Wanted: Old Steel for Gravel/Adventure conversion

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  • Looking for some old steel that I can use to turn off the pavement every once in a while. Preferably with tyre clearance up to 700x38 if possible.

    Complete bike desired, but frame/fork works.

    Was thinking about a 80s/90s touring frame or audax machine? Maybe a similar vintage mountain bike frame that I can convert to drops?

    Happy to take advice on this!

    Currently ride a 57cm Harry Hall which fits me to a T.

  • If you#re looking for really cheap then the Raleigh Pioneer hybrid was a solid steel framed bike that took 38mm tyres and some even had long drop calipers on them (as opposed to cantis/Vs). The modern versions usually came in alu, the Pioneer was originally in blue and white or red and white though the Pioneer Jaguar ( also steel) was dark green or pearlescent purple.
    I also had one of the Muddy Fox ATB BITD but these come up spendy nowadays, they had the U shape calipers but they were really good stoppers.
    There were also a few Reynolds 531 ATB bikes that used 26" wheels, you can pretty much convert anything to drops so options could be quite wide, problem with the 26ers is that the tyre choices are much less than they used to be since the 27.5/29er revolution, tyres like the conti travel contact might be ideal if you do go 26".
    luck hunting

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Wanted: Old Steel for Gravel/Adventure conversion

Posted by Avatar for chrizpah @chrizpah

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