SC Chameleon Gravel build

After too many years out of the saddle, I’m looking to convert my Santa Cruz Chameleon into a lightweight gravel/adventure bike. I live right next to the Brecon and Mon canal and fancy doing some millage along here and possibly some bike packing.

It’s the 2019 R build (olive and purple) with plus-size tyres with Raceface ARC rims and Scram NX drivetrain. I’m thinking some lightweight 29’s but not sure of the tyre choice and possible even ditching the forks for some carbon rigid forks with mounting points.

Would appreciate some advice here TIA

Just wheel and tyre change really, same bars and gearing?

If so WTB do a decent range of tyres ranging from fast rolling mtb like the nano down to proper gravel like the venture.

TBH a nice bike anyway I’d be more inclined just to go to narrower fast rolling Mtb tyres rather than full gravel. Which probably look pretty odd on that frame.

Sell it and buy a gravel bike, that’s a waste of a lovely frame.

I wouldn’t bother trying to make it ‘too gravel’ as it will ruin the bikes main features – which not far off an all rounder as it is.

I ride a carbon Chameleon with plus tyres and it is not really that slow on 2.8s. Recently I put 29″ wheels on and found it too stiff for my aging body, so went back to the 27.5″ but with newer lighter wheels and a change from Nobby Nics to Rekon+

First ride today and it felt great. Lighter wheels seem to change the feel loads, but not the character of the bike.

For some reference, I also have an On One Whippet that whilst build up as a sub 10KG rigid with 2.1″ Racing Ralph and Ray tyres, was about 10% faster than the plus tyred Chameleon over all, with maybe 20% faster up non techy hills and 20% slower down.

All in all, I’d suggest a Chameleon should be left as a do it all bike and not pushed too far towards the skinny wheels.

I’ve gravelised my Trek Superfly but basically all it took was some fast tyres! Try some Vittoria Terreno Dry tyres, they’re rapid and you’ll get used to the cornering eventually 😉

I have a Chameleon carbon – I have 29er and I fitted Racing Ray and Ralphs – and its really fast! I had to add a larger chainwheel, because I was spinning out. Even with those tyres -you can ride anything

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated. I think I may try some different tyres first, see how that feels and go from there.