This week’s Reader’s Rig comes from Paul in France, who shares a peek at his mid-90s Decathlon Rockrider that’s been modified with disc brakes an Omnium CXC fork. Get to know more about Paul and his charming 650B “Turbo Fun” ATB here…

Words and photos by Paul Sibade

Hey everyone, I’m Paul from Toulouse, France. I got into bikes as a cargo bike messenger. These days, I’m a bike mechanic, and I love to build and ride different bikes in all kinds of ways, from commuting to sport riding and bickpacking trips, I’m happy as long as I’m riding!

Decathlon Rockrider 520

Here is my gravel/ATB/bikepacking/TURBO FUN bike. It’s a modified 26″ steel frame from Decathlon. It was made in France in 1995 and is full chromoly steel. The disc brake tab was added by Botch Cargo (@botchcargobikes), three welders converting old frames into cargo bikes. Be sure to check what they do; they are very talented! Creating a budget-friendly gravel bike is entirely doable if you find a welder to modify the frame. I recommend it, of course!

  • Decathlon Rockrider 520
  • Decathlon Rockrider 520

This bike is so much fun to ride. I instantly feel like a child when I get on it, trying to wheelie, skid, and jump. I have a lot of leverage and control with the wide bar, and the 27.5″ wheels are the sweet spot to be fast enough on tarmac and agile in the trails. I live in the capital of Occitanie, a region with access to many mountain ranges, such as the famous Pyrenees from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and the less-known Black Forest.

Decathlon Rockrider 520
  • Decathlon Rockrider 520
  • Decathlon Rockrider 520
  • Decathlon Rockrider 520
  • Frame: 1995 Decathlon Rockrider 520
  • Fork: Omnium CXC
  • Rims: 650b 3T C25 Discus Plus
  • Hubs: 3T
  • Tires: 650b x 2.00″ Continental RaceKing
  • Handlebars: Soma Dream Hi-Rise
  • Headset: Cane Creek C2
  • Crankset: Shimano 105 crank w/ 42T Stronglight chainring
  • Pedals: Shimano PD-M530
  • Cassette: Shimano Deore 10-speed 11-46
  • Derailleur(s): Shimano Deore 10-speed
  • Brakes: Shimano Deore M6100
  • Shifter(s): Shimano Deore 10-speed
  • Saddle: Selle Italia
  • Seatpost: No name
  • Stem: XLC 80mm
  • Other accessories: Blackburn cargocage V2
  • Decathlon Rockrider 520
  • Decathlon Rockrider 520

I’m proud of my region and all it has to offer. Feel free to hit me up if you’re in the area and looking for some nice routes to ride. Thanks for reading, and cheers from France!

You can see more from Paul on Instagram.

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