Gravel Grinder Green Motobike 1930

[MazdaFlyer]

Finally stopped raining for a while when I had some spare time. I got the bike out for a shakedown cruise.

Wow, the bars had too much drop for me and the size and geometry of the frame.
So I flipped the bars over and they worked well. I have two sets that are similar one with 3” rise and the one mounted with 4.5” rise. I switched out for the 3” rise set which worked better but then I flipped them upright which is where I’m at for now. I still want to use bars with some drop...just need to find them.

This may end up more of a gravel cruiser than gravel grinder.

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[MazdaFlyer]

I have an old 1950s Columbia cruiser converted to a gravel bike with 700c wheels. It's single speed and I use 38 x 24 gearing which sounds low, and it is at first, but if you are on a 100K gravel event then you will be glad for this gearing, unless you are a fit young rider. I can ride a lot of single track with this gearing but you have to stand and attack. For the Ore to Shore mountain bike race I used 28 x 20 but that has hills. The O to S was ridden on a 1938 Colson based Klunker single speed. Most single speed mountain bike riders use 32 x 16 with 29 wheels. Try 32 x 16 or 36 and try different cogs (36 x 16 might be the sweet spot for a gravel clunker?). We have moderate hills in town and a lot of people convert their vintage cruisers to a 36 tooth front canning and use whatever came on the rear. The 24 tooth freewheel came from China and was like $5. It makes a clunk but has lasted about 4 years so far. The disadvantage is that there is really no way to get these cheap single speed freewheels easily off as they have dimples for tool placement, not slots like the Shimano. Problem is I could only find big cogs as cheap Chinese bits. To get it off you can destroy the cog by prying off the cover plate or by tack welding the freewheel to the gear. I have spares in case it blows but so far so good. I kept busting chains standing on steep hills. I finally went with a double step riveted 7 speed chain, which may or may not fit your gears, might be too narrow. You might have to use a spider and multi speed chain ring. This chain has not broken. I kept getting pinch flats on single track, despite Stan's Sealant in the tubes. 40 psi or more solved that problem with the 40 mm gravel tires. It's very hard to ride sand with 700c x 40 mm tires with 40 psi in them but not impossible if it's fairly flat and you bust a gut. Hope this helps. Im old, in my 70s, and my leg strength is way down but if you have gearing laying around somewhere in this range it would be a good place to start. Try 36 x 16 that might work for almost everything gravel. You'll spin out but you can also climb, choices.

Thanks for your experience input. I’m in 70’s also, guess that’s why I like the old stuff. Starting to think this bike May be more of a gravel cruiser than a gravel grinder. Never planned to race it just want to ride some of the country roads I used to ride with my mountain bikes 20 years ago.
Right now I have a 44 x 22 drive train setup. It felt good on the pavement this morning. It’s a one piece crank at present, I have a three piece 36T crank available. The rear hub is a coaster brake type.
I do appreciate the old ways and early technology, it’s just cool that some of this old stuff has survived all these years. We have a ride in this area called the Dirty Kanza in the spring, various lengths unsupported. Years back we had a ride in August that took place in the same Flint Hills called “The Death Ride”. It was basically a 100K ride, and it was a killer ride. Not a race but bragging rights for time to complete. I did it 5 times, completed 4 and bonked out once.


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[MazdaFlyer]

Looking forward to hear how this compares to the Preston for you.

The geometry of the Preston is better suited to my build and size. With the beefier tires it feels more stable at this point.


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[MazdaFlyer]

Went to LBS and we found a vertically longer used PUCH 60mm stem. The shop has been around since ‘63. This allows for more rise at bar mount so I flipped the 3” rise Wald bars back over. No test ride yet, but hopefully this will help the geometry be better suited to my old body. Also allows for more lamp bracket adjustment.

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[MazdaFlyer]

Added grips today, adjusted saddle position, greased stem and adjusted, added bell and rechecked tightness of parts. Several test rides and more adjustments. It rides nice getting close to Preston but frame still smaller.
The GravelKing tires seem to have less rolling resistance than the Riddlers I have on my BO#14 Motobike even though it’s heavier.

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[Dr. Tankenstein]

Nice changes!
Maybe get a laidback seatpost to compensate for the frame length? Nothing drastic, just a vintage post turned ‘backwards’ to get you a couple of inches


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[MazdaFlyer]

Nice changes!
Maybe get a laidback seatpost to compensate for the frame length? Nothing drastic, just a vintage post turned ‘backwards’ to get you a couple of inches


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Thanks!
That’s probably a good idea. Not sure how easy it will be to remove the straight one though it went in tight.
This Motobike is still a work in progress. I have a period rear rack for it, just haven’t got around to trying it out. Playing with lamp to LED ideas.


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[MazdaFlyer]

I played around with several LED ideas for the carbide lamp. I don’t want to alter the lamp at this point. Also not sure if I want to clean up the nickel.
I finally seized on a simple solution, maybe temporary. I had some of the old Bell flashers that Walmart sold. The molded straps had broken so I cut them off.

Temporarily used some Gorilla tape to stick them in the back of lamp. The lighting illusion seems to work OK. Need a better removable attachment.

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[MazdaFlyer]

Added a period rack in keeping with age of bike.

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[MazdaFlyer]

28” wheel-set and 700c tires.

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[MattiThundrrr]

Have the Panaracers seen any dirt/gravel yet? Is that green rubber sticky on pavement? I'm curious how they perform.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Have the Panaracers seen any dirt/gravel yet? Is that green rubber sticky on pavement? I'm curious how they perform.

They roll smooth on pavement, I’m not sensing the resistance that I somewhat expected. May get a chance for some gravel in the coming week.


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[Duchess]

I have those same tires on a utility-type bike and they have plenty of grip for that use.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I have those same tires on a utility-type bike and they have plenty of grip for that use.

Got out for some distance today about a mile on freshly graded gravel road, 4.5 overall. The street around my neighborhood are also decomposing asphalt...some areas like gravel. The bike and tires rode well, just some squirming around in some of the loose stuff. Hard pack sections worked fine.

Rode a variety of surfaces. Still a bit to much bar drop for my liking.

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[MazdaFlyer]

Before the gravel test I added my reflector signature to the rack.

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[ifitsfreeitsforme]

I gotta put a pair of those lime green ball end grips on something.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Added a double leg stand.

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[MazdaFlyer]

Changed out the bars to a Velo Orange Postino zero rise set. I’d still like more back sweep but these may fit the bill. The pair I want are on eBay but for some reason the seller won’t let me buy them. Member for years, no negative feedback, 100% feedback, no issues, have bought and sold and they won’t tell me why they won’t sell to me.
The grips were hard to remove and reinstall. It rides good, may raise the seat an inch or so.

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[MazdaFlyer]

Details...

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[MazdaFlyer]

Out and about this morning, smooth rider, really liking the tires.

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