very true. A 29" hardtail is an extremely versatile platform to build from.

What if my frame is 17", can i transform it into gravel?

We actually have another TeamElite frame (it has a crack) that we're planning to have repaired at some point. The plan will be to build it with drop bars and road components.. but with a dropper post.

Isn't that what gravel bikes are already? old school mtbs with disc brakes and drop bars?

True! What I found interesting is that when BMC developed their Gravel URS model, they did something very similar with this frame for testing, (with drop bars obviously) then modified the geometry slightly to be more efficient on the pavement.

Which makes this video click BAIT ugh. This is far from a "gravel" bike.

@@multiverse439 💯

With an actual gravel bike.

If you have more than one mountain bike, it's a nice way to save weight. Plus it is still fun on singletrack. Having options is fun.

@@BermStyle i don't mountain bike anymore. At nearly 50 , climbing mountains is something that does not seem as much fun anymore. If I were to buy another mountain bike, it would be electric to help haul my old fat butt up the hill.

@@davidshanaman4647 light is nice. With the XC tires the BMC is essentially a super high-end hybrid. Nothing wrong with e-bikes, provided you have trails you can ride them on; you still get plenty of exercise on an e-bike.

Gloves too. You can get carbon particles in your skin like splinters.

No, not for riding multi-surface rides and smooth single track. It's still far more confidence-inspiring than riding a road bike with big tires!

I agree, but truthfully I couldn't always make out what he was saying. The voice recording was muddy and unclear. I tried several times to pick out specific words. I was left guessing. Nothing worse than mumbled vocals. Admittedly the used to make this video w a s good. Mos def..

Admittedly the concept used - above correction..

very true. Some bad habits on display here.

The Enve fork has two settings for rake: 44 or 52. We did a blog post listing a number of different options we considered: bermstyle.com/go-rigid-5-rigid-fork-options-for-the-ultimate-flatbar-mtb-gravel-bike-conversion/

We've added appropriate gearing and WTB Venture 40 (rear) and WTB Riddler 45 (front) tires which completed the flat bar gravel conversion. On rough terrain she likes the flat bars, but after completing a few bigger (60 mile) days she's more open to considering a drop bar conversion. We're still awaiting the URS loaner so we can create the follow up video though.

We added higher gearing for the one-by, and gravel specific tires. Final setup is in line with bikes sold as flat bar gravel rigs.

@@BermStyle so a mtn bike?

yep

@@BermStyle what brand and size tires did you use?

That's a great question. Does swapping the bar, brakes and shifter to STI units (and narrower tires) make it officially a "gravel bike"? Specialized recently released a flat bar equipped model of the Diverge. Is it still a "gravel bike" or does that make it a hybrid? Or is the term "Hybrid" just becoming dated, with the label now based on the intent? When the new Evil Chamois Hagar was released, we started seeing riders building up flat bar versions.. these bikes are more aggressive than most XC hardtails. I think the lines are blurring pretty heavily. We're looking forward to riding the new BMC URS gravel bike for an in-depth review comparing the two approaches.. it should be interesting. I think for us, the ideal bike completely depends on where you'll be riding it, who you'll be riding with, the ratio of pavement to dirt, and the duration of the ride.

@@JasonVanHorn I know there is mention of future changes, I just felt like this particular setup in this video fell short of what I would consider a "Gravel" bike. I think your last bit hit is on the head! Those factors are definitely very important!

@@SHWELL11 I agree! We'll be swapping the tires for something comparable to what is on the URS. It needs to have faster tires to really have value in her quiver since she already has a lightweight XC bike, the Agonist. What is interesting is, how is Inga's TeamElite with this set up different from a "Monster Cross" bike other than dirt drops? I'm trying to talk her into testing it with dirt drops as well.. we just need shift levers.

That hybrid build is still more capable than most gravel bike because of tire clearance ang gearing but it will be slower

Atleast in pave roads

At the time of the video she was still running a 2.1, but has since added WTB Riddler 45c and Venture 40c tires, as well as a 38 tooth chainring. We have a follow-up video in the works now.

@@BermStyle ok i'll wait, thanks.

that comes down to personal preferences. We've tried a range of widths and rises as well as inner bar ends for alternative hand positions. I'd start with inexpensive alloy bars before committing to anything nice though.

Totally agree.

You certainly could! However, she was looking to replicate the geometry and setup (albeit with a flat handlebar) of the BMC gravel model, the URS. The benefit to using the TeamElite was 1: she already had it. and 2: it's dropper post compatible. As she does fast-paced gravel rides with her road bike group, she wanted to have a bike that could keep the pace and also be competitive should she do a gravel race. Side note: I have a similar conversion setup on my Kona Honzo carbon (gravel tires and bigger chainring) for gravel rides, and I'm utilizing the Fox 32 fork that was taken off the TeamElite. locking out the fork works just fine for me.

The Evne mountain fork includes the fork compression plug, so yes. www.enve.com/product/fork-compression-plug/

nice. what fork did you end up going with?

6". could probably go smaller, but she liked the extra power.

A carbon rigid fork dampens bumps, but won't lose you much traction is my guess. Some MTB forks also can't lock out.

Inga has a number of bikes to choose from, but the main reason this specific bike is set up this way is that it's optimized for champaign gravel. The group she rides with are primarily road riders, but they've started riding gravel roads more often as they have a had number of bad experiences with cars and drivers. (One near-death experience, and one hospitalization and totaled bike)

@@BermStyle Understandable. I have always said that I would never ride the roads around the area that we live because of idiots, but if gas prices keep going up, all the idiots may be riding bikes with me!!! 😂😂😂

I tend to agree with the others. More and more people ride in areas where there are no or very few cars for safety, too many cars on the roads these days and lots of cyclist fatalities. I have a cromoly commuter with the right tyres and I only ride on dedicated bike paths, creek trails and gravel tracks. The steel frame is good when it comes to shocks from bumpy surfaces and tougher in many respects. Suspension is not really needed for these activities as it adds extra weight, and effort.

The main thing is she can keep up with her group that primarily runs drop bar gravel bikes. And she's got a smile on her face the whole time.

at 6:10 you can see the compression plug being installed per Enve's recommendations

the fork includes a plug.

we're finding it to be a good first start. The 1x MTB gearing spins out pretty fast in a paceline situation though, so that'll need to be addressed to keep up.

@@BermStyle what if I have 3xMTB setup?

@@whitefox8868 it definitely helps! It depends on how the scenario though - I've tried to keep up with road bikes on high performance flat bar hybrids but road bikes are optimized for climbing on pavement and they've more efficient by design. But on multi-surface gravel rides, you'll have more control descending. Like all things bike, its always a trade-off..

@@BermStyle doesn't climbing depend on the weight of the bike and gearing. Any hybrid can keep up with roadies with a 2 X setup and bar ends

@@tmayberry7559 in theory. Technically all the flatbar road bikes being made today are just the road models with a change in bar and shifter spec. What we found interesting is that her MTB converted is actually lighter than many of the gravel bikes being ridden in her gravel social bubble.

for sure. we're experimenting with this setup as well. I have a Kona Honzo Carbon (as well as a Kona Rove) and that's the approach I'm currently taking.

@@BermStyle until i got my 2021 specialized, i was using my carbon scott scale 930 for trails, and a gravel bike. With kenda smallblock v8s, its a 2x10 so it flys on the road and gravel.

@@jimbo4203 nice. Inga is really liking that approach. She's working on getting a BMC URS to try in comparison to her Teamelite conversion, which should be interesting. I've been running a Kona Rove and carbon Honzo for my set up, and they're both great for multi-surface rides. It's been a fun experiment to see what setups do better and where. The context of who we're riding with as well as the route plays into things considerably.

@@BermStyle Can't wait to see this comparison.

This is technically true. We've been reviewing tires for the next piece, which will essentially result in a flat bar gravel bike or high-end hybrid, depending on your preferred label or definition of what a gravel bike is.

@@BermStyle Really just put a drop bar on there with road style break levers. Over long hauls it definitely provides more comfort to have multiple riding positions that align better with shoulders and natural arm rotation etc

@@tijmen1949 she didn't want to go drops initially. We may have her convinced, as she has been doing a lot of longer rides with minimal single track. She may also just put some bigger tires on her endurance road bike though for those rides.

I like it. the marketing tagline is: "Gravel Bikes... leveled up"

Yeah this guy was eating his words. I just skipped the video. Thumps down.

We would never have thought that flat bar road bikes would be so popular either!

drop bars are optional :D mt bikes were the first gravel bikes

@@mannyechaluce3814 true mtb was so pioneering and versatile

🤣