Photo submitted by Nigel Harper, “…public paths and tracks give way to a wandering series of gravel and sand surface ideal to make those first steps off the hard-top, even on the trusty old hardtail! Bigger adventures around but this makes a fine excursion for a lazy Sunday spin.”
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My 1996 vintage Trek 9700 had the AMP F3, Horst designed fork fitted by the LBS from new. So when I finally got a modern era MTB last year it was time to execute the conversion.
12 months of watching the used ads located the SRAM shifters, TRP Spyre SLC brakes and a set of American Classic 29er wheels. I’ve kept the Shimano STX-RC cranks and 42t, paired with a GX derailleur and generic 11-42 cassette.
The fork has clearance for 28mm rubber as standard on 29er rims, but the more appropriate 33mm Challenge Almanzo needed some metal removed as well as a revised bump stop to limit travel. +/-30mm. Enough for the intended use.
After some trial fittings (that bent under load!) the 22mm Hayes pattern disc mount needed a 12mm aluminium plate, hand cut, drilled and tapped to sort the Spyre SLC
As a non-disc frame, two additional holes drilled in the rear dropout allowed another plate to be mounted at the rear – with plenty of contact surface support.
The geometry is probably wonky vs modern thinking but it rides nicely and keeps up with the road pack and is a great way to extend the life of a 24 year old bike I’ve had from new.
10.5kg all up since you ask.
And yes, 27.5 wheels work nicely with Schwalbe 38mm tyres – no bump stop amendment needed.
