I Invented the Gravel Bike | Surly Corner Bars | Spin Wheels | Alt Bar Mountain Bike Conversion
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 20 окт 2024
- I always like the idea of having drop bars on my vintage mountain bike - a 2001 Trek 4900 - but it would have been too expensive and too much trouble. The new Surly Corner Bars changed all that as I can still use my flat bar controls/levers. These alt-bars were very easy to install on my MTB I just had to run longer cables. Dirty River Bicycle Works in Akron is where I buy my bicycle components and they have a couple more pairs. I also but on the vintage carbon Spin Wheels that PPP had given me!
The bars are chromoly and cost $100.
Strava of the Ride:
/ strava
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @timfitzwater
My Bags
Swift Industries Affiliate link:
alnk.to/biqzedP
My Bike Lights of Choice:
10% OFF Coupon code: TIM4
Olightstore: www.olightstor...
Alt-Cycling Clothing!
Chrome Industries:
Deal on Magic Shine Lights
timfitzwater15
magicshine.com...
Cycling Instagram:
/ fitzwatercycles
Buy prints:
fineartamerica...
Blog:
zippercityphoto...
Professional portfolio:
fitzwater-photo...
Discord Server:
/ discord
Support the channel!
www.paypal.com...
Glad you’re stoked on those wheels. Love seeing them get new miles on them bud! 🤠🤙
Dude - had to shoot them in slow-mo! Have a lot more footage of them rolling!
Sick bike. I have the SPINS on my Trek antelope 800 with the surly moloko bars! Decided on the moloko after Russ's video myself. LoL
Bike can be seen on Gary's Projects biketalk ep 5... My wheels were gifted to me as well. Thanks for the video.
Awesome - will check it out!
Cheers!
ride whatever is fun for you!!! i like it. greatings from switzerland
Greetings! 😎
Tim! Glad I found your channel. Old waiter from flury's here 🙏 never really got to know you when you were a regular, but glad to come across you now.
Hey Tim - yeah - I remember chatting when I used to come in with Rick a lot! Thanks for checking out the channel!
Juan Luis guerra 😁
So helpful. I love your casual style and you sold me on switching to the Corner Bar (I have bullhorns right now)
So glad it was helpful! Thanks!
Nice build, always fun piecing a bike togeather to make your own fit and comfort and enjoying many miles on it and make heads turn, I just finished today another touring bike from a Schwinn Sierra with friction shift, starting to like those friction shifters, took the bike out around town and fits and performs the way I hoped it would. Great video!
Thanks! I don't mind friction shifting - I still ride some of my vintage road bikes with friction shifters on the downtube. I would just like to find one for this bike that fits with the ergonomics of these bars better. This is random - but as I read your comment the idea to put a friction bar end shifter on my build but at the nubbin part popped in my head! Make it even weirder! Glad your bike worked out!
Those bars do feel pretty good. I just messed around with them at dirty river. I could see a set in the future maybe.
Yeah - at first I thought you were right. In the video when I mentioned looking into other options they were the ones you suggested - but when I held them at the shop I just bought them!
im living in Albania and i had hard times to get two pairs of Spin wheels here.
both are like new but one pair has the disc brake option for the front
Spin wheels have been my favorite since i was a kid. I'm lucky enough today to have a NOS 20" bmx rear and a 26" front, and i absolutely adore them. Some day i'll have full sets in many sizes.
That’s rad! It’s funny - just yesterday I had one friend telling me how rad they looked and another saying the were ridiculous. There seems to be no in between on opinions / you either love them or hate them.
@@TimFitzwater they really were well made weren't they
@@draggonhedd people keep trying to warn me about the “vintage carbon” and I just did a 400 mile tour on them!
The bike looks great. Love the Surly bars.
Thanks - it’s definitely unique!
First time I’ve come across your channel. Loved tri-spoked wheels! Great review of the Surly bars. I’m a little South of you in the Cincinnati area. Subscribing!
Nice! Thanks. Been down your way riding a few times as we’ve done the Ohio to Erie that last few Fourth of July’s.
Awesome bike & those wheels & bars are so cool, I’ve always liked the look of those wheels, just found your channel, new sub here from Philadelphia, Pa
Thanks man - & thanks man! There are a couple friends of the channel who ride in Philly.
Awesome build and video as always.
Thanks!
I went through the research, switched to corner bars anyway because the conversion to a drop bar shifter and its groupset would have been an expensive downgrade to my hartail hydraulic and 3x8 speed groupset. I'm actually so glad I listened to my mechanic, although now I won't be buying an overpriced gravel bike from them I did not do the unnecessary conversion with little benefit. At the time I was hardset on the drop bar conversion but the equal to my current groupset with my 3 x8 speed was the shimano ST-2300 shifters but i would have had to switch my derailleur and switch to mechanical disc brakes instead of hydraulic which is superior. There is also a the huge cable pull ratio and shimanos extensive compnent compatability archive I just couldn't be asked because I likes my groupset but wanted drop bars... I also got the 46 cm because I was leaning more towards a sleeker ride with my elbows closer to my torso. I also switched the stem to a 70mm 35 degree tilt because My hydraulic cables and shifter cables wouldn't stretch enough using a 110mm stem. It meant I didn't have to replace my cables and actually improved shifting because the cables were kind of loose. Wrapped mine in white tape matching the body and it looks really good... I would recommend before going down that path to researching it. Or just visit a mechanic and hd or she will tell you how silly it is and uncomfortable it would be due to hardyail bike geometry. . FYI I'm still getting a road bike buy modifying it into a gravel bike later when I have money 😢
Nice.
I ended up bumping these bars up by using a Velo Orange Happy Stem. Much better.
Pudgy peddle pusher? That's a great name!
Thanks!
Need some vintage hydros for that vintage carbon!
That’s a sweet whip
Thanks!
this just kinda goes to confirm that new gravel bikes are old skool mountain bikes lol
A lot of bikes can definitely be made to work for different things - I think a big advantage for many people of a new bike is the disc brakes and through axels.....
@@TimFitzwater yeah but gotta love the old stuff. props
Yup- and I do! I actually only have one bike with discs but lotsa bikes with quill stems! 😎
Nice bike! I remember the Spin BMX wheels, I didn't know there were 26" too. I just got the Surly Moloko bar for my Kona Sutra and I'm loving it, maybe I'll consider the Corner bar for my old 26" bike since I'm planning on changing the whole front end to a rigid fork with thread-less headset.
Sure you aren't thinking of the plastic Mag BMX wheels - these Spins are carbon that were 700c and 26. I haven't used the Moloko bars but I think they are really cool - I like the Jones bars too.
Super cool! Gravel on!
😎
Very cool conversion 👍
Thanks! Such an interesting mix of bikes.
Nice one! I'm riding the Red Shift Kitchen Sink on gravel bikes. This looks interesting for my 80s hardtail. Would make a great gravel mud bike. I hate flat bars
Oh yeah - those are really cool! These definitely make for a good mud/winter conversion for a flat bar bike.
That is a very neat idea.
I've adjusted it even better - have a video about it half done but wanted the test ride to be in the snow first.... But in a nutshell I put a stem on it that makes it much better with those bars.
I like your creativity👏
Thanks!
I am looking to build up my 1998 Barracuda XC URT frame w/ a rigid fork, 1x, Panaracer Gravel Kings, and a set of Corner Bars. I think giving old mtb's new life as 26" wheeled gravel bikes is perfect.
Like Spindatt says, "Every bike is a good time" ( I am sure you know who Eric Spinney is if you watch Russ of PLP regularly)
Sounds awesome! I just bought a vintage steel Marin on eBay to do something interesting to. Everyone acts like 26 is so slow - I used to ride with my road bike friends on that Trek.
Love these rims. Have them myself.
I was riding them last night but moved them over to a 1996 Team Marin.
@@TimFitzwater Interesting. I'm repainting my Cannondale F500 from the 90s and reinstalling these attention getters. I should post a vid...
Sweet ride man🤙
Thanks! I've since bumped those bars up with a Happy Stem from Velo Orange - it was way to slammed for a bike I mostly use as my winter cruiser.
I have a 2010 Gary fisher I want to turn into a gravel bike. Stumbled across your vid for some inspiration. Want to get into some more serious riding. Thank you for the ideas 🙏
@@dylanholzman8840 nice! Did a live stream with a friend who converted a 1996 Gary into more of a gravel bike. (He goes through his build eventually) Evening Routine #114 - JDandy & his 1996 Avant Garde Garry Fisher Build
ruclips.net/video/BeDt6QNeQs4/видео.html
I’ll check it out! Thanks!
Yes it is...that is what i like..
🎶Top Nubbins, check it and see. The dang humidity is a hundred and three!🎶
#toonubbins
Nice build! Do the brake surfaces wear out I wonder?
Thanks. Yes - all brake tracks wear out eventually.
Hmmm.. I have that exact same Trek.. you got me thinking..
🚴🏼 😎
Another great Video! Killer rig!
Thanks! Can’t wait to get some more miles on it!
thanks for your review. Would it be too weird to use bar end shifters on this bar?
For sure.
No - works perfect. I have since switched the front triple to a bar end.
@@TimFitzwater what about bar end shifters on the nubs? is that too crazy
great video, that bike is sweet
Thanks!
Where'd you get that sweet hat? lol love it
The first cap is a Rene Herse - my local bike shop is a dealer of their tires. The second is a Mapei cap - they were a cycling team in the 90s. Can find those on eBay and Amazon.
I want those wheels!
Yeah - they are so damn rad!
I wonder how useful extension would be on the nub ends for another hand position.
I think if you wanted longer extensions it would be worth getting different bars or bars without the nubbins and clamping extensions on. I’m not aware of a product that would extend these. If you do have an idea let me know!
would bar end shifter on the knob work??
I actually put a bar end on mine now but in the regular spot. I thought it would be cool and convenient on the knob too but the cable routing would be a bit strange as it would be coming off the front.
@@TimFitzwater dam cables always in the way lol
@@yardsalecycles Need some SRAM etap bar ends! This is how I have the bars set up now - it is much better. ruclips.net/video/NeVqyKVZzjA/видео.html
very good
Perfect
Corner bar is very intriguing, especially after calculating what it would cost to replace flat bars with drop bars. Just 2 things put me off though, it’s steel not aluminum and so weight is 750 grams, my current bar is around 250. And the width, they are quite wide. In aluminum and narrower would be perfect.
I can see the weight thing - its just not a big concern to me. I’m not going to be doing any super long climbs on this. They do have it in two sizes - but I’m liking wider bars these days anyways…. Hopefully more options like this start to come out.
I know those wheels...!
They are so over-the-top - I love 'em. They were a present from a friend who wanted to see them ridden not hanging on a wall. I moved them over to my Marin project which should be done in the next week!
Nice 👍
😎
Rad!
Thanks! I have a couple parts ordered now to dial in the fit/handling a bit better.
i have a cracked spinergy wheel im making into a clock.... i wish i could run them :(
Weren’t there a few generations? Early ones famous for cracking and later ones and little better built? Either way - awesome idea!
is the straight handle bar of a mountain bike not low enough.....is there really a need for a gravel bike?
Gravel bikes came about because people wanted geometry between road bikes and mountain bikes but with bigger tires than cyclo-cross bikes. Flat bars vs. drop bars is a personal preference. For most the advantages of drop bars are more about multiple hand positions than just aerodynamics.
Depends what you ride. If riding for hours, most people will find out that their hands cramp up on flatbars. A way around this are barends or other such contraptions. The dropbar is a tried and true classic, so many people will opt for that.
I rode my MTB with flats for years and never thought twice about it. After I got a vintage bike with drops I didn’t want to go back. I do understand wide flat bars for serious mountain biking though.
@@Exgrmbl you can use handlebar end grip on a flat bar, you'll have another hand position
@@marcusmartin5758
I used this set up for years before switching to drop bars. I was always skeptical of drops because they looked unfamiliar, having just used flatbars from a young age. I don''t think i'll ever switch back for serious touring use, the difference was just that pronounced to me. However, i still like this flatbar set up for shorter rides that don't focus on endurance or tempo but are just for leisure. What i found is, that a bike with a horizontal riding position can not really be comfortably ridden slowly and a bike with a more upright riding position can not be comfortably ridden fast.
Is it possible to make Russian subtitles, it is very important for me to know, it is very useful and a good review, please!
I don’t know to be honest - but I will look into it. Thanks!
@@TimFitzwater I will be very grateful to you for this.
You can turn on auto generated sub titles. Should get you most of the info you need then.
I need the bike
Loop bar or moloko bar are much better than corner bar because of many handling positions. Corner bar are limited only to lower positions.
Nah.
Sorry to say, but those were notoriously unreliable wheels. It's been years, but if memory serves, mine kept failing because the rear hub would break free of the carbon wheel. Everyone I rode with had them, and all had similar issues. Maybe you will have better luck on gravel.
Yeah - I’ll find out. I’m definitely not going to be riding them on full squish MTB trails - I just think they look cool and the guy who gave them to me thought they would hold up for what I do. They aren’t as light as most people think - definitely overbuilt carbon. This bike is like #6 in my line up so worth the experiment
Surly not good handle bar for bike touring take a look this cable
No - zero intention to tour on this bike. Its for short fun day rides.
@@TimFitzwater cool
That thing is so bad, dude!
Thanks! It’s an interesting one.
the whole point of 'drop bars' is that you get the comfy hoods.. you don't get that with this.
Um, the whole point of drop bars was an aero position - later multiple hand positions. Say what you will about Corner Bars - statement is still factually incorrect.
You can add padding and bar tape on the "hoods" to make them more comfortable to grip. I've also seen bar extenders that people add that also add more area to grab at near the hoods. The only downside is the brakes and shifters are less comfortable to use than traditional drop bars when in the hood position but I think that's a fair trade for the advantages of the corner bars.
, did you find that the corner bars provided a good aero position versus putting some inner bar ends on that would allow someone to replicate the hand position of riding on the hoods on a traditional drop bar? I'm looking at alt bars and drop bars. I'm looking at 40-50 mile rides on mixed conditions, no bike packing yet.
@guol1806 wouldn’t really get these if aero is your priority. I like it for the multiple hand positions and the lower leverage of the wider “drop” part.
@@TimFitzwater Thank you. I'm going to probably go with a sweep style flat bar then. I really don't want to swap out my drivetrain and I want a lighter setup. These look like fun. I just need something different.
FFS.
?
Nah..Not For Me,,
I don’t work for Surly - no one is pushing anything on you. I mean - you didn’t even have to click on this video - you didn’t have to type in words. Good luck to you though. You’ll figure out what you want - I believe in you.
Nahh..