General Bike Thread (Desiderata, Questions, Pics)

[ridethecliche]

The new 3T bikes look exactly like what I'm after actually!

 

[venessian]

Horizontal dropouts. The issue is that....

Yes, I got all that. Still makes little sense given the other issues. It's a perfectly fine frameset as is but, like all, for the correct purposes. It is simply not a 28"+ frameset, and a 650 conversion would be money thrown away for the supposed value.

If those as-designed purposes no longer suit, then just buy/trade for a more vertical, longer wheelbase frame designed for wider tires, and all the etc. such as an older Poprad, XO-1, whatever Trek's/Spec's/etc version was called, or a new (more recent brand/model) one...millions of those now abound in the saturated "gravel/groad" market; either way those framesets far better match all the desires.

 

[Piobaire]

Random pic while I was chilling in a park this morning. The new speed and cadence sensor.

 

[venessian]

Good stuff.

 

[Biscotti]

That's a fat tire you got there sonny.

 

[imatlas]

Good stuff:

For those of us less in the know:

Campagnolo Ekar ushers in 13-speed era — on gravel

Campagnolo's Ekar drivetrain ramps up the gear options to 13 speeds, and it's made specifically for gravel riding.

www.velonews.com

 

[Piobaire]

That's a fat tire you got there sonny.

32s. They’re all the rage (along with aero everything.)

 

[venessian]

For those of us less in the know:

Campagnolo Ekar ushers in 13-speed era — on gravel

Campagnolo's Ekar drivetrain ramps up the gear options to 13 speeds, and it's made specifically for gravel riding.

www.velonews.com

Sorry (no snark intended), I thought I had attached the link to the review along with that photo.

Anyway, good stuff regardless.

 

[ridethecliche]

Yes, I got all that. Still makes little sense given the other issues. It's a perfectly fine frameset as is but, like all, for the correct purposes. It is simply not a 28"+ frameset, and a 650 conversion would be money thrown away for the supposed value.

If those as-designed purposes no longer suit, then just buy/trade for a more vertical, longer wheelbase frame designed for wider tires, and all the etc. such as an older Poprad, XO-1, whatever Trek's/Spec's/etc version was called, or a new (more recent brand/model) one...millions of those now abound in the saturated "gravel/groad" market; either way those framesets far better match all the desires.

Which is exactly why I didn't do it.

Never considered doing a 650 conversion for this bike. It's one of the finest 'mass produced' 80s American crit/race bikes. That would be hilarious. I actually used to own its cousin as well, an 84 trek 520 which was a fantastic touring bike. That would have been a much better option for a gravel bike.

Some additional clearance by making the cut is the furthest id go. There's zero chance anything bigger than a 28 would clear the seat tube without a bunch of work. Not worth it at that point to dimple the stays etc. It'll never be a gravel bike.

For me to take a dremel to it and cut off 2-3mm of the dropout?
Who cares? It wouldn't affect anything.

I've had this bike for like 13-14 years and it's lived in like 4-5 different build iterations in that period. I'm not really planning on getting rid of this frame so I'm on board with messing around if it makes it fit my needs... Within reason obviously!

 

[venessian]

Which is exactly why I didn't do it.
...
It'll never be a gravel bike.

That's all I wrote, that that frameset will never be what you stated you would like it to be now.

Some (even many) "D-I-Y modifications", especially those intended to follow some current trend (like using track-geo frames as city "fixies" and single-speeds and then drilling out the fork crown for a brake...) are ill-advised. People do all kinds of weird and stupid **** to dropouts, stays, forks, stems, posts, all while often not even understanding the immediate or long-term consequences.

Please understand that I am not saying you are that kind of person...I don't know you at all...but I suspect some here would be tempted to do that kind of thing. (And I am also definitely not referring to @flipstah, who in fact seems extremely reasonable in that regard, in his mods.)

But, your frameset, do whatever you want to it.

Edit: Yes, Trek 520 is I think the Trek I was thinking of that was the cousin of Lemond Poprad, Bridgestone XO-1, etc.

 

[flipstah]

Delete

 

[ridethecliche]

The only reason I'd try converting this to a gravel bike is because I think it would be hilarious.

I don't have time for that anymore though lol.

Like I said, id be more than happy with 28s.

I think you may have misunderstood though. I'm pretty sure I said i wanted my next bike to be a groad bike.

 

[Piobaire]

I know who you're explaining yourself to multiple times...it's just what happens with him; it's not you.

 

[Biscotti]

I am actually quite floored by all the different drive train options today. I think im just going to go with used Dura Ace parts and sticking with a 2x. Probably 2x10.

Thoughts on snagging this: https://m.pinkbike.com/buysell/2855400/

Just not looking to break the bank on drivetrain.

 

[Piobaire]

Are you a "weight weenie?"