MTB Gravel Bike Conversions

I posted this a few times in the Hardtail Thread, but I guess it fits here too. A Stooge Scrambler 20" frame with drop bars. I think the Scrambler would be too small for me with flat bars (lanky 6'2") but it fits very well with drops.

It has a very short, upright stem right now (60mm Analog Gnomehopper), that's mainly because I wanted to try the Analog Cycles upright posture drop-bar Kool-Aid. The build was heavily inspired by the Tanglefoot Moonshiner. It's great for general-purpose dicking around in the woods, which is exactly what I wanted. Tame singletrack is a little spicier, and with enough precision and patience you can ride pretty much anything on it. Still working on jumps/drops with drop bars, that feels very weird, but I think I just need more practice.

I have 2.35 Mezcals on her now, but when I move back to the States and sandier climes then I'll probably swap the front to something bigger. A 2.6" at least or maybe up to a 3.25".

I'm taking her to a couple events around Europe this summer - Grinduro Germany in May, the Salzkammergut Trophy Gravel in July, and the North Wales 400 in August, so I'll really put her through her paces then.

Posted by: TristanC

the Salzkammergut Trophy Gravel in July

Ha, this is now a gravel event? I did the B course (110 km I think) ~15 years ago, back then it was called XC marathon but of all the marathon races I did in the alps this one was probably the closest to what is now called gravel so it makes sense.

Bike looks great!

Does sticking dropbars on a Kona Unit count as a "conversion" ? I've seen some pretty lovely examples, but they all seem to have the bars really low, which does add to aesthetic but feels like it may be painful

Posted by: [email protected]

Posted by: TristanC

the Salzkammergut Trophy Gravel in July

Ha, this is now a gravel event? I did the B course (110 km I think) ~15 years ago, back then it was called XC marathon but of all the marathon races I did in the alps this one was probably the closest to what is now called gravel so it makes sense.

Bike looks great!

It's still a MTB event, but they added a few more courses, including an only-gravel one. I was signed up for the A course, but then I read the (extensive) rules and found out drop bars aren't permitted :(

The "gravel" course is pretty much the same as the C course.

As I was riding through snow (especially snow with a layer of water on top a la freshly zamboni'd ice rink) I thought to myself, thank god for these wide riser bars.  I would probably be sporting a broken collarbone if I had been on drop bars.  That said still drop bar curious for my mtb to gravel/city/commuter conversion.

The Krampus Gravel bike AKA - Kravel.

Nice, Marty!

The plastic bag stuffed under the saddle is for when it rains and the saddle gets wet... or??

Posted by: [email protected]

Nice, Marty!

The plastic bag stuffed under the saddle is for when it rains and the saddle gets wet... or??

Exactly.  It's when I lock it up so the saddle stays dry.

Posted by: fartymarty

The Krampus Gravel bike AKA - Kravel.

Does the odd brifter routing with the shifter cable out of the side bother you? I've got 2 bikes with Microshift brifters, and I alternate between "whatever, it's a cable," and "WHY ISN'T IT UNDER THE TAPE."

Posted by: TristanC

Posted by: fartymarty

The Krampus Gravel bike AKA - Kravel.

Does the odd brifter routing with the shifter cable out of the side bother you? I've got 2 bikes with Microshift brifters, and I alternate between "whatever, it's a cable," and "WHY ISN'T IT UNDER THE TAPE."

I get what you mean about the cable but I went cheap so I'm cool with the compromise.  You're right though it would be a ton nicer under the bar tape but then I would have to run an empty outer on the left so they feel the same.

I've built up a 2019 Kona HonzoST into a rigid gravelpackingX bike.

edit: I can't seem to post pics. I have posted pictures in the past over the years. Not sure what the issue is this time around.

I seem to have figured out how to post pictures again!

2019 Kona HonzoST XL

RSD Boost 510 fork

Carbon knockoff Corner Bar 640mm

Tektro Orion knockoff 4 pot brakes with 180mm rotors F/R

I fully bought into bikepacking and got all the stuff!

Very nice!!

Looks well fast.

I bet the bars weigh a whole lot less than the Surly equivalents.