Trek Procaliber => Gravel Bike

[MudLark]

I have for some time wanted a gravel bike but I also get to ride Eastern Cape farm roads from time to time and those who live out there will know that sometimes they are so bad that a normal gravel bike just won't cut it. So for some time now I have had in mind building a hybrid of some kind based upon a mountain bike base.

 

Recently I managed to find myself a brand new old stock 2017 Trek Procaliber (same as in pic below) so have decided to see if I can turn this into some sort of hybrid kind of gravel type bike. The bike is full carbon and  obviously already has RockShox on the front and has the Isospeed joint at the seat tube/top tube/seat stay joint. The bike also has the standard Shimano 2x10 SLX/XT drivetrain. So what we are going to do is put some drop bars on it, change the shifters to Tiagra 4700 hydraulic road shifters and change the rear derailleur to Tiagra RD 4700 GS. Then change the tyres to Panaracer Gravel King 45s.

 

I think it should result in a fairly comfortable and usable gravel bike suited for "worse than normal" South African country roads. If it seems like it all is working out in terms of usability, then I may upgrade some of the components further. If it feels like it's not really working out, then I will simply reverse the upgrades and keep it as a carbon hard tail bike – at least until I get tired of it. :-)

 

Will post updates later.

 

  

[Beard]

This is one build I am going to watch closely... Ive been wanting to get my hands on one of those procaliber frames for a while and do some adapting. Good luck with the build/adaption and keep us updated.

[MudLark]

Will do. I am hoping to ride it on Race to the Sun. I was contemplating selling my entry because I am way out of shape now - still trying to fully get over some flu that I have had for a few weeks and my fitness has dropped off badly. But my cycling partner – who is not in much better shape – feels quite strongly that we must "give it a try" and even if we end up on the sweeper truck after 100 km, well that's okay – at least we will have tried. And there is a next year anyway.

 

One of the challenges I had here is that the frame is an extra-large and on a road bike I normally ride a 56 cm frame while on a mountain bike a large frame is usually right (although sometimes I am on the edge between large and extra-large, depending upon the exact model of bike). So I had to ask Richard Baxter to first assess whether he would be able to set the bike up correctly for me. He seems to be chilled about it, so I decided to proceed with the project. But as you will have noted, I am trying at this point in time to do the absolute minimum necessary to "convert the bike" into a "road style". As I said earlier, if it all works out, then I might be prepared to spend a little bit more on the upgrades. 

[Odinson]

Isn't there a dedicated 'monstercross' thread? 

[MudLark]

Might well be… I haven't yet come across it but I also don't spend a lot of time surfing here so it's quite conceivable I have completely missed it. If anybody finds it, please do pop the URL here.

 

Isn't there a dedicated 'monstercross' thread? 

[gummibear]

Isn't there a dedicated 'monstercross' thread?

How to build a MonsterCross Bike 101

https://www.bikehub.co.za/index.php?/topic/123076-How-to-build-a-MonsterCross-Bike-101

[MudLark]

Okay, so at this stage still waiting for Coolheat. The plan is to mate a pair of the new Tiagra hydraulic road shifters (ST-4720 2x10-speed STI Dual Control Set) ,to the XT 2x10 setup already on the bike and the existing brake calipers. Coolheat should have these in stock by the end of the month (or so they say). Combine that with an older Shimano 9x rear derailleur and it should all work. Flared drop bars and then a bike fit and then we see how it all works out (or not!). 

[rock]

top tube might be a little long with drop bars?

[MudLark]

Certainly a possibilty. But reach is 5 cm more than my road bike (which has a reasonably tight cockpit and which I quite like) and oddly, 5 cm less than my Top Fuel. We also have a fair bit of room to play with in terms of moving the seat forward and bringing the stem backward, so I think it will probably work but we will really only know when we get there. I will probably have my knees ahead of KOPS but I quite like that and I find it works for me. So I'm hopeful that this will work out for me.

[Farrnus]

top tube might be a little long with drop bars?

Trend even for GB’s is long with short stems // excited to see how Gravel progresses over the next 2 years / lines are blurry ...

[MudLark]

Correct. Longer wheelbase and slacker head angle is part of what I am after in this setup. It'll be more stable on fast rough country road downhills than a standard gravel bike. I've considered waiting for the Niner MCR but decided to continue with this project anyway precisely because of the foregoing features. May or may not work out as I hope.

[MudLark]

Okay, looks like we have the bike conversion sorted. Flared gravel drop bars, Tiagra 4720 hydraulic road shifters and Tiagra rear derailleur. The rest so far is factory stock.

 

Next thing is the setup. Bike is a bit big for me but bike fitter reckons not a problem and we can solve for  it.

[andreas17777]

Okay, looks like we have the bike conversion sorted. Flared gravel drop bars, Tiagra 4720 hydraulic road shifters and Tiagra rear derailleur. The rest so far is factory stock.

 

Next thing is the setup. Bike is a bit big for me but bike fitter reckons not a problem and we can solve for  it.

 

Pichass?

[MudLark]

Andreas, will post once collected. Wasn't happy doing the hydraulics myself so dumped it on my LBS. Now need to do a bike fit with them and will then haul it home and post some pics. Allow a few weeks because of work pressures...

[JohanLotter]

Please post some photos MudLark.

[ChrisF]

Jip, would like to see it .... and hear your ride reports.

 

 

been looking at my commuter - Merida XT Edition hardtail (27,5) - been wondering how this baby will commute with a pair of gravel tires.  Though it may require a new set of rims, or a wheel re-build ....