Flat bars to drop bars....

[Arjimlad]

I have a Giant FCR 3 flat bar road bike which I like riding. I would however prefer drop handlebars for versatility. I wonder what the opinions of cyclechat are on changing to drops ?

Pondering the idea & checking out parts, the shifters seem to be the big expense in this.

The bike has tektro racing bike style brakes rather than v-brakes, and a triple on the front (although I could live with not using the tiny chainring).

I had a new Sora mech on the back and it has an 8-speed cassette. Are there any sources of reasonably priced shifters and are there any pitfalls to watch out for ?

Many thanks !

 

[HLaB]

I've converted a Sirrus and the only pitfall was the vee brakes, you've not got that issue. As its a tripple (like my sirus) you need tripple shifters bu its no biggie. I went to the lbs for parts, so I could fall back on them if anything went wrong, it never did, its quite an easy job; I would have been cheaper on the net.

 

[Blue]

I have a Giant FCR 3 flat bar road bike which I like riding. I would however prefer drop handlebars for versatility.

What is it you are looking for? Unless you want to get more aero for racing, or whatever, you will find that you may almost never use the drops - as most people find.

A set of bar-ends will give a grip similar to using the 'hoods'.

 

[NormanD]

Why not look for a second hand road bike to use and see if you like going to a drop bar bike, some good cheap bargains out there to be had ... you might shelve out a tidy little sum converting your existing bike only to find you don't like it, the second hand way you can always re-sell it to recover your losses

 

[PpPete]

I have a Giant FCR 3 flat bar road bike which I like riding. I would however prefer drop handlebars for versatility. I wonder what the opinions of cyclechat are on changing to drops ?

Pondering the idea & checking out parts, the shifters seem to be the big expense in this.

The bike has tektro racing bike style brakes rather than v-brakes, and a triple on the front (although I could live with not using the tiny chainring).

I had a new Sora mech on the back and it has an 8-speed cassette. Are there any sources of reasonably priced shifters and are there any pitfalls to watch out for ?

Many thanks !

I can't recommend doing this, it's expensive and may not turn out how you want. The geometries of flat bar road bikes and drop bar equivalents are subtly different. However if you decide you do want to try.... Campag 10 speed shifters will work just fine with your Sora mech and 8 speed cassette.
They are cheaper than Shimano, and some find them more comfortable, easier to shift, irritatingly idiosyncratic .... opinions are divided.

 

[Arjimlad]

Thanks all - I have bar-ends on the bike already which I use to provide a different grip. They came with the bike.

I was invited to cycle 30km in a local relay triathlon a couple of years ago and (titter ye not) I put some aero bars on the bike. I raised the saddle up - Wow - fast !

I think Norman's idea may be the best one in view of the uncertainty over the geometries. Thanks for all the tips though.

 

[uphillstruggler]

I did this with a giant rapid and have found it works pretty well.

The major advantage over the flat bars is when hitting the hills and not needing to change hand positions when hauling my carcase up steep inclines

I was also fortunate enough to get the shifters pretty cheaply from another cc member and the bars from planet x.