vintage gravel bike AKA drop bar mtb - restoration / build

here i convert an old mountain bike to a gravel bike
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00:00 intro
00:24 bike check
04:15 taking the bike apart
10:57 cleaning frame
16:35 bending handlebars
18:31 cleaning parts
24:00 installing headset
25:33 cleaning parts 2
27:40 bottom bracket issue
30:15 cleaning parts 3
30:48 installing canti brakes
31:43 cleaning parts 4
34:18 installing cranks
35:28 wheels clean & service
40:39 cleaning parts 5
42:16 bike build
58:12 finished bike
01:00:23 outro

[@yf224]

Thanks

[@yf224]

Looks really amazing!

[@garysprojects]

wow!!! thank you so much i really appreciate it !!! will use it for the next build thank you ! 🥹🙏💕

[@bigbadstretch13yrago]

That beautiful❤️😊

[@tehgangstadawg]

I love all the attention to detail and obsession with period correctness. There are so many channels that show good mechanics, but all the shrewd mixing and matching is my jam and this is one of my new favorite bike channels.

[@garysprojects]

@@tehgangstadawg thank you my dude I appreciate that ! Cheers

[@red_dread]

Wow. This is my number one favourite out of all your builds. Absolutely perfect. Every detail complements each other. Almost impossible to pick a highlight, you simply can't beat Turbo, Exage, grey tyres, that late 80s/early 90s teal with the rock fragment graphics, but for me I'd say the level of intricacy around the bars, bar tape, lever hoods and shifter setup is next level. Few professional bike shops would do it that well.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you so much !! High praise from the Don himself , I am honored 🙌🙌🙌 I did spend a bit of time working out the bar tape & cables haha but had to do it until I was happy with it ! Cheers mate means a lot thank you 😊😊🙏🙏

[@MonkeyShred]

Here’s to all those working in the rain 🤙😂

[@garysprojects]

Hahaha every time I’m too lazy to work in the rain, I just think of you and it gives me the motivation I need 😂😂😂

[@bressanjuanagustin8718]

Dude i admire your precision, love your hard work and the camly way you explain every step, pretty jealous about how you manage to make every build without having every specific tool, but men, your sense of estétic is unbelievable. You are definitely a bigger artist than a bike mechanic, and that's a lot to say. Keep going mate. hardly understand how this channel isn't bigger, it's just unfair! Big hug from argentina!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude that means a lot thank you ! Just try to do my best haha that’s all I can do. Appreciate the support ! Howdy from Melbourne australia!!!

[@alex.gallega]

This is precisely what I want to do with my old trekking bike. I may do the same, but with mini v brakes instead. Nice and clean work; I love drop bars!

[@garysprojects]

Hell ya dude, do it up! stoked with how it turned out and quite a fun ride ! Cheers 🙏😊

[@seraphan6]

You can use Evaporust for situations like that rusty brake boss on the fork. Wrap it with paper towel and then saturate the paper towel with Evaporust. Wrap the area with cling film and check it in 24 hours.

[@garysprojects]

Oh wow that’s a good tip I gotta try that one ! Thank you 😊

[@samtatge8299]

Great idea! I have rust on a top tube from cable clamps. Thanks

[@johnsheetz6639]

Yeah I've been binging a few of these restos because I just picked up a couple 90s bikes cheap off Facebook. It seemed to work good I know one time years ago I got this stuff called rust remover put a chain in there that was a little kinked up and I came back to a pile of rust! Look to the ingredients a head sulfuric acid in it 😮

[@alaricpaley6865]

God I love that style of Canti brakes so much. They always look nice and they are so easy to set up.

[@garysprojects]

Yes! They look great and also very easy to get wide tyres out too !

[@johnsheetz6639]

Me too I'm much preferred them the other ones would always get bound up in those little L guides

[@johnsheetz6639]

I don't know if it's a thing but I'd be worried about the evapo-rust dissolving any grease I put in unless I cleaned it obsessively.

[@garysprojects]

You can always regrease if needed ! Cheers

[@noahfranks984]

I love that blue T-bone stem

[@garysprojects]

tbone! its a classic, i ended up stripping it in the purple wheeler build haha

[@kevinc1323]

Loved the determination and ingenuity of getting that cable guide peg out of the bottom bracket. A lot of true grit in this restoration, guess I'm a new fan!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you mate i appreciate that ! Was harder than I thought haha! Thought it would just pop out 😂

[@CaptRicardoDeCafe]

Great channel. This is proper content right here. Tear it down, clean it, assemble with mods, ride, glamour shots, done. Perfect.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I appreciate that

[@wendel8505]

I truly admire your attention to detail and dedication to restoring/fixing the original parts that many a mechanic would simply throw away and replace. I saw another comment calling you an artist and i couldnt agree more:) stunning build and much love from switzerland!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you so much ! That means a lot , i appreciate it , 💕 from Australia!!

[@coachjeff493]

Another great build brother..... Deb and I love it when you mention Daiso .... Our favourite Daiso is Funabashi where they have 5 floors of Daiso goodness hahahaha

[@garysprojects]

Hahah yes !! I love daiso I gotta go and check in there again to see what else there is. We have a few here in melbs , never been to the in in Funabashi but sound awesome !! Cheers mate

[@samtatge8299]

Drive side bb cup. I don’t fight the stubborn /stuck one’s. Easy enough to clean and grease it in place.

[@garysprojects]

Interesting! I guess sometimes if u can’t take ‘em out u gotta do it that way. I like to take it out incase the next person wants to change it in the future

[@ohjajohh]

Great video! I have an old Giant MTB that I didn't ride for 5+ years and it really needs some restoration. This video is helpful to me as I've never done any bike restoration before

[@garysprojects]

Hell ya dude ! Good luck with the restoration the old giants do up nicely!

[@jordandelgado5798]

for the headset cups, it is a must to install one at a time (never both at the same time). surely helps esp when it didn't go the proper fitment and if so, at least, you'll be fixing just a single cup. hope this one's a dig. cheers on your build, stay stoked 🏄🏿‍♂️

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate i appreciate that ! Thx for the tip ✌️✌️

[@camt1818]

Turned out so sick! The gray tires look awesome, and I love everything about the drop bars. Great choices all around.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I appreciate that ! Yes I think the grey tyres work out well too. Cheers mate!

[@janeblogs324]

Coolest 90s factory colour scheme I've seen in a long time

[@garysprojects]

Hell ya when I saw it I knew I had to pick it up !

[@bybaba]

Always lookiing forward for the bike test ride..great build!

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate! I appreciate that 😊

[@mechatakoyakisan]

Blessing us with another sweet build Gary! Your patience to details really comes across!

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate i appreciate that ! 🙏💕😊

[@reeceholmes8546]

nice one Gary, new life into old bikes is so cool, love it, thanks man

[@garysprojects]

Cheers Reece! Good to save another one thanks ! 😊

[@bave_]

this bike is killer man. Loved all the tips, super helpful for someone like me who rebuild their own old bike

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I appreciate that ! Glad it’s helpful 😊

[@keixoun]

nice attention to detail on the bar wrap

[@garysprojects]

Thank you ! Was worth re doing it properly ! Cheers 😊

[@zhexie5086]

Definitely number 1 build you've built, looks so good!

[@garysprojects]

Cheers my dude that means a lot thank you ! 😊

[@AbeldeLugo]

AWESOME!!! Really, really pretty project! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I appreciate that !! 🙏😊

[@ridemend9723]

colective consciousness ive buying old aluminium marin with steel fork and puting 3x8 sti levers on it because i dreamed of it 2 days ago :D

[@garysprojects]

Hell ya dude sounds good !

[@ashpunting]

This one came out really well. I like the droppers and gears. I've not seen many like that. You're never too old to learn ☺️👍🏼

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude! glad you like it! cheers buddy ! 😊😊😊

[@mikepins]

Dude, awesome!! Love that dropbar setup..

[@garysprojects]

Ayy cheers mate!

[@Vtoq]

my 1988 gt timberline also has the same setup of bottle mounts

[@garysprojects]

Interesting! Do you know why ?

[@bigbadstretch13yrago]

Yyyyyyeeeeessssss!!!! Awesome stuff. I can’t wait to watch this. Thank you for the video drop😊❤️

[@garysprojects]

No worries at all let me know what you think after u watch it 🙏😊

[@latrace1986]

Looks great, Gary! Thanks for sharing

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude! I appreciate that

[@Robert_Thomas832]

Excellent job sir. Love seeing old bike back on the road with style

[@garysprojects]

Thank you Robert I appreciate that ! Stoked with how the build turned out. Cheers!

[@Robert_Thomas832]

I picked up a late 1980's frame recently. Favorit- Czechoslovakian era. Newish wheels and fat tyres added, replacement derailleurs and chain. It's a great ride. Keep up the good work.

[@yveshennequin1616]

What a strong build ! So stylish

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude!! I appreciate that

[@louietorres8763]

Such a great looking build!!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you Louie i appreciate that !

[@bnp4292]

The surgeon, the maestro. 10/10.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you so much ! 🙏😊😊😊😊

[@milododd]

hell yeah man. 26" gravel is my next build too. can't wait!

[@garysprojects]

Hell ya Dude! Gunna be sick

[@Cheeso99]

Nice conversion. Some of thr tips were new and helpful to me.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude glad it was helpful! Cheers!

[@andyc972]

Cheers Gary, great looking bike, names are often misleading and a marketing ruse so thanks for sharing what makes all bikes fun !

[@garysprojects]

No worries mate! Thank you i appreciate that 🙏yes doesn’t matter what you call it it’s all fun at the end of the day ! 😊😊😊

[@munchiesmonster]

turned out beautiful! great work.

[@garysprojects]

Thanks mate I appreciate that !

[@badger67]

Superb job mate. She looks gorgeous 👍

[@garysprojects]

Thank you mate! Stoked with how it turned out 👍😊

[@L00P0]

very very tastefully done

[@garysprojects]

Thank you very much Tom !

[@kingflynxi9420]

Gary you keep doing these! Please stop before I make one 😂 the temptation is so real to convert my Ti M Trax to drop bars!

[@garysprojects]

Hahahahh cheers mate , I see a conversion coming up in your future 🤣🤣🤣

[@leethancarroll5259]

I’m getting ready to do my first rebuild on and old cannondale and this is pretty much exactly what I want to do!

[@garysprojects]

Hell ya dude ! Will be sick !

[@kenlang6672]

This was a sweet old build. I love the graphics. Every vid you do manages to teach me something, some sort of tip. For instance using Enviro pest oil for brake hydraulics...slick!

[@garysprojects]

Hahah that was not from this vid but thank you 😂

[@framesetmatch]

Super cool build! It's good to see most of the original groupset getting reused too. It's inspired me and I'm heading over to FB marketplace.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I appreciate that! Have fun on fb marketplace! 😊😊

[@ridinglacs]

Fark yeah Gary, this is a great looking unit

[@garysprojects]

Ayyy cheers brother i appreciate that 🙏

[@Bryanribeiross]

Looks so clean ❤️‍🔥

[@garysprojects]

Thank you Bryan ! 🙏😊

[@henriettaspark9802]

saw a yeti documentation these days and the double bottle mounts on the down tube are on cyclocross race bikes, to shoulder it better.

[@garysprojects]

Oh wow thank you so much ! Makes sense

[@TheRocketyaourt]

great restoration and patience on that headset (my consumerist mind would have bought a new one. : / ) the before/after on the stem is fantastic !

[@garysprojects]

Haha thank you mate ! Ya would’ve been way easier to just buy one , but probably less entertaining 😂 cheers!

[@johnsheetz6639]

If some people here just knew how much people were paying in the 90s for something they consider garbage they have a whole new appreciation for what this man is doing. There was a lot of successf down with The sickness tha wouldget smoked by an Ozark trail that's out now. There is a special place in my heart for these old 90s mountain bikes. I would buy a magazine just to look at them back then. I mean that three-piece crank you can't tell me that's not a work of art. There's nothing but stampef garbage nowadays.

[@garysprojects]

agreed! some of the parts back in the day had some very nice details that you definitely dont get today ! cheers

[@VoidRockSteady]

Bravo! Very inspiring.

[@garysprojects]

Thank u my dude I appreciate that ! 😊

[@JohnPilling25]

I'd have tapped the bolt hole in the underside of the bb shell to take a cap head (Allen) bolt 3 or 4mm depending on the size of the hole. Wonderful job on the restoration and modification. ❤

[@garysprojects]

Yes ! That’s a a great idea nice job 👍 thank you mate i appreciate that ! Cheers 🙏😊

[@brandoncastillon903]

Love it. Super rad build!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I appreciate that !

[@brandoncastillon903]

What friction shifters were those again?

[@garysprojects]

@@brandoncastillon903 dia compe silver shifters

[@suborum]

Thanks so much for such a great video! I'm glad I subscribed, keep it up :)

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude ! Glad you liked the vid. Cheers!

[@hookerjl1]

Came out pretty cool…like the design and colours of the bike, really worth saving it👍🏻😎also like the polished stem…so shiny☀️☀️☀️😎over all the conversion from MTB to kind of gravel mtb is really well done🌟🌟🌟cheers, mate🙂

[@garysprojects]

Thank you mate glad you liked it! Thank you as always !! Cheers 🙏😊😊😊😊

[@hookerjl1]

@@garysprojects thanks👍🏻🙂really like to see all the steps and the way you comment them…and taking about the mistakes too, that I also make from time to time when I try to remove the cranks without loosen the bolts/nuts before😉☺️bike building is awesome, won‘t miss it😎

[@garysprojects]

@@hookerjl1 thank you my dude ! I like sharing tips so people won’t make the same mistake as me haha!! 💕😊

[@hamishdore5635]

That is an impressive effort on the frame

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate , took way longer than I anticipated 😂😂😭

[@justinyou8167]

so good gary yes!!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you Justin!! 😊

[@benjaminpatrick6048]

Excellanto, can't wait to make a move on my prairie breaker

[@garysprojects]

Hell ya dude ! Do it up !

[@Saints66]

So good as usual 👏👏👏

[@garysprojects]

Ayy thx u my dude I appreciate that ! 💕🙏

[@brrrt6666]

That was a long ass restauration video but I watched it all the way!

[@garysprojects]

Hahaha thank you my dude ! Def wasn’t short 😂

[@20Kilogram]

Just got a 90s Fuji Del Rey, knew the brand but not the model, its almost new and i sent it to a bike shop for a full service and upgrade brakes gear shifters and a few more things, im so excited

[@garysprojects]

hell ya gunna be a fun bike!

[@20Kilogram]

@@garysprojects fingers crossed 🙂

[@klunker289]

Nice man good job!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude ! 😊

[@randallblytheadlercavalera8373]

nice restoration 😊

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude !

[@seakayaker20]

as you said, saddle is a temp one. other than that, great job at giving this lovely frame/paintjob new life.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I appreciate that

[@Goenzelsen]

Love it!!!

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate !

[@RoyBramlowe]

This bike is a beauty congats

[@garysprojects]

Thank you Roy !

[@adredy]

I found this bike in last year in bush in perfect condition no rust at all only dirt

[@garysprojects]

Awwww yea ! It’s a goodie

[@kristianmartpesito5095]

Learned a lot with this video :D Thank you! Hi from Philippines :))

[@garysprojects]

Thank you ! Hello from Melbourne australia ! 😊

[@tellit_one3613]

Nice one!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you !

[@fusilier9276]

Nice Build💣

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate! 😊

[@ajthmmht]

I never enjoying 1 hour of videos before. Even the podcast. But this.... 🎉

[@garysprojects]

Hahah thank you mate that means a lot! 🙏😊

[@distortohio]

I’m not a drop bar dude, but this is a sick bike. Excellent build, Gary! ✌️

[@garysprojects]

Thank you mate ! 😊

[@withfilm]

Really love watching you build this up Gary! I just picked up an 88' Specialized Streetjumper (yes, not Stump Jumper), which has a lot of similar rusting. Do you know where I can find out more detail about the method you're using here with the tin-foil and rust converter? Not restoring it. Just want to stop the rust and ride it. Many thanks.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you mate I appreciate that! That sounds like a cool bike! Not sure where you would find more info, I think I read up on it on forums a while back when I was first starting. I just did google search and so don’t really have a specific source. Cheers!

[@nutritionnerd1280]

gute arbeit! und cooles bike :) viel spaß damit.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you !! 🙏🙏😊😊

[@gusreyes5447]

Very nice restoration! Just my opinion though, maybe you should have replaced the headset with a new one. It won’t cost much.

[@garysprojects]

Cheers I appreciate that !

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

The Exage brake levers make modern STI shifters look so effin ugly. What a beautiful build.

[@garysprojects]

Thank you my dude I do like the slimmer brake levers ! Some of the newer ones look okay I think (sram) but the older brifters looking like alien heads 🤣🤣🤣

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

@@garysprojects the first gen 105 hydraulic levers!!! they were so ugly they made Boris Johnson look hot.

[@garysprojects]

@amitkumar-wj8gn 🤣🤣🤣

[@datablend]

Nice Gary!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you mate ! 😊😊

[@ARandomATube]

Really nice bike gaz. Jealous!

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate stoked with how it turned out !

[@jrooker1113]

Ive made that mistake with leaving the bolt in the crank. Was annoyed coz i did remove the other side, i just wasnt thinking. I was cranking down like man this is hard lol and then the tool came out and took some threads with it. Luckily the crank was destined for the bin anyway Also i do the same with for a breaker bar, a pole over a spanner lol. I like your videos, you remind me of me when i work on the bike. Like do a good job but pretty chill about stuff and improvise like that The part about wearing gloves while you didnt wear gloves made me lol

[@garysprojects]

Yessss the bolt is a doozy, I def done that before too, sometimes you just forget Breaker bar works great haha almost works all the time but sometimes I’m too lazy to take it out of the stand , but always easier ! Hahaha yes I ended up getting more gloves so all good 🤣 cheers homie !

[@Coastal_Cruzer]

Drop bar MTBs have suspension forks, gravels have solid and are often 700c

[@garysprojects]

Oh really ? Is that true ?

[@Coastal_Cruzer]

@@garysprojects those are the main differences. Though tire tread is also an important factor to consider. One is better suited for dirt and a bit of mud, the other for loose gravel.

[@garysprojects]

@@Coastal_Cruzer ah fair I just thought if you put a drop bar on a mtb (even rigid) it could be considered a ‘drop bar mtb’. Cheers!

[@dhbc1908]

You only have 6 of the 7 (2-7) cogs on the Uniglide cassette. The first (smallest) cog is missing.

[@garysprojects]

Ooo I thought something looked off! Thank you !

[@jesusescudero9721]

Love this one. :)

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate! Yellow bike coming one day 😂

[@jesusescudero9721]

Every second we are closer to the yellow one. :) @@garysprojects

[@garysprojects]

@@jesusescudero9721 HAHAHHA yes

[@kenczerwinski6365]

Sweet!

[@garysprojects]

Cheers !

[@Reflec999]

cute bike

[@garysprojects]

Thank you 🙏😊

[@royellisonsoriano]

This is so cool! I now prefer vintage bikes rather than newer ones. The classic look is so precious not to ride one.

[@garysprojects]

Cheers! They definitely have a certain charm ! 😊

[@senorspiegel]

I usually find the geometry goofy on these 26 gravel conversions but this looks proper! Good work! Treat yourself to a proper chain breaker please haha

[@garysprojects]

cheers mate i appreciate that !! Haha yes I need to get one soon 😂

[@w0ykj]

How does everyone on youtube manage to find such cool frames and I can't find a single one that fits me?

[@garysprojects]

😂 I spend a lot of time looking

[@w0ykj]

@@garysprojects Ok that makes me feel better about the countless hours ive been trawling FB marketplace and craigslist

[@garysprojects]

Keep looking you will find one eventually

[@richardcarr6493]

GREAT PROJECT BIKE BUT l would ve increased the gear range in the rear ,not sure if its cassette or freewheel tho ,better gears better biking !! l like the colors !!

[@garysprojects]

Thank you mate ! Gears aren’t too bad since it’s 3x , cheers !

[@layspeed]

Finally got around to watching yet another awesome build Gary! Perfect amount of time for me to make cookies too so cheers to that. Don't you hate it when your tool doesn't have enough leverage? 😂

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate I appreciate that ! Hope the cookies turned out good! haha yeah gotta bust out the breaker bar haha

[@layspeed]

@@garysprojects Cookies are always good around here! If you're ever in this part of the world I'll gladly make you some dude!

[@garysprojects]

@layspeed hell yeah I would be honored

[@layspeed]

@@garysprojects I had a friend come visit with his baby today and we chatted bikes and ate cookies haha!

[@fuckgoogle7314]

Make sure you wear gloves. I ran out of gloves. Love it.

[@garysprojects]

😂😂😂 thanks mate

[@EdgarSiscar]

May I ask was that a 26er? Genius! Thanks for everything!

[@garysprojects]

Yep it is ! Cheers my dude I appreciate it !

[@ninone23]

Sheeeesh 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@garysprojects]

hahah thanks g!

[@u1y55e]

Great video as always G, very clean build! What mic are you using? Sounds a bit buggy throughout

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate! I ended up using my computer speaker and phone , maybe they are giving out 🥶 might need to get a proper mic soon

[@kokainakralj]

Great build. Which stem are you using ? And how comfortable is it now with drop bars?

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate it’s an SR stem 90mm, it’s pretty comfortable , the frame is 56cm I probably could’ve gone 54/55 I think , you can see how comfortable at the end of the vid when I ride the bike, not bad at all

[@mythcrab6047]

Loved it. Where do I get the brass presta spacers?

[@garysprojects]

Cheers mate they are just off presta tubes !

[@mattcrane]

I’m pretty sure you need a WD-30 sponsor

[@garysprojects]

😂😂😂 I sure do

[@possibly8180]

Absolutely love how this turned out. How's the reach btw? it's kind of unfortunate how most of the retro mtb frames out there don't take kindly to drops unless they're mounted on a limp d stem lol

[@garysprojects]

HAHAHAHA limp d 🤣🤣🤣 Ya reach is good 56cm tt and 90mm stem If u want u could always run a smaller frame with a bigger d stem 😭😭😭

[@MC57315]

I've been wondering what those covers are in the background that you put over your shelves on the patio for a while now. I've been trying to find something to cover my bike repair shelf and that would work great to keep rain off. Do you still have a link of where to get them?

[@garysprojects]

I don’t have the link but both the shelves and covers are from ikea in the outdoor storage area

[@MC57315]

@@garysprojects thanks bud! BTW lovely bike, came out much nicer than I thought it would!

[@garysprojects]

@MC57315 cheers mate i appreciate that !

[@SergHooley]

❤❤❤

[@garysprojects]

🙏😊

[@tyronevalencia2508]

🤘🔥

[@garysprojects]

✌️😎