Classic & Vintage - Drop Bars On an Old Mountain Bike?

Hi guys,

I have an old Raleigh Bighorn, and would like to put drops on it to make it into a cross bike. What sort of parts will I need? I have a few quill stems kicking around, but the clamps are incredibly small. Would eBarf be my best bet? :twitchy:

My bike is identical to this one in every way:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-sports-bikes-Mens-Mountain-Bike-Raleigh-Big-Horn-W0QQAdIdZ202251491

Thanks guys,

~Ryan~ :)

There are a bunch of examples of drop bar MTB conversions on the Touring (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/334033-I-would-LOVE-to-see-photos-of-your-MTB-conversion) & Commuting subforums, you can get plenty of ideas from those threads. At a minimum, you'll need to change your shifters & brake levers, plus the bars and stem.

Make sure the top tube isn't too long for you to be comfortable in drops. You could always use a hybrid/short stem but they are fugly and can mess with steering.

Also might try posting over in the cyclocross forum, there is a thread for just what you are talking about doing.

The stem will be the hard part because I think they are under sized at 22mm. So you will need a stem, bars,brake levers and probably use your old shifters on the top bar.

Check your local bike shops and co-ops for parts. I just did this conversion last fall with touring in mind. I used bar end shifters but for cross you might want to look at some 7 or 8 spd STI brifters. What year is your bike?

Check your local bike shops and co-ops for parts. I just did this conversion last fall with touring in mind. I used bar end shifters but for cross you might want to look at some 7 or 8 spd STI brifters. What year is your bike?

+1 Also, check around as there are some drops that might be able to accomodate your existing brakes/shifters with shims. At a minimum you are going to have to do something with the stem. Velo Orange and others have a nice conversion adapter that replaces your quill stem. It slides right down into the headset and tightens like a quill but you can attach a threadless stem above. You might also look into the Origin 8, Gary 2 bars for this purpose. I think your brake/shifter set up might work on these with shims.

You'll need brake levers and shifters cuz road bars are generaly larger in diameter than the older mtb's, you can find them with the same clamp size on ebay as ayour existing stem. Be careful, this might become your favorite ride!!

And you'll probably make decent money selling off the BullMoose bars.

Hi guys,

I have an old Raleigh Bighorn, and would like to put drops on it to make it into a cross bike. What sort of parts will I need? I have a few quill stems kicking around, but the clamps are incredibly small. Would eBarf be my best bet? :twitchy:

My bike is identical to this one in every way:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-sports-bikes-Mens-Mountain-Bike-Raleigh-Big-Horn-W0QQAdIdZ202251491

Thanks guys,

~Ryan~ :)

They built a pseudo mixte version of that bike as well, my wife has one, I think logically the only way to accomplish such is to find a road bike with a trashed frame, that you could snag parts from, because you could end up chasing parts changes ad infinitum.

Nah...I purchased the parts for this conversion on line one rainy Saturday, not very pretty but a fun ride during the winter or over rough terrain.
190438
I think the drop bars put me out $10 on ebay, $15 for Tektro 200 levers, and my LBS for bar tape and new cables, kept the stem and shifters. Shifters are mounted near the stem, they're indexed so a bump with the back of my hand shifts up and a little thumb action for downshifting. Every winter when this comes out for the first time, I remember how fun it is to ride.

i've done a similar conversion
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5393375647_235ce3757e.jpg
I got a tall SR stem that brought the handlebars closer

Nah...I purchased the parts for this conversion on line one rainy Saturday, not very pretty but a fun ride during the winter or over rough terrain.
190438
I think the drop bars put me out $10 on ebay, $15 for Tektro 200 levers, and my LBS for bar tape and new cables, kept the stem and shifters. Shifters are mounted near the stem, they're indexed so a bump with the back of my hand shifts up and a little thumb action for downshifting. Every winter when this comes out for the first time, I remember how fun it is to ride.

Could you please show your shifter setup?

Please?

It's ugly but funtions very well for me. Origianally I was going to put Bar-ends on but after a season I'm content with this set up.
190441

i've done a similar conversion
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5393375647_235ce3757e.jpg
I got a tall SR stem that brought the handlebars closer

I can't quite make out the decals, what kind of frame is that?


Nah...I purchased the parts for this conversion on line one rainy Saturday, not very pretty but a fun ride during the winter or over rough terrain.

Nonsense, that Iguana is a beauty!

It's ugly but funtions very well for me. Origianally I was going to put Bar-ends on but after a season I'm content with this set up.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=190441&d=1298083107


How'd you get the thumbshifters on that bar? Is it a smaller (diameter) bar?

No, standard road bar, the metal is soft so I was able to reform the clamp to the larger dia. of the bar. It required a longer set screw which I had on hand.


Nonsense, that Iguana is a beauty!

In an F-150 with a bed full of beer cans kinda way I suppose- Thanx for the kind words Chris.

No, standard road bar, the metal is soft so I was able to reform the clamp to the larger dia. of the bar. It required a longer set screw which I had on hand.


I've got a set of those style shifters... So, the screw with the little square base thingy?

Ideally, I'd like to try a set of M732 XT shifters, somehow.

I've got a set of Suntour Stem shifters I might want to try...

I'm so not sure where I want to go with shifters. I want to try the Command Shifters, I want to try Kelly Take Offs...

I pretty much want to be able to shift and not move my hands.

I did this conversion to a co-workers old Fisher Hoo-coo-e-koo. I used an old Profile stem and 3ttt bars with Shimano barcon shifters. Brake levers are Tektro's. I think it turned out cool and he was very happy with it.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/velomateo/postings/Fisher005.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp255/Aemmer/Ritchey%20TimberComp%20Blue%201985/Copyofkhs6950.jpg

Imn 30 seconds or less:
Keep it CV and it will get pricey but look and ride awesome. For the most affordable but still vintage. Try a Nitto Dirt Drop Stem, WTB dirt drop bars (a pair on the bay right now), Suntour bar end shifters and Dia Compe brake cable hanger. Or knock yourself out and make everything WTB. Remember, with a true dirt drop setup from the 80's the idea was to do most of your riding in the drops, not the hoods. Other vintage ideas for tall stem, Salsa P7 or P10. Don't forget the inline cable adjusters.
Have fun....

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp255/Aemmer/Ritchey%20TimberComp%20Blue%201985/khs6987.jpg

I can't quite make out the decals, what kind of frame is that?

It's a Cinelli Rampichino.
http://www.cinelli.it/memorabilia/eng/044.html

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp255/Aemmer/Ritchey%20TimberComp%20Blue%201985/Copyofkhs6950.jpg

I love that stem! how is it attached to the steerer?

Retro look. Modern parts set up on a vintage bike.
Dirt drop:

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp255/Aemmer/Ritchey%20Aspen%20Blue%201986/IMG_0955.jpg

I love that stem! how is it attached to the steerer?

WTB LD stem (use your imagination).
The fork has a plug in it.
T

When I originaly configured the bike I inteneded to primarily ride the drops, I don't , I stay on the hoods or just behind, rarely on the top and only in the drops in a head wind. Bar-ends look so cool and clean but wth the way I ride they would cause a further reach.

Guess what I'm saying is; that before you spend some big $, get the dropbars, ride it a bit before you find a home for the shifters, they may not end up where you originaly thought they'd be. That was my experience anyway.

When I originaly configured the bike I inteneded to primarily ride the drops, I don't , I stay on the hoods or just behind, rarely on the top and only in the drops in a head wind. Bar-ends look so cool and clean but wth the way I ride they would cause a further reach.

Guess what I'm saying is; that before you spend some big $, get the dropbars, ride it a bit before you find a home for the shifters, they may not end up where you originaly thought they'd be. That was my experience anyway.

Yeah, when I have drops, I'm the same as you- I usually have my hands just behind the hoods- only in the drops when I'm in a headwind or I'm pretending to go fast. My beat up old man back won't let me do that "bent over" thing.

I have an old Stumpjumper with the bullmoose bars- I'm probably going to get bar ends for that- it'll probably give someone a snit, but keep the thumbshifters and everything- I just need the alternate "palm in" hand position-

@ junior88: Hi there,

This thread is a bit old, but I notice you mentioned you had a variety of quill stems with small clamps. I might be interested in buying one of them: I need a tall quill stem with a 25.4 clamp size. I can't send PMs yet -- haven't been here long enough -- but you can reply to this email address: dysmedia AT gmail DOTcom

(If someone else sees this, it would be great if you'd forward it via PM to junior88. Thanks.)