Road Cycling - Converting A Hybrid to a Road Bike.....

Okay.. A friend of mine is borrowing my old hybrid for right now, since I have my new road bike and the hybrid would just be sitting in my closet. He really wants to buy a road bike, but can't cough up the money to buy one (he's a college student). The old hybrid is a Trek 7500FX ()link for specs (http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/7500fx.jsp) , and I want to fix it into something closer to a road biek for him. I've already got 700x25 wheels on it, but I want to change it to drop bars with either STI shifters or just regular old brake levers, keeping the shifters I already own on it. It's an 8 speed, so I was thinking triple Sora shifters may work, but I know the indexing may be very different. I was also thinking about the brake levers (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=104&subcategory=1194&brand=&sku=2899&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=) below, but Nahsbar does not say that they are compatible with the current setup on the bike. The brakes are linear pull, not caliper. DO you think they will work? Ideally, I'd like to put sora on it, but would that also mean changing out the cassette?

Thnaks in advance for the replies!

The SORA triple shifters will work fine. The levers you have now won't fit properly on a drop bar. All current Shimano 8 speeds have the same cog spacing. You will need something called a travel agent to make the brakes work with road levers. Nashbar has those too.

This may be a question, but does it matter that the rear derailer is a Deore LX? Or, wold that have to be Sora as well? Also, I can't find the travel agent....

This may be a question, but does it matter that the rear derailer is a Deore LX? Or, wold that have to be Sora as well? Also, I can't find the travel agent....

bphol... travel agent is around $16.95 at ur local lbs. the rear deraileur can be sora and it will work fine. i just recently converted my sirrus handle bar to a time trial setup. check my sig.

rui

Check out the design of time trial bikes, basically a flat bar with aero-bar extensions. You can keep your current brake and gear levers.

Okay, so do you think this setup would be everything I need? I know I'd need to get one of those travel agents, but should this work? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3688716228
By the way, will I need to order two of those travel agents, or will just one come with everything I need?

Okay, so do you think this setup would be everything I need? I know I'd need to get one of those travel agents, but should this work? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3688716228
By the way, will I need to order two of those travel agents, or will just one come with everything I need?

u'll need 2 travel agents (one for the front & back). this ebay item will be good for you. that's about all you need to do the setup.

No, you will still need a stem. The one with the EBay package is quill-type, your bike uses threadless system. Your stock stem has a clamp diameter for flat bars, different standard for drops. I would just flip the stem and add some bar-ends but this will still be a nice ride with drop bars, if you prefer drops. Enjoy the ride!

No, you will still need a stem. The one with the EBay package is quill-type, your bike uses threadless system. Your stock stem has a clamp diameter for flat bars, different standard for drops. I would just flip the stem and add some bar-ends but this will still be a nice ride with drop bars, if you prefer drops. Enjoy the ride!

as for the stems... when i did my mod, people told me i need to change a stem.. but i used my handy dial caliper and measured the original handle bar and found.. 26mm... which matchs the nashbar bullhorn handle bar.... so i didn't have to replace the stem.. although now i am thinking about changing it.. cuz the original stem is pretty high... so might look for a lower drop later.

Ok, then maybe the stock stem will work, but generally flat bars are different diameter than road bars, right?

Ok, then maybe the stock stem will work, but generally flat bars are different diameter than road bars, right?

yes... flat bars are generally different in diameter. probably because most flat bars that comes stock on a hybrid roadie is made of alum. whereas on a road bike.. it could be carbon, and may be fatter (Xmm. > 26mm.)

if you have a dial caliper.. use that to measure the diameter of it. this will give you an idea as to whether or not you will need to change it later. but if you got the dough.. i would just say.. do it once, do it right.

You can't convert a hybrid to a road bike.

All you can do is add road parts. The geometry is different from road to hybrid. Longer chainstays, shorter top tube, slacker seat tube angles etc. on the hybrid.

Keep it simple and cheap since it will be a compromise at best. Just don't try to make it what it is not, it will be a waste of money.

Well, I'm not really trying to turn it into a road bike per se, since I have one of those. But, I was thinking that he coudl at least use a converted hybrid until he was ready to drop some coin on a nice road bike.

Well, I'm not really trying to turn it into a road bike per se, since I have one of those. But, I was thinking that he coudl at least use a converted hybrid until he was ready to drop some coin on a nice road bike.

I wouldn't do it. Add some skinny slicks and maybe some bar ends for more hand positions, but that's it. Anything else is probably not worth the investment.

Been there, done that. I could never get it to be cost effective and ended up just buying him a used road bike at a garage sale (87' cannondale w/ 105 for $60.00). With just a tune-up and a good cleaning it is ten times the roadbike the trek would have been.

Now I use the trek as a utility bike/loaner as some friends won't ride drop-bars, but with thin tires and a lower riding position they can try to keep up. Plus, its a bit more upright (lots of adjustment, +/- 6cm) for those who need it (like me when I'm just visiting friends).

Why not just keep it a flat bar road bike and just change the stem for a more aggressive riding position. Spend the money on your new ride.

I figure you lost a ton of weight with that bike and it must hold sentimental value, as does mine, but why throw good money after bad.

Been there, done that. I could never get it to be cost effective and ended up just buying him a used road bike at a garage sale (87' cannondale w/ 105 for $60.00). With just a tune-up and a good cleaning it is ten times the roadbike the trek would have been.

Now I use the trek as a utility bike/loaner as some friends won't ride drop-bars, but with thin tires and a lower riding position they can try to keep up. Plus, its a bit more upright (lots of adjustment, +/- 6cm) for those who need it (like me when I'm just visiting friends).

Why not just keep it a flat bar road bike and just change the stem for a more aggressive riding position. Spend the money on your new ride.

I figure you lost a ton of weight with that bike and it must hold sentimental value, as does mine, but why throw good money after bad.

Point well taken. He's talking about buying a new road bike now, so I'm kinda laying low, since I want to have the 7500 FX as my winter commuter. I think that a flat bar would work fine for me in that situation. I also echo the idea of having it as a loaner, and most new riders will be scared away by the drops. The Sora shifters and bar that I found are up to almost $100 now, so that isn't even looking real promising. Plus, I need new pedals and shoes for my new baby!
Thanks for the advice, everyone!