Hey guys, I'm trying to make my bike more suitable for paved roads and gravel greenways since it's only way I can ride more where I live. Do you have any recommendations for tires, saddle, fork?
IMHO I wouldn't change a thing, ride it as is. Saddles are personal thing so if you wan t something different its trial and error. If you really wanted too you could swap to a rigid fork and semi slicks. But I'd leave it be for what you wanna do.
When my wife and I relegated our older rigid and HT MTBs to road and gravel use we put on skinny (38mm) sem-slicks. Made for a noticeable increase in speed and decrease in effort compared to the 2.0" trail tires that we had on previously.
Yeah it is fine as is... When time comes for new tires you will just want something that is more of a semi-slick than knobby tire. Other option, tirewise, would be to look at 700c Cyclocross (CX) type tires. This will add a bit of variety to the tread type.
Past that kinda stuff, check with your local municipal codes with regards to "visibility" for riding on the roads and whatnot. Some areas require that you have a front and rear facing light and others may not. Then look at some things like framebags and panniers to add to the "ease" of carrying things, but that kinda depends on the length of your commutes and rides.
Definitely invest in a nice U-Lock if you are planning on locking the bike up outside. There are companies like Chrome that offer locks that double as belts or shoulder straps for backpacks/bags.
When I bought my new mountain bike, my old one became my gravel and pavement bike. The only thing I feel it really needs is a more upright and softer seat. Never realized how hard my seat was riding single track. I guess I didn't stay seated enough to notice. also another 40mm rise on the bars would be nice. As far as tires I just add some air.
Personally, I'd just lock out the fork, change the tires and call it "done".
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