We get a lot of MTB conversions sent to our Readers’ Rides inbox but very few hardtail to drop bar setups like John’s 2005 Cove Handjob. He’s done a wonderful job with this one so let’s get to it!
What to do with a 2005 Cove Handjob frame made from Columbus Nivacrom tubes? It seemed a waste to fully retire a bike that had served so well, for so many years, but 100mm of fork travel was no longer cutting it. Already having a new set of decals meant a frame refresh was more easily accomplished, the new powder coat finish adding 100g over the old paint.
Changing to Easton EA70 gravel drop bars worked well with a 50mm Raceface stem. I decided that the fork could remain as the old Rockshox Rebas had the clearance to run slightly bigger wheels. An old set of Hope hubs were built up with Sapim spokes and Stans Crest 650b rims—the most stressful part was probably getting the spoke lengths correct! To finish things off, the wheels got booted up with 40mm WTB Resolute tires set up tubeless (of course).
Brakes needed to be post mount which limited the choice to Sram 11-speed (didn’t know you could run XT calipers with GRX levers at the time), but paired with an XT cassette and chain. Running a single ring up front freed up the left hand shifter which I set up to operate the fork lock out (after finding a new damper on eBay).
The remainder of the finishing kit involved recycling some Raceface cranks and pairing them with a new 38T single ring and a USE Titanium Alien post to give some extra compliance to an old Selle Italia Flite saddle.
I turned to Wizard Works for their excellent on bike storage options.
All in, the bike runs really well, quick enough on tarmac but more than capable off road. Granted, you wouldn’t want to ride steep, technical singletrack but it excels on flowy stuff and the fact the fork can be locked out so easily is a major bonus…
We’d like to thank all of you who submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared here at The Radavist. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!