Gravel bike conversion?

[steveindenmark]

I think the point was you don't need carbon rims on any gravel bike.

I'd avoid Hunt, they are a triumph of marketing over function.

I disagree. I have had 2 sets for about 8 years. I have ridden thousands of km on them, never touched them and they are great.

 

[StuAff]

The ATR makes a better endurance bike than the GTD does a gravel bike. 34mm max tyre clearance or 45mm (on 700C, and that's official figures so some wider rubber may fit…)….no contest. And wider road tyre options like the 40mm Pirelli recently launched are an option too. Without contravening the n+1 rule, if it was one or the other…ATR every time.

 

[StuAff]

Years ago when I was a mere grasshopper if you wanted to ride down a gravel track , canal path , halfway up a mountain, or across the world you went on your trusty ol' steel Dawes Galaxy and then on a Monday you rode it to work.... Oh those were the days

'Can' is not 'should', and if the likes of Jobst Brandt or Tom Ritchey had better options (or weren't working on them) they'd have used them....

 

[ade towell]

I used to have the Kinesis Gran fondo which I think the GTD replaced, I now have the Tripster V1, with both was able to put much wider tyres on than the official recommendation, would just use the wheels you have and see how big a tyre you can get on without fear of rub when a bit muddy

 

[T4tomo]

I disagree. I have had 2 sets for about 8 years. I have ridden thousands of km on them, never touched them and they are great.

That doesn't invalidate my point that you don't NEED them. I didn't say you couldn't have them.

Unless of course you're suggesting you MUST have carbon rims on a gravel bike.

 

[PaulSB]

That doesn't invalidate my point that you don't NEED them. I didn't say you couldn't have them.

Unless of course you're suggesting you MUST have carbon rims on a gravel bike.

My interpretation was that Steve disagreed with your second line.

I think the point was you don't need carbon rims on any gravel bike.

I'd avoid Hunt, they are a triumph of marketing over function.

 

[AlanW]

I used to have the Kinesis Gran fondo which I think the GTD replaced, I now have the Tripster V1, with both was able to put much wider tyres on than the official recommendation, would just use the wheels you have and see how big a tyre you can get on without fear of rub when a bit muddy

I have found some 33mm Michelin cyclocross tyres that will fit, but as you say I'm sure I could squeeze a wider tyre in. A friend of mine has 35mm Schwalbe gravel tyres mounted on his gravel bike, which just happens to share the same thru axles as my GTD.

So we plan to meet up over the next couple of days and see if those wheels will slot into my frame. At least then I'll have a definitive line in the sand to work with.

 

[figbat]

Can you fit 650b wheels and get wider tyres on?

I have no issues with Hunt and they are well liked amongst my (off-road) riding group.

 

[AlanW]

Can you fit 650b wheels and get wider tyres on?

I have no issues with Hunt and they are well liked amongst my (off-road) riding group.

I did speak to Kinesis about if that was an option:-

Being our flagship, endurance, road bike, we haven’t tested a GTD frame with 650b wheels as far as I know. It was designed around 700c wheels.

Due to the frame and fork design with slim, curved stays and fork blades, I don’t think you would get a huge increase in tyre size if 650 wheels were fitted and this would leave the bike sitting very low which wouldn’t be great for the geo.

I would recommend sticking with 700c wheels and the current GTD V2 will take up to 34mm tyres which opens up some tyre options that will be capable of light gravel riding. Something like the Challenge Gravel Grinder in 33mm would be a fine choice for fast, summer Gravel rides and wouldn’t slow you down much on the road either.

 

[Marius Mellado]

Why do you need carbon gravel wheels. You are making this way more complicated than you need to. Just get some wheels and fit knobblies in the flavour you want, tubeless or tubed. You'll probably have a bike a bit closer to a CX bike with more racy geometry.

I did the opposite, bought a CX bike and have spare wheels that turn it into a road bike that goes up vertical hills.

Agree!

 

[PaulSB]

I did speak to Kinesis about if that was an option:-

Being our flagship, endurance, road bike, we haven’t tested a GTD frame with 650b wheels as far as I know. It was designed around 700c wheels.

Due to the frame and fork design with slim, curved stays and fork blades, I don’t think you would get a huge increase in tyre size if 650 wheels were fitted and this would leave the bike sitting very low which wouldn’t be great for the geo.

I would recommend sticking with 700c wheels and the current GTD V2 will take up to 34mm tyres which opens up some tyre options that will be capable of light gravel riding. Something like the Challenge Gravel Grinder in 33mm would be a fine choice for fast, summer Gravel rides and wouldn’t slow you down much on the road either.

What a great reply from a bike supplier. It reads to me as great customer service. 👏

 

[AlanW]

What a great reply from a bike supplier. It reads to me as great customer service. 👏

Say what you like about Hunt wheels, but, and l can only speak as l find, the customer service is top notch

 

[StuAff]

I did speak to Kinesis about if that was an option:-

Being our flagship, endurance, road bike, we haven’t tested a GTD frame with 650b wheels as far as I know. It was designed around 700c wheels.

Due to the frame and fork design with slim, curved stays and fork blades, I don’t think you would get a huge increase in tyre size if 650 wheels were fitted and this would leave the bike sitting very low which wouldn’t be great for the geo.

I would recommend sticking with 700c wheels and the current GTD V2 will take up to 34mm tyres which opens up some tyre options that will be capable of light gravel riding. Something like the Challenge Gravel Grinder in 33mm would be a fine choice for fast, summer Gravel rides and wouldn’t slow you down much on the road either.

Martin Gibbs, at a rough guess- he always posts accurate and detailed info on the Kinesis Owners Club FB page.