Bicycle Mechanics - road shifters w/ mtb derailleurs?

What are the logistical problems with doing this, if any.
I want to put road shifters and road bars on my commuter but it has MTB components, anything I should know?
Thank you.

For Shimano components, the rear shifter will work fine with a mtb rear derailleur; all index-compatible Shimano rear derailleurs except pre-nine speed Dura Ace have the same cable pull ratio, whether "road" or "mountain." Front shifters (indexed) and front derailleurs are "road" and "mountain" specific; "road" and "mountain" use different cable pull ratios.

P.S. One solution would be to use Shimano indexed bar end shifters on your drop style handlebars. They're indexed for rear shifting, and friction for the front, so it won't matter about the front shifter/front derailleur compatibility. Depending on the cable stop arrangement on your frame, you might have to get a bit imaginative with the cable routing-

thank you for that! and some additional info: I'm running disc brakes so will there be a pressure ratio problem running those with integrated (sti) Shimano road style shifters/brake levers ??

thank you for that! and some additional info: I'm running disc brakes so will there be a pressure ratio problem running those with integrated (sti) Shimano road style shifters/brake levers ??

You will need to install a set of Travel Agents to double the cable pull of the road levers.

or get road specific disc brake calipers. Shimano and Avid make them now. no need for a travel agent

or get road specific disc brake calipers. Shimano and Avid make them now. no need for a travel agent


You will need to install a set of Travel Agents to double the cable pull of the road levers.

now my ignorance will shine: ;)

what are 'travel agents'?
and my brakes are Avid; are there certain models which will work readilly with a road set-up?

thanks for the info so far!

now my ignorance will shine: ;)

what are 'travel agents'?
and my brakes are Avid; are there certain models which will work readilly with a road set-up?

thanks for the info so far!

Travel Agents are adapters that allow a conventional drop bar brake lever to be used with linear pull brakes (v-brakes), or in your case mechanical disc brakes that require the same amount of cable pull as linear pull brakes. There are also Avid Mechanical disc brakes that are designed for bikes with road brake levers. Since you've already got the Avid mechanicals (the mountain bike version), you might as well stick with them and go with the Travel Agents. Another option is to use Dia Compe 287-V brake levers, which are drop bar levers that pull the correct amount of cable for linear pull brakes or your disc brakes. I've worked on those levers before, and I can tell you they're finicky. They're also expensive, in my opinion. Tektro may make a drop bar lever that's compatible with linear pulls, I'm not sure. But if you do go with the bar end shifters, you could get some nice conventional aero style drop bar levers by Tektro, Cane Creek (made by Tektro), or Shimano and use them along with the Travel Agents and your current brakes.

I'm not an expert on disc brakes, but I think mechanical disc brakes come in two flavours :
– v-brake compatible
– cantilever (or road brake) compatible.

If I'm right, the Travel Agents would be necessary with v-brake compatible disc brakes, but you would not need them with canti-compatible brakes.