UPDATE: the Hybrid Gravel Bike Goes #Bikepacking!
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
As the Summer winds down, it's time for a review and update on my IDEAL gravel bike and bikepacking bike!
I have owned DOZENS of bikes for varied types of cycling, from traditional touring bikes to super-light gravel bikes, “all-road” commuter bikes, Fat bikes and MTBs, to heavy-duty bikepacking rigs with belt drive geared transmissions.
Last year about this time, I started the process of building my IDEAL gravel bike that was also capable of light #bikepacking.
With these two objectives, I needed some specific features and components:
I already have a road/touring/gravel bike with 40mm tires. For light bikepacking I wanted more volume, with the "sweet spot" being 50mm light knobbies. (I also have a fat bike with 27.5" x 3.8" "summer tires" for hard core offroad adventures.)
For short tours on mixed roads with an ultralight load I simply did not need the capacity of a heavy MTB designed for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. But I still wanted some front suspension and straight handlebars for efficient packing with a front harness.
The bike I wanted was NOT a #gravelbike and NOT a #mountainbike. The staring point for this hybrid gravel and light bikepacking rig was the Motobecane “Elite Adventure PRO” from BikesDirect.com.
This bike has all the basic features I needed including a lightweight aluminum frame, hydraulic disk brakes, Rockshox Recon front fork with lockout. wide range, 1x12 SRAM Eagle drive train, 29-inch (700c) wheels which are tubeless-ready, and straight handlebars.
We know that the the e is no perfect gravel bike doesn't exist (which is why we need multiple bikes!) But for my type of “gravel” riding and light bikepacking, the hybrid bike outfitted with Pirelli Cinturato 50mm tires is my new favorite!
I made the following additions and modifications I made to the Motobecane Elite Adventure PRO to get it ready for the first "gravel grinder" of the year in May, followed by hundreds of miles of riding and bikepacking:
Pirelli Cinturato 50mm tires: https://amzn.to/3HkThyR
Double-sided clipless pedals: https://amzn.to/3T44HK6
Locking handlebar grips with “horns”: https://amzn.to/4juQWyL
Two Aluminum water bottle cages: https://amzn.to/4kMLacV
Lower water bottle cage for tools: (complete installation article: Click HERE)
27.2mm Carbon Fiber seat post: https://amzn.to/3Svh7um
Rear pannier rack: https://amzn.to/4kABbHS
Two handlebar “feed bags”: https://amzn.to/4jyV4xR
Top tube bag: https://amzn.to/4mLIuOq
Half frame bag: https://amzn.to/4jxp6C0
I’ve logged many miles on the new Motobecane Adventure PRO. This “gravel bike” has proved it is capable of everything I have tackled. Now, after these varied adventures, I have finished the season with a few more modifications:
As I completed the recent overnight bikepacking ride home from Minocqua, my left pedal gave out. This was a pedal that I had recycled from a previous bike, and it had unknown mileage. This gave me the opportunity to upgrade to slightly larger pedals: dual sided flat with SPD cleats.
Larger platform pedals with SPD cleats My overnight ride required three water bottles. But longer rides, especially on dry western routes, would require more water and food. So I installed a set of adapters on the front forks that allowed the addition of cargo cages. These cages can be used with dry bags or Nalgene bottles for great versatility - or I can quickly swap standard water bottle cages. See also the related article on how I added the same adapters to the down tube for the cage that holds by tool kit.
When building the bike, I recycled a carbon seat post from a former touring bike. This Fall, I noticed a hairline crack at the upper seat base. A broken seat post will end any ride, so this seat post went into the trash. I then installed an aluminum post with an internal spring and dampener. Now I have shock-absorbing action on rough trails!
And that was it! There is no perfect gravel bike, and there are a wide range of requirements to suit your individual needs. But for my type of “gravel” riding and light bikepacking, the hybrid bike outfitted with tubeless Pirelli Cinturato 50mm tires is my new favorite! See the related review of these great tires!
Here is a video recap of the one year review of the hybrid Gravel/bikepacking bike:
Please leave your comments on choosing and installing tubeless tires for gravel riding and bikepacking. Subscribe to the GreatOutThere.online blog for continual updates - and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
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