Bicycle Mechanics - Trying to fit drop down bars on my Scwhinn Mesa mountain bike..help

Hello, I am planning to put drop bars on my MTB as my hard ass commuter/roady cross......my problem is that the V-brake does not fit into the handlebars as the circumference of the handlebars are slightly bigger...any mtb shifter compatible for drop bars that are 8 speed triple?

Ta!

You're opeining a can of worms, my friend.

First of all, yes, you cannot put mountain brake levers on drop bars - as you've discovered, they won't fit. Problem is, you also cannot use road levers for v-brakes by themselves, either. You either have to get adapters (I believe they're called "travel agents") or you have to get road levers that are designed specifically for v-brakes such as the dia-compe 287's.

Second - shifters. I don't know what your bike offers, but good options would be bar-end shifters or down tube levers (if your bike has the correct braze-ons). Both options, if you buy good ones would allow for indexed shifting if your bike's gears and the number of indexes match, or friction shifting if they don't. Here's also an example of someone mounting a grip shifter on the bottom of the drops as well, but I don't know how well that would work for you.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/bianchi-sanjos8/index.html

You may have other options for shifting, I'm just not sure what they are. Anyone else?

Also, make sure you (really important!!) have the correct diameter of handlebar (if you're planning to continue using the same stem) or if you're redoing both the stem and handlebar that you have the right size for your headset - 1" or 1 &1/8".

That should do it. Again, if I'm forgetting something, someone else chime in. Not terribly tough, but not as simple as just swapping out the bars. Good luck.

I read that Tektro also makes a v-brake drop bar brake lever. I have never verified this, but that is what I read. You could also use cantilever brakes with road brake levers, but you might need to get cable housing stops if your bike doesn't have them.

As for shifters, if you want them on the handlebars you will need to get STI ( I am assuming you are running Shimano). I have put drop bars on a mountain bike and use bar end shifters in friction mode. The only other option I could think of is using a stem shifter or Kelly Take-Offs with down tube shifters.

I find the Gripshift on the end of a drop bar to stick out too far.
I think a portion of the bar needs to be trimmed off to bring the overall length back to where is was.

Tektro makes a lever compatible with v brakes. When I converted my Raleigh to a drop bar commuter I started out with center pull cantilever brakes which work fine with road levers. I also went with bar end shifters. When I got tired of the bar-ends I put a set of 8 speed Sora brifters on the bike and put my V-brakes back on with some Travel Agents to make them work with the brifters.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=2647&item=00-2988&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

Good Luck!

If you want a "drop" position on a Mtn bike, you could go this direction.

(find them at www.origin-8.com)

You're opeining a can of worms, my friend.
+1 This can get expensive fast.

I converted a '92 Trek 7000 MTB to drop bars but I kept the OEM Shimano LX cantilever brakes and had a set of older used 8-speed 105 STI levers already in my parts box and was able to do all of my own work.

If you need to buy a bunch of suitable replacement components, this can be a pricey project.

BTW, a MTB front derailleur won't work well with STI's and I used a barcon for front shifting but i had one of these too.

If you want a "drop" position on a Mtn bike, you could go this direction.

(find them at www.origin-8.com)


Has anyone used these and if so what do you think of them?

Has anyone used these and if so what do you think of them?

I might give these a try, but they don't list prices or phone numbers. I really don't want to give them my e-mail address. If anybody finds out anything, would you post it please.

Get yourself a free e-mail adress just for this type of things maybe?

If you go with those drop attachments, might want to consider shorter/chopped handlebars or the drops might be way wide.

Another option, if there was room, that would be practical if not funky, would be to use a wider flat/riser bar and put the drops on the bar first, then the brakes/shifters and grips. You'd have a wide upright position and a narrow drop position (40-44cm center to center between the drops is pretty typical).

Edit: ahh, probably wouldn't work, you'd need 44cm just for the drop spacing and the widest bars I've ever seen are 68cm, that only leaves 12cm on each side, which is barely enough for the grips. I'm guessing you'd have to go really wide, with as-short-as-possible grips and brakes/shifters requiring minimal space to make it work--but it would be pretty cool on a commuter I think.

I just found out that Sun & Ski sports sell them for $15. I'm going to stay with my trekking bars.

Has anyone used these and if so what do you think of them?

I have knockoff ones like those bars. They are great. They are presently waiting to be put on my mtb.

As for the OP, to run drops with v-brakes you will need some v-brake road levers (http://http://ucycle.com/components/item.php?name=diacompe_vbrake), or travel agents, barcons or downtube shifters as others have mentioned. Or if you have canti's any road levers will work. I set mine up with canti's, road levers with inlines and barcons. Easiest to get the brakes and shifting running smooth.

Edit: here is a review of the on-one midge bars (http://http://www.63xc.com/mattc/midge.htm), how to set them up etc. Very helpful for when I set mine up.

Honestly, it's probably worth getting a new bike rather than trying to get this right. Or a used one on CL.

Hello, I am planning to put drop bars on my MTB as my hard ass commuter/roady cross......my problem is that the V-brake does not fit into the handlebars as the circumference of the handlebars are slightly bigger...any mtb shifter compatible for drop bars that are 8 speed triple?

Ta!

It'll cost you about $125 to do it right.

Drop bar V-brake levers: http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=21845

Eight speed bar end shifters: http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=11151&category=583


You may be able to find better prices on ebay or by shopping around.

My mtb with dirtdrops. I went with the canti's over travel agents. Works great.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o148/pyze-guy/bike%20stuff/IMG_0860.jpg

I read that Tektro also makes a v-brake drop bar brake lever. I have never verified this, but that is what I read.

I've seen the pics but never seen them for sale. I'm sure someone will post a link. From what I've heard they are much better than the Dia-Compe version at a lot less money.

Tim