Drop bars on my DT VIIIH?

[DVC45]

I have an extra drop bar laying around collecting dust. I'm just wondering if I have to put it in my folder, do I need to change anything else besides the brake levers? Will the brake calipers work with the road brake levers?
TIA!

[LittlePixel]

If your DT has V-brake bosses then you need something called a Travel Agent that converts the different pull-type of a roadie lever for a v-brake front fork. You may also need to add a bit more reach to the bars than the pole-type stem on the DT will allow, and the drops may not fit the DT stem diameter so it may also mean you need to shim your Road bars, or fit something like a Syntace VRO system to allow some reach and adjustment.

Nice article about Travel-agent/using road levers with v-brakes:
http://www.phred.org/~alex/bikes/brakes.html

Picture of Syntace VRO system:
http://www.dahon.com/technology/component/vro.htm

Hope that's some help.

[james_swift]

Short-pull levers (road levers) with long-pull brakes (V-brakes) will require 2 things:

1.) You'll need to increase the spring tension on the V-brake arms (so they have enough tension to retract the road levers).

2.) You'll also need to set the brake pads very close to the rim braking surface. The complications of this are a.) if your rims aren't true, any wheel wobble will force the rim to rub against the brake pads, and b.) with the pads set so close to the rim braking surface, you won't have enough slack to unhook the V-brake noodle from the V-arm in the event that you need to remove the wheel. You can probably get around this by installing an in-line barrel adjuster.

Ofcourse, you could just spend $66 and get a set of long-pull road levers (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BL407A00-Dia-Compe+287-V+Drop+Bar+Road+Levers.aspx) that should work perfectly with your current V-brake setup without any modifications. Just don't waste your money on Travel Agents.

I've gone through the hassles of V-brakes with drops/bullhorns and road levers, and after having spent $40 on a pair of Travel Agents only to be very disappointed (spongy feel, zero feedback, horrible modulation), I replaced my V-brakes with cantilever brakes. You can get a pair of cantis (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BR407B04-Tektro+Oryx.aspx) for less than the price of a pair of Travel Agents. You'll also need a head tube cable hanger (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=11616&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products) and a rear cable hanger (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=11619&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products).

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p15/suntoryjim/canti2b.jpg

As for handbars, I'm assuming the DT uses a standard 25.4mm MTB stem. Your drop bar is most likely 26.0mm. You might simply want to get a road stem to match your drop bar. Although I've been able to squeeze a 26.0 road bar into a 25.4mm MTB stem (2-piece clamp), I noticed that over time, the bar had become slightly crimped by the smaller diameter clamp. Lots of guys on the forums will tell you this is dangerous, while some say it's not. I'd rather err on the side of safety.

For info sake, these are nice road bars (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=75_128_129&products_id=203) that will fit 25.4mm MTB stems.

[DVC45]

Thanks so much for the info's guys!
I'm ordering those parts right now. If there's anymore I need to consider, please keep it coming.

[SesameCrunch]

Thanks so much for the info's guys!
I'm ordering those parts right now. If there's anymore I need to consider, please keep it coming.

DVC45:

Please let us know how it works out for you! And include pics.

I'm curious about this mod also...

Thanks!

[DVC45]

DVC45:

Please let us know how it works out for you! And include pics.

I'm curious about this mod also...

Thanks!

' will do, for sure!

I know its gonna look totally out of place, but hey...its my bike! :D


Here she is, as of now
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa87/DVC45/IMG_0213.jpg

[pm124]

The cheapest way to go is to find a pair of bars with a 25.4mm clamp diameter and 22mm brake diameter common to mountain bikes. Then, you only need to buy the bars, which are typically cheap:

http://www.pceo.org/Bigbirdsmall.jpg

[DVC45]

Nice Birdy, PM124!

I already have a roadbike stem and drop bar. ' just need a shim.

[pm124]

Thanks DVC. The problem is that the brakes go the other way. Mountain bike brakes are 22mm, and road brakes are larger (can't recall the size). Thus, you can't shim them. You also can't grind the mountain levers down or they will certainly break. It's silly that there are two sizing systems and mountain bikes are smaller (since they ostensibly need to be stronger). Here is the low down from Sheldon Brown: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/handlebars/index.html.

Sorry about the image sizing! I need a copy of Photoshop for OS X.

[DVC45]

Preview:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa87/DVC45/IMG_0226.jpg

pm124, I'm not planning on using the original brake levers. I'll use aero brake levers and interruptor levers. Sorry, I did not include that on my original post.


I can see that reach is going to be a problem, as it's already on the long side, as it is. :(

[james_swift]

Sorry about the image sizing! I need a copy of Photoshop for OS X.
You can simply use iPhoto to export the jpg to a smaller resolution (File-->Export). :)

[james_swift]

Thanks so much for the info's guys!
I'm ordering those parts right now. If there's anymore I need to consider, please keep it coming.

Which parts did you order?

[DVC45]

Which parts did you order?

The ones in your last paragraph, before the pic, in your first response above (canti brakes and hangers). Why? :(

[james_swift]

The ones in your last paragraph, before the pic, in your first response above (canti brakes and hangers). Why? :(

Just wondering if you went with the canti brakes or the DiaCompe long-pull aero levers. :)

[pm124]

You can simply use iPhoto to export the jpg to a smaller resolution (File-->Export). :)

Thanks!

[awetmore]

Doesn't the downtube design put the handlebars in the center of the frame when folded? Is there enough space for a drop bar when the bike is folded?

I upgraded my Bike Friday Tikit to drop bars almost immediately after purchasing it. My first folding bike was a Swift Folder built as a fixed gear with drop bars (this was around 2000/2001) which I later converted to a SRAM S7 hub (also using drop bars). Drop bar conversions are easy and you can often find the parts inexpensively.

Drop bar Tikit:
http://blogs.phred.org/blogs/alex_wetmore/archive/2007/08/08/bike-friday-tikit-mini-report.aspx
http://blogs.phred.org/blogs/alex_wetmore/archive/2007/08/30/tikit-followup.aspx

Drop bar Swift Folder:
http://phred.org/~alex/pictures/bikes/swift/swift.jpg (fixed)
http://phred.org/~alex/pictures/bikes/swift/swift-folder.jpg (SRAM S7)
http://phred.org/~alex/pictures/bikes/swift/swift-bars.jpg (SRAM S7 bar detail)

alex

[DVC45]

Doesn't the downtube design put the handlebars in the center of the frame when folded? Is there enough space for a drop bar when the bike is folded?I upgraded my Bike Friday Tikit to drop bars almost immediately after purchasing it. My first folding bike was a Swift Folder built as a fixed gear with drop bars (this was around 2000/2001) which I later converted to a SRAM S7 hub (also using drop bars). Drop bar conversions are easy and you can often find the parts inexpensively.

Drop bar Tikit:
http://blogs.phred.org/blogs/alex_wetmore/archive/2007/08/08/bike-friday-tikit-mini-report.aspx
http://blogs.phred.org/blogs/alex_wetmore/archive/2007/08/30/tikit-followup.aspx

Drop bar Swift Folder:
http://phred.org/~alex/pictures/bikes/swift/swift.jpg (fixed)
http://phred.org/~alex/pictures/bikes/swift/swift-folder.jpg (SRAM S7)
http://phred.org/~alex/pictures/bikes/swift/swift-bars.jpg (SRAM S7 bar detail)

alex

Yes, the handlebar is in the middle when folded, but outside, not sandwiched in between the folded frame.
I'm sure the drop bar will add more space, but I'm not so concerned about that, since I don't travel with it in a plane. So long it still fit in the trunk of my Civic, it's all good to me.

[doktoravalanche]

I've got On-One Midge bar off road drops on my Specialized/Dahon, they have to be laid over the top of the fold instead of going between the wheels. Still compact enough for the train though...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/prof_landslide/folded.jpg

[DVC45]

I'm sad to say, that I have to kill this project of mine at this time.
I tried installing the S.A. shifter on the drop bar and it won't go in. Its too small to go in. Unless there's a way to mount the shifter somewhere else, then I might try it again.
Any ideas?

[jur]

1. Contact stevegor of this forum, his Wasp shows the shifter near the stem. I don't know how he got it there.

2. Install a LD103 HubBub Bar End Adpaptor $54.95 (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/shimano-nexus.html) scroll down a bit.

[DVC45]

Thanks Jur.
I'm thinking maybe the Minoura Space grip might work as a shifter mount. I'll look also at the hardware stores tomorrow and see if there's anything I can find that might work.

[stevegor]

1. Contact stevegor of this forum, his Wasp shows the shifter near the stem. I don't know how he got it there.

2. Install a LD103 HubBub Bar End Adpaptor $54.95 (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/shimano-nexus.html) scroll down a bit.


You're not going to believe how I did it....., and NO I didn't force the grip shifter over the curve of the drops. I got a pair of 70's steel drop bars for $2 from the junk yard, cut them, installed the shifter then mig welded the bars back together again...pretty dumb when you consider that I must cut the bars if I need to take it off :o
However there is a better way, use a MTB flat bar and Origin 8 drops bars ends, it works a treat, I have them on my tandem as it came with grip shifters and MTB bars. Until I can afford Ultegra STI, I'm happy with this set up and I will change the Wasp soon as well.

You could try Bike Friday, I heard they have drop bars that seperate, but I can't find them on their site.

[jur]

Check this monster thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=237231). Near the beginning, the gears are described which are grip shifters on drop bars. There is a description of how the shifters got there.

If ever you want to kill some time, read that moster thread. It must break all record for length of review. It is at places highly entertaining.

[spambait11]

Rincewind8 did a drop bar conversion (http://bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=4591784&postcount=6). I think he attached the grip shifter to a bar end he somehow attached to the handlebar post (he has better pics somewhere else). You might want to contact him for details.

[JosephLMonti]

I'm sad to say, that I have to kill this project of mine at this time.
I tried installing the S.A. shifter on the drop bar and it won't go in. Its too small to go in. Unless there's a way to mount the shifter somewhere else, then I might try it again.
Any ideas?

Maybe you could try this:

www.phred.org/.../bikes/swift/swift-bars.jpg

[SesameCrunch]

You're not going to believe how I did it....., and NO I didn't force the grip shifter over the curve of the drops. I got a pair of 70's steel drop bars for $2 from the junk yard, cut them, installed the shifter then mig welded the bars back together again...pretty dumb when you consider that I must cut the bars if I need to take it off :o
However there is a better way, use a MTB flat bar and Origin 8 drops bars ends, it works a treat, I have them on my tandem as it came with grip shifters and MTB bars. Until I can afford Ultegra STI, I'm happy with this set up and I will change the Wasp soon as well.

You could try Bike Friday, I heard they have drop bars that seperate, but I can't find them on their site.

Can you advise where we can get the Origin 8 drop bar ends? They look like the answer to, but I can't find where they sell or distribute this product.

[stevegor]

Can you advise where we can get the Origin 8 drop bar ends? They look like the answer to, but I can't find where they sell or distribute this product.

I bought mine from an eBay seller:

snowboardsandmore from Hampton Falls NH USA

Toll free No. 1 866 766 9700 or the store is:

Performancedownhill...... email at Sales@SnowboardsandMore.com

Hope this helps

[stevegor]

For a look at the Origin 8 drop bar ends, google origin 8, then look up road bars and they should be there at the bottom.

[SesameCrunch]

For a look at the Origin 8 drop bar ends, google origin 8, then look up road bars and they should be there at the bottom.

Did that, but it doesn't say where to buy them. I also emailed them and didn't get a response. Strange website.

I bought mine from an eBay seller:

snowboardsandmore from Hampton Falls NH USA

Toll free No. 1 866 766 9700 or the store is:

Performancedownhill...... email at Sales@SnowboardsandMore.com

Hope this helps

I'll try this route. Thanks.

Update: No good, they don't have it anymore...

[stevegor]

Did that, but it doesn't say where to buy them. I also emailed them and didn't get a response. Strange website.


:) Try them again, maybe they're slow to respond to Emails?
They should be able to tell where to buy.



I'll try this route. Thanks.

Update: No good, they don't have it anymore...


:) Maybe this seller could help you source them?


Good luck.

[4cmd3]

Gaerlan may still have some:
http://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/parts/closeout/close.html

They are also on eBay periodically *(that's how I got mine...)

One auction running currently:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Origin-Road-Bar-Drops-Handlebars-Clamp-On-NR-33617-NEW_W0QQitemZ330162499621QQihZ014QQcategoryZ27951QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They are awesome if you just want to give drop bars a try without spending a lot of cash.

[SesameCrunch]

Thanks for the sources! I'm all over 'em!

[Polaris43]

Thanks for the sources! I'm all over 'em!

Sesame,

Which bike are you going to put these on (you have so many!)?

Would you please attach a photo if you are using on one of your Downtubes?

[SesameCrunch]

Sesame,

Which bike are you going to put these on (you have so many!)?

Would you please attach a photo if you are using on one of your Downtubes?

I've been re-jiggering my folder collection and have 5 folders at this time. The good thing is that they're very diverse and each occupy a different niche. I love the problem of choosing what bike to ride for a given occasion :D!

I was going to put the aerobars on the Dahon SpeedPro, which has been designated as my fast bike. That's why I'm looking for an additional aero position.