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I fancy building up a bit of a Monstercross rig/weapon/sled for commuting, to try and stop myself looking at gravel bikes that I don't need.
I've got a Marin Pine Mountain which is currently more in a bike packing setup but could be quite nice for this.
It's got Jonesalike bars (not pictured) and Deore brakes, 1x10.
I fancy some nice flared drops until such a time as I realise that I don't like drops.
What do I need in terms of bars, brakes and shifters to get it all working?
I know nothing about curly bar bikes so could use some pointers and recommendations.
I'd be fine with cable brakes.
👍
look at surly corner bar. Could save you some expense whilst experimenting. Means you could keep your controls and driverrain.
If you fancy spending some dough then I'd be looking at ritchey venturemax or beacon bars. Gevenalle or bar ends shifters will let you keep your drivetrain.
You'll probably end up working out that the geometry is all wrong and the bike it too long to run drop bars comfortably. But press on anyway. There's lots of us done it. Didn't listen to the advice we didn't like and learned the same lesson. I know I did.
Good luck.
Love a bit of monster cross....You didn't ask...but here it is anyway!
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9sp MTB mech and Brifters work fine. Shimano changed pull ratios on 10sp MTB so aren't great. TRP Spyre or Avid BB7 brakes are good....lots of options though.
I fancy building up a bit of a Monstercross rig/weapon/sled for commuting, to try and stop myself looking at gravel bikes that I don’t need.
Not sure it is going to do that. It will still feel very similar just with different bars and a gravel bike would still be a lot different to ride. If you don't need a gravel bike then just ride the bike you have as it is.
(Admittedly that is easy for me to say as I have menntal block on owning more than one bike so just ride the bike I have on all terrain)
This is my second run at the concept, much better than the first go. Various thoughts on how I did it going up, such as this post last week. Just been out on it this morning and really like how it rides.
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I've turned a flat bar bike into a monstercross type thing before, it had a 90mm stem that I swapped to 60mm and it still felt too long with drops on it. Your bike looks like it might have a short stem and seatpost without much layback so not much room to adjust it.
If the bike it very upright and a bit small for you then it could work out. A Surly Corner bar could be a good way to try it without spending too much
I don't get the concept of using drop bars off road. It's just not for me. Hurts my hands with the limited padding and I don't feel in control when doing sketchy stuff using drop brakes.
Before yiu spend loads of money, try just putting some narrower bars on and inboard bar ends or tri bars on. And some came creek ergo bar ends on. This will give you multiple hand positions and the option to try and get out of the wind to be more aero.
I don’t get the concept of using drop bars off road. It’s just not for me.
No, me neither really, but this isn't for anything more off road than the towpath really. Thought I could use it commuting which is canal, cycle paths and parks.
Buy a 90s mtb off Facebook market place. Dodge the over priced "rare" bikes for sale. Convert that. It'll be easier, cheaper and more rideable when you are done.
9 speed and lower has cross compatibility between oad and mtb components so buying the relevant speed brifters will sort it.
For towpaths a rigid fork will do the trick.
This will bring you bonus hipster points.
I'd keep it with Jones bars or change to a surly corner bar.
All drops brought to the party for me is more hand positions and more aero.
Monster cross bikes aren't going to be massively a shifting on tarmac so no need for drops.
Are you going touring for a week+? I'd stick with Jones bars
No, me neither really
When I built my scandal up with a rigid fork I had a pair of salsa woodchippers on it when I was building it. In my head the idea of a monster cross worked and it looked cool. But in reality, it didn't work.
change to a surly corner bar.
Are these still really expensive and very very heavy? Maybe look on Ali express for a cheaper alternative? Or ebay for a pair someone is selling as it didn't work for them.
From my experience you won't be able to use the existing derailleur when changing shifters to road style (without one of those travel adjuster jobbies). What I've had work as combinations previously (all Shimano) is:
Road 10spd shifters, MTB 9spd rear mech
Road 11spd shifters with road 11spd rear mech & extended hanger (goatlink)
Road 11spd shifters with GRX rear mech - this is obviously the 'proper' way to do it.
I don't think there's a Shimano option of road shifters that'll work with a 10spd MTB rear mech unfortunately. In all of those combinations above, keeping the MTB cranks, cassette and hydraulic calipers works fine. It's just the shifting side that's a bit more annoying.
For what it's worth I really enjoy big tyres, rigid forks and drop bars on a ride. But I also like rubbish old cars that are objectively worse than newer ones so maybe I'm odd! 🙂
Would it not be much too long with drop bars on an mtb frame?
In my head the idea of a monster cross worked and it looked cool. But in reality, it didn’t work.
Monstercorss defo works but it can't really be fudged from modern mtb frames without dropping a frame size or two and then there's other issues.
I love my genesis vagabond. 2.25 tyres and drop bars = big smiles
For the uses you mention, some faster tyres and other hand positions would do the trick to be honest. What you describe is a drop bar mtb, and the only thing really in common with a gravel bike is the drop bar. Even the cheapest conversion will be a fair bit of money and poorer braking with cables discs. Even alt-drop bars aren't as good for controlling a fat-tyred bike off road, as flat bars are. I had a drop bar 29er and it just didn't work for me. I'm glad I tried as what I learned was valuable. For the easier off-road then a gravel bike or light XC bike was more comfortable and faster but still fun. For chunkier off-road the fun element quickly wears off. For road it makes no sense.
If you want to throw a bit of cash at it and give it a go, and you find you like it, then go for it!
I'm sure i've never seen anyone on a gravel bike using the drops*. So basically you're gravel set-up is narrower flat bars with bar ends, 90s MTB style.
Cut down some old flat bars, add some bar ends, hey-presto! All the benefits (you'll use) of drops for much less cost/faff.
*outside of marketing images
I have a (and love my) gravel bike.
I also dabbled with a Monstercross build around 3 years ago. Built around a Genesis Fortitude frame. SS (which I like; I usually have a SS HT and a SS CX/gravel/urban hack on the go). I ran it with MTB tyres for a bit (Ardent/Bonty XR2/3), and then with 40c gravel tyres.
I really wanted to like it. It looked cool ...
But, I just didn't get on with it. Too long for me, short stem (to try to make the bike fit) and narrow drop bars just made the steering ponderous and heavy. With MTB tyres on, it was OK on chunder, but the drop bars and steering limited how flickable it was. Heavy frame, fork, SS rather restricted the rides/terrain you could take it on. I thought it would occupy a unique niche between my lighter, zipper gravel bike, and my HT, but it ended up being the worst of both worlds ... no faster on road/easy gravel (than the HT), no more capable off road than the gravel bike.
In my dreams, I would still like to think a monstercross has a place in my life, but think my "gravel+ / MTB-lite" niche is best covered by my Ti HT with carbon forks and fast 2" XC tyres.
I've a sneaking suspicion monstercross bikes are actually the best type of bikes and I'm annoyed about the two I sold.
I think my 'do it all' bike also qualifies as this.
£550, ridden 50km total despite being 5 years old. Loving it so far. Tyres can transform the ride one way or another...
A few pictures of some of the stupid monstercross bikes I used to ride quite a few years ago.
I actually like drop bars for tamer XC riding so i can see why you'd want to try it.
And yes i always descended in the drops. Always felt to me like my hands would slip off on the hoods.
Where as you can really push back against the bar in the drops.
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I’m sure i’ve never seen anyone on a gravel bike using the drops*.
You're not serious surely?
If you’ve still got it, set up the fatbike with flared drops?
Still got it yes, but I ride 'proper' off-road on that.
I thought this could be my commute bike, with quick tyres and probably mudguards.
I think maybe most of these comments are making me think that it'll be easier just to get an older gravel bike maybe. 🤔
I suppose I was trying to not have yet another bike 😂
That Singular 👆 looks mint RD 👌
I'd like to refute some of the naysayers - but I'm not sure I can....except to say I'm 6'4" tall so all 26" frames are short and small for me: perfect monstercross potential!
Agree that flat or alt bars make more sense for off-road, but for the shit that masquerades as roads in the Chilterns this with 2.3" smooth treaded tyres is great.
Just get a second hand Genesis Vagabond. Sell the Marin if you like it or sell the Vagabond if you don’t 👍
Just get a second hand Genesis Vagabond.
Now those I like. 😊
Made out of the correct frame material too.
Not many used about though. Well, not in my budget.
Made out of the correct frame material too.
After you pick it up and think, wow that's heavy, let me know if it's still the right material.
Don't forget you want 2 inch tyres on the bike. Not sure how much of the frame you can feel through that much rubber.
How about, rather than going full drop bar, switch out the bar/stem for something flat, narrow and long. You should be able to pick up a bar and stem cheaply from most online retailers?
Stick on some bar ends and it'll probably feel as fast as a set of drops, for loads less cost and hassle.