To ride this, however, the first question would be what kind of bike to ride? The course will about 50% gravel, 30% paved surface, and 20% of single track which includes some tricky downhill sections. The obvious choice would be a cyclocross. It has a road bike frame for efficient pedaling and quick steering, the capability of fitting slightly wider and nobbier cross tires for off road traction, and a geometry that is little more upright for comfort.
However, as I discovered on a 35 mile single track ride through the Manistee National Forest, it is not the most comfortable bike over trough surface for a prolonged time. The geometry is comfortable enough for road surface or smooth trails, but over roots and rocks, it requires a lot more upper body strength and attention. It gets tiring.
Therefore, in keeping with the name of the ride, I decided to make my HT mountain bike into a rigid 96er with skinny cross tires. A Frankenbike it shall be. My hope is that the rigid platform will provide enough pedaling efficiency for climbing, the longer fork with elevated front end will provide a more relaxed riding position, and the basic MTB platform will be able to handle the single track sections better than a cyclocross.
The HT is old school, circa 1999 Weyless Ultra with Easton Ultralite tubings.
Shimano LX, XT 9 speed drive train provides transmission.
Avid Single Digit V-brakes feel almost as good as my buddy's Hayes hydraulic.
A Origin 8 combo 26/29er fork is installed.
A Shimano T565 touring front wheel is wrapped with Continental Twister 32mm tire.
The rear Mavic Crossland is mated a Schwalbe CX pro 26x1.35.
Basic aluminum cockpit with riser bar completes the deal.
The completed project weighed in about 22 lbs with pedals. Not bad for a 13 year old cheap bike. I am going to bring the MTB tires with me just in case that the course looks trickier than I think. Otherwise, I hope my Frankenbike can take on the Frankenbike 50. We will see. Ride report to follow.
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