Project: HT > Gravel - why not!
We will end this week with just such a project. We've just handed over the ‘conversion’ of a top-of-the-range hardtail bike into a gravel bike.
Why?
Well, because the owner found himself riding less and less of the so-called “real XCO”, plus for the so-called “real XCO” the full-suspension bike is actually much more suitable. We agree that the classic hard-tail MTB is slowly fading into oblivion, as XCO trails are demanding and for lighter XC trails there are separate semi-FS bikes, such as Epic's World Cup version.
So a new idea and a new life had to be found for what was in itself a very good bike. A new lease of life.
How?
In fact, it's not just a matter of putting on the “ram's horns” and calling it a day. The main problem with turning a classic MTB into a gravel bike is that the frame is too long. In addition, perhaps, to low handlebars. After all, the geometry of a gravel (or road) bike is completely different. The top tube is shorter, we stick mainly to the links. So we installed a lens with a small “rack” + a shorter stem. The original brakes were connected to the new Sram links we ordered. The links are mated to the original shifter. We turned the saddle post around bringing the saddle slightly forward. This also carries another benefit in making the cranking position (leg angle) a gram more aggressive. Amort stayed down, of course. This is a top class lightweight shock. Dimensionally it became almost identical to the owner's other road bikes.
N.B. Underneath were the superhead 50mm wide new top of the range gravel tyres (tubeless of course) Tracer TLRs.
So in summary: HT > Gravel - why not!
We wish you a light and fast ride!
