New posts

MTB Gravel Bike Conversions

Sept. 22, 2024, 9:44 a.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Welly is such a lovely city when the sun is out.  Better than that monstrosity in the north where I grew up.

Can't wait to see the 9er with some drop bars - I reckon it will look the nuts.

Sept. 22, 2024, 7:05 p.m.
Posts: 781
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: fartymarty

Welly is such a lovely city when the sun is out.  Better than that monstrosity in the north where I grew up.

Can't wait to see the 9er with some drop bars - I reckon it will look the nuts.

Funnily enough I ran into a touring focused buddy on the way home. He's got a wide, flared drop bar I can borrow for experiments.

Sept. 26, 2024, 8:41 a.m.
Posts: 198
Joined: Nov. 20, 2020

Some good news for conversions, seems Shimano is releasing drop bar hydraulic brifters for CUES next year. Should make swapping between flat bars and drop bars more accessible with a good-enough groupset. I'll probably swap over once they're available, I would love hydro brakes without going GRX.

Oct. 16, 2024, 12:10 p.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Latest incarnation of the Krampus gravel bike. I've ditched the -2 headset so the HA is now back to a stock 69.5 degrees which I quite like even with the 31mm stem.

I've been riding it a lot recently and really enjoying it.

Edit - geo wise it is feeling really good.  If I could only extend the HT down (with shorter A/C fork) and flatten the TT I reckon I would be onto a winner.  Until then I will keep riding it and look out for a frame with similar geo to what i'm after.


 Last edited by: fartymarty on Oct. 17, 2024, 1:15 a.m., edited 2 times in total.
Oct. 21, 2024, 5:59 p.m.
Posts: 781
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Some bodging to mount a shifter to my curly bar experiment. 

A test ride to tweak bar and hood positions 

A happy machine. 

I borrowed the bar to see if I want one. I'm feeling it, time to commit. Then I'll have to figure out a better shifter setup and make sure I have space for a dropper lever. 

Yay lego!

Oct. 21, 2024, 10:50 p.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Once you go drops.... they're just so much faster and more hand positions.

What brakes are you running? I rate my GRX 10 speed shifters if you can find a used set.


 Last edited by: fartymarty on Oct. 21, 2024, 11:36 p.m., edited 1 time in total.
Oct. 22, 2024, 5:11 p.m.
Posts: 781
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: fartymarty

Once you go drops.... they're just so much faster and more hand positions.

What brakes are you running? I rate my GRX 10 speed shifters if you can find a used set.

TRP Hylex, I think they're (one of) the only brake-only hydro levers. 

Means I'll continue bodging a mtb shifter on there, but I'm happy with that.

Oct. 22, 2024, 11:22 p.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Posted by: velocipedestrian

Posted by: fartymarty

Once you go drops.... they're just so much faster and more hand positions.

What brakes are you running? I rate my GRX 10 speed shifters if you can find a used set.

TRP Hylex, I think they're (one of) the only brake-only hydro levers. 

Means I'll continue bodging a mtb shifter on there, but I'm happy with that.

A bar end shifter or DT shifter would be sweet

Oct. 29, 2024, 2:47 a.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Velo - hows the Drop9er treating you?

Oct. 29, 2024, 11:52 a.m.
Posts: 2698
Joined: April 2, 2005

Posted by: fartymarty

Posted by: velocipedestrian

Posted by: fartymarty

Once you go drops.... they're just so much faster and more hand positions.

What brakes are you running? I rate my GRX 10 speed shifters if you can find a used set.

TRP Hylex, I think they're (one of) the only brake-only hydro levers. 

Means I'll continue bodging a mtb shifter on there, but I'm happy with that.

A bar end shifter or DT shifter would be sweet

just di2 them

Nov. 15, 2024, 10:31 a.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Velo - How's the Grav9er treating you?

Nov. 16, 2024, 9:22 p.m.
Posts: 781
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: fartymarty

Velo - How's the Grav9er treating you?

It's a winner. I took it on a scouting expedition after getting a hint of where some pirate trails might be... It was the perfect tool - covered lots of distance and surfaces, but prevented me from dropping into the things I found.

Seal, gravel, singletrack, some roots and pine needles... Good times.

Even took it for a lap of the pump track on the way past, would have liked a dropper for that.


 Last edited by: velocipedestrian on Nov. 16, 2024, 9:24 p.m., edited 1 time in total.
Nov. 18, 2024, 3:24 a.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

Looking good - I'm liking the front rack - very Rando.  I need to get one for my Krampus - mainly to carry my lock but i'm sure it would be useful for other things as well.

I also love the fact you can cover a lot more ground than a mtb yet still take in easier trails.

Nov. 18, 2024, 5:15 p.m.
Posts: 781
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

The rack is super useful. I have a set of bigger panniers I can load up with ~25kg of supermarket shopping, or just a tiny dry bag etc on top. 

I also have a Freeload / Thule rack for the rear which mounts with straps. I've used it for overnights and it's bomber. 

Truly the ATB option.

Nov. 18, 2024, 10:18 p.m.
Posts: 1290
Joined: Aug. 13, 2017

What rack is it?

Forum jump: