Thumbs up for the choice of Billy Bonkers tires that I like to use on old 26ers, too. On the other hand, one should point out a BIG caveat: It can be quite tricky to work out a good ride position on such drop bar conversions. Especially for smaller riders. As vintage MTBs used to have a geometry with low stack, high Bottom bracket and looooooooong top tube. This tends to force you in a very stretched position with drop bars. The solution can be to use tall and short stems but these are hard to find and always look weird. Been there, done that.
You’re not wrong, I ended up using three different stems on this build to get the fit close to my modern gravel bike, this is also why I used shorter flared drops, this also helps. - but it can be done as long as the frame isn’t too small! Buy a larger frame than you would usually have and take a few measurements before committing to the build - that way you can get into the ballpark before wasting money. Having said that, I stand by the statement that they make for a fun bike! Plus as an older rider, I remember when they weren’t “vintage MTBs” and that was the way we had to ride anyways 😁 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment too 👍👍
Funny thing: I converted a 2001 Specialized Sirrus Comp to drop bars a few months ago. It's still got its original 9-speed Altus LX rear mech, and it is luscious. I had to swap the 3x Altus LX front mech to get clearance behind the seat tube -- to a Sora 3x. I'm using Microshift bar-end shifters and Tektro brake levers with the original V-brakes. This thing is a freaking yacht on light gravel.
Just came across your channel and I really enjoy the builds and your personality. I share our enthusiasm for building project bikes. It would be really nice, at the end of the video, if you showed your bike outside on a stand “full shot” and off the stand.
Hey Mike, thanks for watching and your kind comments - I normally do some in the stand at the end, but weather permitting I’d love to add that to my builds! Thanks for the feedback 👍👍👍
Hey Mike - took your suggestion on board and added it to the video 👇 90s Retro Cannondale MTB gets the resto mod treatment #bike #cycling #mtb #retro czcams.com/video/hUakkaU1yH8/video.html
Nice build, however for me the 36 x 11 on 559 rims means just a 84" top gear. Would have been better to use the 46 tooth ring on the outer for a 46 x 11 a 107" top gear.
It all depends what suits your riding, a slightly bigger outer would work, but I wouldn’t use a 46t where I ride off road and on more technical trails. If I was more road and cycleway based a 46t could have a place, but with dirt riding the top gear just isn’t as important in my opinion - especially with 26” wheels. But I appreciate your input! And thanks for taking the time to watch!
Such a great video lad, you got a new subscriber ! It reminds me of old shovel, Spindatt (and others I forgot the name). I've always loved those "avant-gardists" paintjobs, they really breath personality, joy, fun ! They do a super job as budget gravel bikes indeed :) I've noticed on your bike the famous Altus C10 groupset from the early 90's and that reminds me of my own budget gravel bike based on a 1993 hybrid Specialized Crossroads black with purple-ish decals which was equipped with the same group in its original state. I wanted to upgrade, push the boundaries and after like 1 year of gathering high-end parts for as cheap as possible it turned out for about 355€ like this: XTR M900 cantilevers (yes the last ones by Shimano!), GRX 810 rear derailleur, dura ace 7900 crank (50-34 SRAM chainrings, I'll change that someday ofc) & front derailleur + left arm power meter (well the entire crank with it was only 120€ so I HAD to get it to test😋), Shimano 105 5800 2x11sp shifters, 11-34 cassette... Patience is an important virtue after all ! It's what I call a "pizza groupset" but I saved a lot in the end VS buying new parts or having little time to search. Now I'm sure I'll never meet anyone with the same bike 😋oh btw I think I saved something like 2 maybe 2,5kg during the process... my legs thank me after every ride 🤣
Hey thanks for watching and your comment - I’m honestly humbled, and glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like you’ve got a cracker of a build there - I love the Specialized frames from that era too, got a rockhopper in orange and a hardrock in candy red from that era! You make a really good point about being patient and stockpiling the good stuff before a build!!!
I’m considering a similar build but with an early 90s Scott Superslope. I converted an 86 Rockhopper to a “gravel” bike with Jones HBars in the 2.5 inch rise version which works with a short stem. The high end older components can be/is better than new stuff. On this new build I want to try drop bars and for shifting I’m thinking of this cool new product called the UNO. It’s a universal friction bar end shifter that can shift any size derailleur up to 12sp, it has a strong ratchet and extra long lever for leverage. The product was designed with input from the guy at Path Less Pedalled CZcams channel. The Crossroads has always interested me for what it was at the time. Love the colour scheme too. My favorite real derailleur is the Altus M310 with the over sized pulley wheel. It’s on two of my bikes.
Thumbs up for the choice of Billy Bonkers tires that I like to use on old 26ers, too. On the other hand, one should point out a BIG caveat: It can be quite tricky to work out a good ride position on such drop bar conversions. Especially for smaller riders. As vintage MTBs used to have a geometry with low stack, high Bottom bracket and looooooooong top tube. This tends to force you in a very stretched position with drop bars. The solution can be to use tall and short stems but these are hard to find and always look weird. Been there, done that.
You’re not wrong, I ended up using three different stems on this build to get the fit close to my modern gravel bike, this is also why I used shorter flared drops, this also helps. - but it can be done as long as the frame isn’t too small!
Buy a larger frame than you would usually have and take a few measurements before committing to the build - that way you can get into the ballpark before wasting money.
Having said that, I stand by the statement that they make for a fun bike! Plus as an older rider, I remember when they weren’t “vintage MTBs” and that was the way we had to ride anyways 😁
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment too 👍👍
This was a really excellent video! I feel inspired. First, gonna ride my bike. Second, gonna build a new budget bike for a friend. Thanks for this~
Awesome!! Thanks so much for watching and I’m chuffed it’s inspired you 👍👍👍👍
Funny thing: I converted a 2001 Specialized Sirrus Comp to drop bars a few months ago. It's still got its original 9-speed Altus LX rear mech, and it is luscious. I had to swap the 3x Altus LX front mech to get clearance behind the seat tube -- to a Sora 3x. I'm using Microshift bar-end shifters and Tektro brake levers with the original V-brakes. This thing is a freaking yacht on light gravel.
Sounds like a great build!! 👍
Nice build! I recently converted a 1994 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR (full suspension) mountain bike into 1x10 dropbar gravel bike. Rides like a cloud.
Sounds cool - full banger with drops!! 😎😎😎
Just came across your channel and I really enjoy the builds and your personality. I share our enthusiasm for building project bikes. It would be really nice, at the end of the video, if you showed your bike outside on a stand “full shot” and off the stand.
Hey Mike, thanks for watching and your kind comments - I normally do some in the stand at the end, but weather permitting I’d love to add that to my builds! Thanks for the feedback 👍👍👍
Hey Mike - took your suggestion on board and added it to the video 👇
90s Retro Cannondale MTB gets the resto mod treatment #bike #cycling #mtb #retro
czcams.com/video/hUakkaU1yH8/video.html
Nice build, however for me the 36 x 11 on 559 rims means just a 84" top gear. Would have been better to use the 46 tooth ring on the outer for a 46 x 11 a 107" top gear.
It all depends what suits your riding, a slightly bigger outer would work, but I wouldn’t use a 46t where I ride off road and on more technical trails.
If I was more road and cycleway based a 46t could have a place, but with dirt riding the top gear just isn’t as important in my opinion - especially with 26” wheels.
But I appreciate your input! And thanks for taking the time to watch!
Such a great video lad, you got a new subscriber ! It reminds me of old shovel, Spindatt (and others I forgot the name). I've always loved those "avant-gardists" paintjobs, they really breath personality, joy, fun ! They do a super job as budget gravel bikes indeed :)
I've noticed on your bike the famous Altus C10 groupset from the early 90's and that reminds me of my own budget gravel bike based on a 1993 hybrid Specialized Crossroads black with purple-ish decals which was equipped with the same group in its original state. I wanted to upgrade, push the boundaries and after like 1 year of gathering high-end parts for as cheap as possible it turned out for about 355€ like this: XTR M900 cantilevers (yes the last ones by Shimano!), GRX 810 rear derailleur, dura ace 7900 crank (50-34 SRAM chainrings, I'll change that someday ofc) & front derailleur + left arm power meter (well the entire crank with it was only 120€ so I HAD to get it to test😋), Shimano 105 5800 2x11sp shifters, 11-34 cassette... Patience is an important virtue after all !
It's what I call a "pizza groupset" but I saved a lot in the end VS buying new parts or having little time to search. Now I'm sure I'll never meet anyone with the same bike 😋oh btw I think I saved something like 2 maybe 2,5kg during the process... my legs thank me after every ride 🤣
Hey thanks for watching and your comment - I’m honestly humbled, and glad you enjoyed it!
Sounds like you’ve got a cracker of a build there - I love the Specialized frames from that era too, got a rockhopper in orange and a hardrock in candy red from that era!
You make a really good point about being patient and stockpiling the good stuff before a build!!!
I’m considering a similar build but with an early 90s Scott Superslope. I converted an 86 Rockhopper to a “gravel” bike with Jones HBars in the 2.5 inch rise version which works with a short stem. The high end older components can be/is better than new stuff. On this new build I want to try drop bars and for shifting I’m thinking of this cool new product called the UNO. It’s a universal friction bar end shifter that can shift any size derailleur up to 12sp, it has a strong ratchet and extra long lever for leverage. The product was designed with input from the guy at Path Less Pedalled CZcams channel.
The Crossroads has always interested me for what it was at the time. Love the colour scheme too.
My favorite real derailleur is the Altus M310 with the over sized pulley wheel. It’s on two of my bikes.
Is the Uno the one developed on path less pedalled? I’ve been watching that develop with interest, as I use a Deore on friction for up to 10 speed
@@Downhillsmoothtarmac yes that’s the one. It’s supposed to work with any derailleur
Turned out great, looking forward to the ride video.
Thanks man, hopefully won’t be too long!! 👍👍
well done,nice video,we need more and more.thanks a lot.
Awesome! Thanks for watching 👍👍
Great build! Cheers man
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching mate!
Loving this! I might have to stick some drop bars on my old Cannondale F900 now!!
Thanks for watching Dave, give it a try and let us know how you get on mate!!
287 X 1.27 = $365 Sorry, I don't do British money. That bike has another 30 years left. Seems like a bargain. Good Video
Thanks for watching!!! 👍👍👍 I think it’s good value in any currency 🙂
They rode a mountain bike in a place with no mountains 😂 Great build 👍
Absolutely - might have to put those chainrings back on for a laugh 😂
@@Downhillsmoothtarmac you'll be the fastest downhill on the club ride 👍
You are very cool guy!
Cheers!!
I’m getting about on 48-18, that’s not my front rings size, that’s my gear ratio, go on hilly rides I’m a uk egg myself,
Nice, I think as long as it suits how you ride - it’s a winning ratio!
David belamey of bikes
Sure, I’ll take that 😂😂
Sausage
Egg