Mountain bike to gravel bike conversions

Victor I

Victor I

aka Ridgehog
Always fun in the dead of winter to think of new ideas for the riding season ahead. I have a few hard-tails so thinking of converting my Ibis DV9 29er into a gravel bike. It has a 1200 graham frame so is a light bike.

First order of business is to put some fast rolling tires on the bike like Schwalbe Thunder Burts or Continental Race Kings. Currently have an Aspen(pretty fast tire) on the rear and a Rekon on the front but is not fast enough for a gravel group ride.

I rode with a group a couple of months ago that were riding gravel bikes with approx 40mm tires. On the straights, gradual downslopes and downhills I had to keep putting down lots of watts while the group pulled away (even at times while they were coasting). No issues keeping up on the climbs but overall had to work hard to keep up and was getting tired after only about 25 miles. I want the comfort of an upright mountain bike but the speed of a gravel bike to keep up on group rides so hoping changing tires will fix that.

Not sure yet if converting to a drop bar will be worth it or simply installing bar ends.

Thinking of Bedminster gravel group rides so NOT settling this up for bike packing adventure rides.
IMG_1432.png
Heck, this may be a pipe dream and the proper answer is simply get a gravel bike 😁. At least ideas are free…
 
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Way back in 2021 while I was waiting for my Diverge I created the Angry Raccoon 🦝 gravel bike from my 2008 MTB with parts I already had laying around.
80mm Lefty fork, OG
625mm carbon bars (of course bar ends)
Ravager tires on the OG rims
1x drivetrain that was already setup before the conversion.
Aluminum frame & fork is lighter than my Giant XTC "carbon" frame & fork.
It's a sweet ride :thumbsup:

1739720480086.png
 
Victor I said:
Always fun in the dead of winter to think of new ideas for the riding season ahead. I have a few hard-tails so thinking of converting my Ibis DV9 29er into a gravel bike. It has a 1200 graham frame so is a light bike.

First order of business is to put some fast rolling tires on the bike like Schwalbe Thunder Burts or Continental Race Kings. Currently have an Aspen(pretty fast tire) on the rear and a Rekon on the front but is not fast enough for a gravel group ride.

I rode with a group a couple of months ago that were riding gravel bikes with approx 40mm tires. On the straights, gradual downslopes and downhills I had to keep putting down lots of watts while the group pulled away (even at times while they were coasting). No issues keeping up on the climbs but overall had to work hard to keep up and was getting tired after only about 25 miles. I want the comfort of an upright mountain bike but the speed of a gravel bike to keep up on group rides so hoping changing tires will fix that.

Not sure yet if converting to a drop bar will be worth it or simply installing bar ends.

Thinking of Bedminster gravel group rides so NOT settling this up for bike packing adventure rides. View attachment 255623Heck, this may be a pipe dream and the proper answer is simply get a gravel bike 😁. At least ideas are free…
Click to expand...
Yup I’m doing the same thing. I have a Ibis Tranny 29 that has the same geo as the modern Hakka. I currently have it set up as a SS but just got all the components together to make it a drop bar gravel bike. It’s a Frankenstein build with a Gates belt drive and a lefty I took off my old scalpel. Gonna tinker while it rains/snows. Not sure how it’s going to end up.
 
Sven Migot said:
Way back in 2021 while I was waiting for my Diverge I created the Angry Raccoon 🦝 gravel bike from my 2008 MTB with parts I already had laying around.
80mm Lefty fork, OG
625mm carbon bars (of course bar ends)
Ravager tires on the OG rims
1x drivetrain that was already setup before the conversion.
Aluminum frame & fork is lighter than my Giant XTC "carbon" frame & fork.
It's a sweet ride :thumbsup:

View attachment 255627
Click to expand...
Nice looking bike!

What size tire did you install? I tried zooming in but can’t tell.
 
krink said:
Yup I’m doing the same thing. I have an Ibis Tranny 29 that has the same geo as the modern Hakka. I currently have it set up as a SS but just got all the components together to make it a drop bar gravel bike. It’s a Frankenstein build with a Gates belt drive and a lefty I took off my old scalpel. Gonna tinker while it rains/snows. Not sure how it’s going to end up.
Click to expand...
What tires are you going with? Please post it up once it’s done. Interested to see how it turns out!
 
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Victor I said:
Always fun in the dead of winter to think of new ideas for the riding season ahead. I have a few hard-tails so thinking of converting my Ibis DV9 29er into a gravel bike. It has a 1200 graham frame so is a light bike.

First order of business is to put some fast rolling tires on the bike like Schwalbe Thunder Burts or Continental Race Kings. Currently have an Aspen(pretty fast tire) on the rear and a Rekon on the front but is not fast enough for a gravel group ride.

I rode with a group a couple of months ago that were riding gravel bikes with approx 40mm tires. On the straights, gradual downslopes and downhills I had to keep putting down lots of watts while the group pulled away (even at times while they were coasting). No issues keeping up on the climbs but overall had to work hard to keep up and was getting tired after only about 25 miles. I want the comfort of an upright mountain bike but the speed of a gravel bike to keep up on group rides so hoping changing tires will fix that.

Not sure yet if converting to a drop bar will be worth it or simply installing bar ends.

Thinking of Bedminster gravel group rides so NOT settling this up for bike packing adventure rides. View attachment 255623Heck, this may be a pipe dream and the proper answer is simply get a gravel bike 😁. At least ideas are free…
Click to expand...
Hi Victor, I've been messing around with my hardtails for that purpose for the past few months and came up with a number problems. But the biggest issue was stack height, are you planning to get a new rigid fork? Also Ibis is relatively modern geo, are you going with a super short stem and pushing your seat forward to lessened the reach? This is why these types of conversions work best with old 26rs, they have a shorter reach and the stack is lower given the frame or fork were meant for smaller wheels. Another problem was the slack headtube with a short stem puts your hands way behind your front hubs, so expect it steerer like a boat. Lastly, what are you doing for gearing? One of my bikes could only use a 32T chainring max and the other a 38T, the chain stays get in the way. Like yours, those gears will have you spinning pretty fast to keep up and to do it for 20 miles will take a toll. Regardless, it was still a fun project, despite the results and highly recommended to better understand geometries and components. Keep us posted on your plans.
 
Victor I said:
What tires are you going with? Please post it up once it’s done. Interested to see how it turns out!
Click to expand...
I have a set of Aspen STs that I’m going to try. They were too sketchy for my Epic, think they may be a fun choice. Sort of going the way the rigs are setup for Leadville or Big Sugar. Will do! That motivated me to get some wrench time in.
 
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Victor I said:
Always fun in the dead of winter to think of new ideas for the riding season ahead. I have a few hard-tails so thinking of converting my Ibis DV9 29er into a gravel bike. It has a 1200 graham frame so is a light bike.

First order of business is to put some fast rolling tires on the bike like Schwalbe Thunder Burts or Continental Race Kings. Currently have an Aspen(pretty fast tire) on the rear and a Rekon on the front but is not fast enough for a gravel group ride.

I rode with a group a couple of months ago that were riding gravel bikes with approx 40mm tires. On the straights, gradual downslopes and downhills I had to keep putting down lots of watts while the group pulled away (even at times while they were coasting). No issues keeping up on the climbs but overall had to work hard to keep up and was getting tired after only about 25 miles. I want the comfort of an upright mountain bike but the speed of a gravel bike to keep up on group rides so hoping changing tires will fix that.

Not sure yet if converting to a drop bar will be worth it or simply installing bar ends.

Thinking of Bedminster gravel group rides so NOT settling this up for bike packing adventure rides. View attachment 255623Heck, this may be a pipe dream and the proper answer is simply get a gravel bike 😁. At least ideas are free…
Click to expand...

My guess is that ur faster than 80% of the peloton with the conversion and bar ends.
 
qclabrat said:
Hi Victor, I've been messing around with my hardtails for that purpose for the past few months and came up with a number problems. But the biggest issue was stack height, are you planning to get a new rigid fork? Also Ibis is relatively modern geo, are you going with a super short stem and pushing your seat forward to lessened the reach? This is why these types of conversions work best with old 26rs, they have a shorter reach and the stack is lower given the frame or fork were meant for smaller wheels. Another problem was the slack headtube with a short stem puts your hands way behind your front hubs, so expect it steerer like a boat. Lastly, what are you doing for gearing? One of my bikes could only use a 32T chainring max and the other a 38T, the chain stays get in the way. Like yours, those gears will have you spinning pretty fast to keep up and to do it for 20 miles will take a toll. Regardless, it was still a fun project, despite the results and highly recommended to better understand geometries and components. Keep us posted on your plans.
Click to expand...
Thought about a rigid fork but the Fox Stepcast is lightweight and has a lockout so will stick with that. As to the reach, that’s something I will have to think about. I may first try bar ends before considering drop bars. There is a 34t chainring on the bike. I appreciate the advice as it may save time, money and unforeseen aggravation.
 
thegock said:
My guess is that ur faster than 80% of the peloton with the conversion and bar ends.
Click to expand...
Ha, thanks Tom! All joking aside I am thinking bar ends will be a safer start and may be more in my comfort zone as I have been riding flat bar bikes most of my life.

Oh look, he got me a Peloton!!
I see lots of groups drafting on gravel roads. I would hate to have someone on a road or gravel bike let me draft behind them while riding a mountain bike
IMG_1435.png
 
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You usually have to size down to pull this off. A drop bar has a 70ish’mm reach and then the drop bar shifter is another 50 or so mm. 120+mm added reach which is like running a 200mm stem. Slack headtube will help shorten the reach a little bit you’re better off just getting some tires and a bigger chainring and ripping it…
 
Victor I said:
Thought about a rigid fork but the Fox Stepcast is lightweight and has a lockout so will stick with that. As to the reach, that’s something I will have to think about. I may first try bar ends before considering drop bars. There is a 34t chainring on the bike. I appreciate the advice as it may save time, money and unforeseen aggravation.
Click to expand...
For LLWH 2017, used my Cannondale F29 HT. Lefty with lockout, 2.1 Racing Ralphs, 1x11 with Wolftooth oval 34t ring and Shimano 11-42, Ergon grips with bar ends and TOGS thumb thingys. No problem keeping up with the group of gravel riders I was with and still don't have the desire for a gravel bike.
 
Victor I said:
Not sure yet if converting to a drop bar will be worth it or simply installing bar ends.

Thinking of Bedminster gravel group rides so NOT settling this up for bike packing adventure rides. Heck, this may be a pipe dream and the proper answer is simply get a gravel bike 😁. At least ideas are free…
Click to expand...
What shouldn't be overlooked with drop bars is the aero advantage over straight bars.
 
Steve Vai said:
You usually have to size down to pull this off. A drop bar has a 70ish’mm reach and then the drop bar shifter is another 50 or so mm. 120+mm added reach which is like running a 200mm stem. Slack headtube will help shorten the reach a little bit you’re better off just getting some tires and a bigger chainring and ripping it…
Click to expand...
Thanks Jim,
I think that’s just what I’m going to do. @qclabrat brough me back to reality as this works better with an old school mountain bike. Now to find the fast tires. Toss up between Continental Race Kings and Schwalbe Thunder Burts. Good luck at the race!🤘
 
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