This mountain bike is faster than a gravel bike

Comments · 278

• ER

  @erving-n1ecc230 · 11 months ago

  I do not understand why everyone judges a bike by how fast you can go????? Comfort and enjoyment are more important as we get older!!!!!

  137

• MI

  @michaelholbrook4401 · 10 months ago

  This video is a prime example of what to do if someone want to wind up with an ideal bike but doesn't have the upfront funding to achieve that in a single purchase.  All of these upgrades do not have to be done at the same time.  Find an older used platform, then hit each improvement as funds become available, and eventually have the bike of your dreams.   Biking doesn't have to be expensive.

  79

• CH

  @christopherharmon9336 · 11 months ago

  I have a 1998 Gary Fisher Aquila. I bought this bike new. Several years ago, I had the frame bead blasted and powder coated in a dark sky blue. I replaced the worn 8-speed drivetrain. It now has an Alivio Octalink crank with a 34T Wolf Tooth Components narrow-wide chainring, a SunRace 11-40, 9-speed cassette, an Alivio 9-speed shifter and a Deore XT rear derailleur. I also replaced the wheels and V-brakes. I installed Bontrager 2.0" H2 tires, which are a smooth hybrid/city tire. The bike is faster than I expected. No, it's not as fast as my alloy Synapse, but it's honestly not bad.  I set a personal, second best time on a 6.xx mile section of multi-use path which follows a river (going "downhill," with the water flow). This really shocked me. I wanted try a 1x drivetrain, and while I enjoy the simplicity of a single chainring, the 34T chainring coupled to the 26" tires can make pedaling a bit frantic at times. The 34T chainring allows me to pedal up to 21-22 mph in the top gear. I have to pick a gear and settle into a comfortable cadence and accept what speed I am at going uphill. I'm probably going to install the triple rings on the crank, it will just make this bike work better. I"ve found no matter which bike I'm riding, my Synapse, modern hardtail, or old hardtail, there is generally a 15-20 minute difference in time between the bikes I own over two 32 mile loops I ride from my house. If you're riding solo, it doesn't matter what bike you have.

  13

• JO

  @JogieGlenMait16 · 11 months ago

  Alt bars are underrated. You can run flatbar controls and get the body position of a dropbar.

  33

• GO

  @GoldryBluszco · 11 months ago (edited)

  I work as a bike messenger so our applications are different, but my favourite ATB mod is running 700c wheels. It is possible if you have the clearance with V-brakes and off market pad extenders. It makes the bike feel like nothing else. The elevated bottom bracket is amazing for rolling through snow, dirt, harsh weather conditions and terrain. I find it opens up the cockpit, reach and feel of the bike(I know a lot of folks avoid 26 ATBs because they feel a bit cramped or small for long distance) For a mix of city and offroad the bigger wheels make the bike feel like a monster truck plowing over everything (and FAST) esp with 37-40mm tires depending on your clearance. Highly recommended!! (a lot of people I've let ride my bike hate it though)

  19

• BA

  @banana122049 · 11 months ago

  Funny you made this cause i went through very similar builds through the years with my 90’s mtb. I ended up landing at something so similar to your favorite! Great video.

  15

• MI

  @michaelrowave · 4 months ago

  Looks awesome! I run 29" tires on  a '89 Specialized Crossroads with 1x8 Box drivetrain with 2.4" knobby in front and 2.1" street tire in back. It is fast on gravel and asphalt.  It is the perfect commuter for someone who uses dirt paths over hills.   The brakes are vintage but the drivetrain is all new.  Frame up conversion was under $400 since i used vintage.  Box drivetrains are amazing value.

  1

• CY

  @cycleistic1365 · 3 months ago

  I love vintage MTB/ATB to drop bar conversions, having done few myself. Though if possible I&apos;d recommend ATB over MTB for drop bars if you&apos;re more road or hard pack biased, like I am, because ATBs typically have steeper head tube angle of the two, which makes the steering more compliant for the drop bar use. The MTBs&apos; slacker angle tends to contribute to the wheel flop which may make the steering feel a bit weird, especially if the frame is a tad small for you and you have to add longer stem, since I&apos;ve found that you&apos;re initially better off with having a somewhat wider drop bar than you would put to a road bike to have better leverage over the maneuvering, narrow bars to me at least added too much to the wheel floppiness. Yet there are also factors to compensate the wheel flop issue, like avoiding too slick tires or keep from riding on pavement that much, if possible.<br><br>I typically ride more on the pavement than gravel or off-road with my conversions and prefer fairly slick and lightweight tires for better road performance, but since I also prefer to go gravel or off-road occasionally, the wider 26&quot;x2.0&quot; or 1.75&quot; tires provide adequate grip even when the tires aren&apos;t off-road treaded, but then of course on loose gravel or dirt you have to ride with adequate care. Anyway, my initial excitement for MTB/ATB for drop bar conversions was that I wanted wider tires for all use like gravel, but on vintage steel frames and older road bikes weren&apos;t compatible with much more than 28mm or 1.1&quot; wide tires, sometimes a bit more and sometimes a little less even, so the 26&quot; MTB/ATB seemed the natural option and availability was very good at some point.<br><br>I wouldn&apos;t mind a 29&quot; MTB to gravel conversion, but my vintage 26ers have served me well enough so far and kept me going, so no rush for the bigger wheels or more modern frames.

  1

• KE

  @kevinhullinger8743 · 2 months ago (edited)

  The Serfas drifter are really good tires 👌🏻

  1

• DI

  @diymountainbike · 11 months ago

  What I like most about this is you got to experiment on the bike and find something you like. &nbsp;Wrenching, learning and riding.... what could be better 🚴🚴👍🚴

  6

• IN

  @insanecomicdude · 1 month ago

  I have those same brifters and bar on my own 90s MTB conversion and they&apos;re outstanding.

• IA

  @Iandmacb · 11 months ago

  Accidentally ending up with massive reach seems to be the norm for drop bar conversions, when you don&apos;t swap to a much shorter stem.

  4