’s unsuitable for jumping and dropping, huckin’ and enduroin’, red bull rampagin’, and triple black diamondin’. Keep the rubber side down and you should be a-ok.”

I'll have to do a little more research on that one. I mean I'm not about to take it to the bike park, but I definitely see pressing it into service that borders on "mountain bike", so that requires some introspection. The other oddity is they spec a 32t chainring max. How do you build a bike for 120 travel fork, max 32t chain ring, and then warn people it's not an MTB?

Posted by: BC_Nuggets

Hmm...Bassi Coyote maybe?

Looks like a great bike.  The M compares reasonably with my L Krampus - https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=6230362bbf7be1001f0bcbd3,63fe50dab98492001e1eaa83,

I've been somewhat interested in the Bassi Hogs Back.  Quite different from the Coyote in that it's angles are old school 72 HTA 73 STA and it has QR135 and QR100 drop outs.  But they look beautiful, are well priced and have lots of nubbins to build up as a gravel tourer.  Could probably use a lot of old parts or stuff from my gravelfied old school fisher hardtail.  Kind of a  hipster Surly or even Crust vibe but CANADIAN.

Yeah Canadian Crust is a perfect analogy! They are cool for sure. 

Marty thanks for the BikeInsights link - I've been using geometry geeks for a long time (Had a bigger database of bikes back a few years ago) but BikeInsights seems to have everything now and while I'm sure it's not perfect, the visual overlay is really handy, especially for these Geo's that are more "unfamiliar" to me.

For a lot of weird crossovers and whatnot, the bikepacking.com rig checks are a good spot to seem some esoteric, odd, unique builds. They've got a huge one up now for AMR.

Posted by: cooperquinn

For a lot of weird crossovers and whatnot, the bikepacking.com rig checks are a good spot to seem some esoteric, odd, unique builds. They've got a huge one up now for AMR.

Yes!  I find myself looking at them a lot.  Same with radavist.  Bikes be beautiful.

IDK if anyone cares, but this is my 2008 Kellys Hardtail drop bar mtb/monster gravel build.

IDK if anyone cares, but this is my 2008 Kellys Hardtail drop bar mtb/monster gravel build.

I'd care if I could see it. :)

Kenny, I think my build sounds like what you describe - "a halfway house between the cache and the Tyaughton". 

It's a UK style hardcore hardtail, Stanton specifically, but there are many choices available. I went down a size from my actual hardtail, which has similar geometry. 

I'd prefer the 18" size with a flat/riser bar, but the 16" is good with short drops. 

Stanton Switch9iner geo. 

As you say, cross-compatible with the other bikes - boost, BSA BB, 44mm head tube for anglesets, clearance for 29x2.6. 

It looses traction or tries to send me OTB well before it starts complaining about the treatment it gets. Heavier than a gravel frame, and less frame bag space / bosses, vs more standover and good dropper options.

Velo - drops of flat bars????

Posted by: fartymarty

Velo - drops of flat bars????

Sticking with the drops for the foreseeable.

Do you find you can make the fit work either way? Very cool bike.

I need to try a couple drop bar bike to get a sense for how the fit works, as I currently just have no concept.

My understanding is that drop bars have about 65mm or more of "reach", which I assume is basically added to the stem length, so if you have 65mm reach bars and a 60mm stem, it's like having a 125mm effective stem length (when holding the hoods)? But that sounds terrifying to someone who keeps the effective stem length on his MTBS close to zero, so I assume there's something different about the ergonomics that make it not seem so extreme. But yeah, I don't really "get" it. Maybe it's the narrowness of the bars? But that seems sketchy too. Lol. 

My hope has been to do something similar to what you're saying for sure, basically get an MTB that's a size too small - so flatbars with a long stem would still be doable as well as drops, but I worry that will still be too long in drop configuration.

Kenny - I sent you a WA link to my spreadsheet.  I compare ETT + stem to the current set up on my Krampus which fits*.  I have ignored bar reach but am using Ritchey Corralitos which have a short reach.  Similar on fork A/C, HT and stem spacers which I correct with head angle.

*fits by trial and error and constant tinkering over the 10 years i've had the frame (a frame fitter would probably say otherwise).

Essentially though you need a frame that is a little small to use as a shreddy HT with a shortish stem.  Maybe it's a size down from what you would normally run.  IIRC butt to bar (or saddle nose to bar) is similar (within a cm or two) on all my bikes.