converting a bike to drops?

[marihino]

exactly how possible or impossible would it be to modify a flatbar road bike to dropbars? I've got this B'Twin that I really really like, except I realised I'm missing the different positions of the drops. Is it just an issue of finding suitable STI shifters to match the gearset plus a bar and putting everything together; or is there more witchcraft involved that would make it not worth the effort?

 

[biggs682]

no as far as i am aware just a case of matching sti units to number of speeds , sure others will be along and make it more complicated or you could use the right sort of bar end shifters ???

 

[Profpointy]

though I've never done it, I believe it's probably too hard or at least uneconomic. As well as bars you'll need brake / gear levers which may or may not then be compatible with the actual brakes and gears you have. New cables. And if that wasn't enough you've probably now got the wrong size frame even taking account changing stem length.

that said, I know someone who went the other way, but you couldn't buy hybrids in them days

 

[Lonestar]

I don't miss the drops anymore since my almost inevitable collision when a Range Rover crossed in front of me in 2010.I had a video of that somewhere on utube.

 

[marihino]

though I've never done it, I believe it's probably too hard or at least uneconomic. As well as bars you'll need brake / gear levers which may or may not then be compatible with the actual brakes and gears you have. New cables. And if that wasn't enough you've probably now got the wrong size frame even taking account changing stem length.

that said, I know someone who went the other way, but you couldn't buy hybrids in them days

the frame size wouldn't be a problem, as I've tried the exact same model (well, sold under slightly different name of course)with drops at the same (as well as smaller) size and the fit was still perfect, with slightly changed position - but that kind of is the point.

 

[Kestevan]

It's possible, and not overly technical, assuming the you're not talking about a bike fitted with v-brakes, everything is probably compatible.

But unless you can get hold of a set of STI shifters with the correct no of gears very cheaply it's probably not going to be economical for a lower end bike (as I suspect the Btwin will be). TBH you'd be better off selling the hybrid and buying a new drop bike.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Easy enough the other way, My last drop to flat convert cost about £100 but that included a front mech & not using bargain basement levers or cables. Ebay might be your friend for the bar paraphernalia or a local bike jumble.

Might it be an idea to put some bar ends on and see if that gives you a bit of variety for hand position

 

[Lonestar]

Remember if you are all for commuting that drop handlebars are not always the best option although nowadays you can get drop handlebars with two brake positions.

 

[Profpointy]

Remember if you are all for commuting that drop handlebars are not always the best option although nowadays you can get drop handlebars with two brake positions.

Oh yes they are.!

and indeed you can get the cross-stop levers and they're really good but I haven't bothered with them on my road-oriented commuting bike

 

[Lonestar]

Oh yes they are.!

and indeed you can get the cross-stop levers and they're really good but I haven't bothered with them on my road-oriented commuting bike

I did mean that though. I did commute for years with drop handlebars but I don't know how many times my hands weren't near the brakes when I needed them.After the 2010 incident I changed my handlebars to Bull Horn and bought a fixie for the commute.They've been perfect over the last 20000 miles.Plus now the third part of my commute is populated heavily at times with peds as I cycle round Fenchurch Street to Waterloo round the backstreets near Cannon Street.

 

[Profpointy]

I did mean that though. I did commute for years with drop handlebars but I don't know how many times my hands weren't near the brakes when I needed them.After the 2010 incident I changed my handlebars to Bull Horn and bought a fixie for the commute.They've been perfect over the last 20000 miles.Plus now the third part of my commute is populated heavily at times with peds as I cycle round Fenchurch Street to Waterloo round the backstreets near Cannon Street.

I loved the cross stops on my thorn and expected to stick em on my own fixie too, but found I didn't seem to miss them for whatever reason - possibly different riding position so tended to be on the drops or hoods, but more often on the flat bit for the Thorn I guess

 

[Gravity Aided]

You can also get "travel agents" if you have non compatible brakes.

http://www.cambriabike.com/Travel-Agent-Brake-Pulley-with-Adjuster-Black.asp

Thought of these?

http://www.niagaracycle.com/categories/origin8-bicycle-drop-bar-ends-black

 

[simongt]

Interesting point about use of 'travel agents'. A few years ago, I had my GT Bravado mountain bike converted to drops and the only things that were changed were obviously the bars, and also the brake levers. As the bike is fitted with Vee brakes, I assumed that travel agents would be needed to give the necessary braking force, but the LBS, whose skill and knowledge I've always trusted, which did the swap didn't fit them and since then, I've never noticed any problem with stopping.

 

[Gravity Aided]

It rather depends on the draw length of the brake handles, and the design of the calipers.
This fellow knows a bit about it.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJEBRCWNC8g

 

[simongt]

In my case, Shimano dual pivot vee brakes and Dia Compe hooded road brake levers. I may investigate travel agents though, as they may be a good alternative to the wee tube that feeds the cable into the vee brake itself. The tube tends to be a source of clagging up and causing inefficient cable movement.