Re: Frames

On 1/21/2025 5:56 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

Wolfgang Strobl <news51@mystrobl.de> wrote:

Am 20 Jan 2025 18:39:14 GMT schrieb Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com>:
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MTB frame’s are quite a bit more designed this century some of which coming
from the rise of full suspension, but also designing the bike for its
intended use.

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I don't really care, because we didn't take part in the flight from the
roads to “infrastructure” or forest and gravel paths, which was
propagated from all sides of the spectrum, over the past decades.
>

That was never a use case for MTB’s particularly or rather bit or a lot
overkill for its use.
 One of the reasons Gravel bikes took off such bikes are fun on such stuff
and roads rather than being a slog/magic carpet ride.
 MTB shine even XC bikes when it gets much more technical, than just forrest
trails, be that tyres which have grown to 2.4/2.6 from 2.1 suspension and
geometry of the bike which alters the bike and the rider position and
performance, XC bikes have for example had to become more technical as the
races courses became much more technical older MTB endurance races and even
world cub races.
 Hence some of the older Americans ones having folks experiment with
“Monster Cross” bikes ie putting a drop bar on the MTB.
 See Dylan Johnson and his experiments with some of the older American MTB
races which if started today would absolutely be a Gravel race!
 <https://www.mtbr.com/threads/dylan-johnson’s-drop-bar-mountain-bike.1226941/>

I built up my old Giant XTC MTB hardtail into a gravel bike last winter. It was an experiment to see a) if I thought it was worthwhile for more investment and b) to get out as cheaply as possible using parts I already had.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11234247975
The biggest issue is that the top tube on MTBs back then was generally longer. The bike as shown has the shortest stem I had at the time, which also unfortunately has a 12 degree rise. I've since replaced it with a shorty 20mm 0 rise.(I like the lower 'racing' position). It rides significantly better with the short stem.
It of course designed for 26" wheels, so I picked up some long-reach calipers that could accommodate one of my CX 700C wheelsets.
With the discount Micro-shift drivetrain, new stem, and long-reach brakes, I got it to a point where it's a nice-riding bike for ~ $300. It's relatively light, and the XTC design is very light, and quick.
Unfortunately, I haven't had much opportunity to ride it much since I 'finished' it.

 

In this respect, we have also stuck with the classic frame shapes,
diamond frames, Mixte or Anglais, without suspension.  I don't need the
slightly lowered top tube at the back, but sometimes I find it quite
practical.
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Carbon frames are a different story.  I have more experience with metal,
so I stuck with aluminum and then titanium for the frames.
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Roger Merriman