ch9862
12-02-05, 03:23 AM
I have Trek 520 w/road handlebars. If I were to change handlebars to straight, which shifters and brake levers could I use? I think the bike has 105 front and Deore LX rear derailers, plus Avid v-brakes.
TIA
TIA
Bicycle Mechanics - Shifter compatibility
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Applehead57
12-02-05, 05:47 AM
I changed my 1977 Peugeot UO-10 from road to straight, and found that I lost alot of hand positions. It was downtube shifter so that wasn't affected.
That meant I had to constantly move my hands to keep them from numbing.
Just a thought.
That meant I had to constantly move my hands to keep them from numbing.
Just a thought.
TallRider
12-02-05, 06:49 AM
I have Trek 520 w/road handlebars. If I were to change handlebars to straight, which shifters and brake levers could I use? I think the bike has 105 front and Deore LX rear derailers, plus Avid v-brakes.
Most integrated shifters/brake levers for mtb bikes (like the current LX) have brake-lever pull for V-brakes (which require the lever to pull a lot more cable). You could switch to V-brakes, or find a Shimano brake/shift lever that is designed for cantilevers. If you get a shimano shifter for the proper number of speeds (8 or 9 on your bike, probably), it'll work fine. You could go with grip-shifters alternately, and having a seperate shifter would allow you to purchase brake levers specific to cantilever brakes.
However, if you're using the bike for long rides and/or touring, I would also recommend against the flat bar. If you want a more upright position, you you could get a higher stem with your current handlebars. Or, alternately, get moustache bars. Rivendell sells some good ones:
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/16027.html
Moustache bars offer a wide variety of hand positions, work with your current brake levers and bar-end shifters, and look pretty cool to boot. I've got them on my commuter (http://www.unc.edu/~cupery/pics/2005/10-commute_bike/) and like them. You'd probably want to buy a stem 2cm shorter than your current one.
Most integrated shifters/brake levers for mtb bikes (like the current LX) have brake-lever pull for V-brakes (which require the lever to pull a lot more cable). You could switch to V-brakes, or find a Shimano brake/shift lever that is designed for cantilevers. If you get a shimano shifter for the proper number of speeds (8 or 9 on your bike, probably), it'll work fine. You could go with grip-shifters alternately, and having a seperate shifter would allow you to purchase brake levers specific to cantilever brakes.
However, if you're using the bike for long rides and/or touring, I would also recommend against the flat bar. If you want a more upright position, you you could get a higher stem with your current handlebars. Or, alternately, get moustache bars. Rivendell sells some good ones:
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/16027.html
Moustache bars offer a wide variety of hand positions, work with your current brake levers and bar-end shifters, and look pretty cool to boot. I've got them on my commuter (http://www.unc.edu/~cupery/pics/2005/10-commute_bike/) and like them. You'd probably want to buy a stem 2cm shorter than your current one.
ch9862
12-02-05, 09:15 AM
If I were to ride the bike, I'd keep the road bars. I'm setting it up for my better half however, and she won't have anything like downtube or bar-end shifters. Looking at the prices of some MTB brake/shift units made me think that perhaps road brifters are the way to go (8 speed Sora can be had cheaply), but SWMBO wanted straight bars (and I don't have to worry about them working with v-brakes).
Hence my question in the technical forum (I don't know anything about MTBs). Are SRAM grip shifters compatible with Shimano derailers? What about units marked as compatible with SRAM 1:1 derailers? Are any of the MTB brake levers incompatible with v-brakes?
TIA
Hence my question in the technical forum (I don't know anything about MTBs). Are SRAM grip shifters compatible with Shimano derailers? What about units marked as compatible with SRAM 1:1 derailers? Are any of the MTB brake levers incompatible with v-brakes?
TIA
TallRider
12-02-05, 09:44 AM
Run the moustache-bar idea by your wife. It would be a good option.
Lots of SRAM shifters are shimano-compatible. I think that SRAM's own 1:1 deraillers and shifters aren't Shimano-compatible. Sora brifters wouldn't be very good on a flat handlebar.
And if you get mtb levers, make sure they're the kind that are incompabitible with v-brakes, since you have cantilevers.
Lots of SRAM shifters are shimano-compatible. I think that SRAM's own 1:1 deraillers and shifters aren't Shimano-compatible. Sora brifters wouldn't be very good on a flat handlebar.
And if you get mtb levers, make sure they're the kind that are incompabitible with v-brakes, since you have cantilevers.
roadfix
12-02-05, 09:52 AM
Yes, if you want to try something different, go with moustache bars. It's pretty much a hassle free swap.
dbg
12-02-05, 09:58 AM
I went through several rebuilds for my wife's bike including some "antler" setups (various forward hand positions with brake extensions), swept back uprights, etc. She didn't like any of them. She now has straight bars with grip shifters. I added bar-ends for an extra hand position. Shimano-compatible SRAMs will work fine (what I used). I aslo used the brakes with upturned lever extensions so they can be used from the bar-ends (jury is still out on that one).