Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
#176
Senior Member
The idea of an early mtb dirt drop setup was to primarily ride the drops, thus the tall LD stems you see on the era correct bikes above. I never ride the hoods on this bike, but if I did, it would not be comfortable. The goal was improved hand position and a bit of old school suspension built into the bars while riding in the drop position.
Last edited by Aemmer; 07-19-12 at 04:05 PM. Reason: pic
#179
Senior Member
WTB shift pods. Out of production for several years, If you are patient, a set will show on Ebay every few months. Again the setup is such to facilitate riding in the drop position. From there, using the shift pods, you can reach out with your thumb to shift while still maintaining control of the bars.
#180
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I wonder if that's where the idea for Kelly Take-offs came from. I did enjoy mine when I had them, but took them off because I want to try brifters.
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#181
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I have a question about sizing.
If you are looking for a MTB to convert to drop bars do you:
Go with your standard size, Or do you go one size bigger or smaller.
If you are looking for a MTB to convert to drop bars do you:
Go with your standard size, Or do you go one size bigger or smaller.
Last edited by dirty tiger; 07-25-12 at 11:58 AM. Reason: clarity
#182
The Left Coast, USA
If you want short reach, angled out drop bars take a look at Salsa Woodchippers. https://salsacycles.com/components/woodchipper/ They are harder to find in 25.4mm now, don't know why Salsa stopped distributing the vintage size.
Last edited by FrenchFit; 07-25-12 at 07:58 AM.
#183
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Edit - it's tig welded with lower end parts.
Last edited by KonAaron Snake; 07-25-12 at 08:49 AM.
#184
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Tru dat. The other naggin reality is on most DBar MTB rigs your hands are not going to able to trigger brakes and shifters without moving them, which you can obviously do on a standard MTB rig. Something to keep in mind if you are going to be riding any technical trails, single track.
If you want short reach, angled out drop bars take a look at Salsa Woodchippers. https://salsacycles.com/components/woodchipper/ They are harder to find in 25.4mm now, don't know why Salsa stopped distributing the vintage size.
If you want short reach, angled out drop bars take a look at Salsa Woodchippers. https://salsacycles.com/components/woodchipper/ They are harder to find in 25.4mm now, don't know why Salsa stopped distributing the vintage size.
Last edited by dirty tiger; 07-25-12 at 03:42 PM. Reason: speillng
#185
Senior Member
Thry call it the Moto Ace woodchipper https://salsacycles.com/components/moto_ace_woodchipper/
#186
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Getting ready to do one of these conversions myself. I realized a while back that I was most comfortable on my drop bar bikes, but I like the ability of this '88 Trek MTB to carry a load. I've obtained some Tektro levers, Suntour barcons and have a set of Origin8 Gary bars on the way. I put some lighter 26x1.5 road tires on the bike last night. The hardest stuff I normally do on the bike is gravel and I'm looking to make a decent commuter scooter, city bike, and possible tourer out of it. Here's how "Old Red" looks now. I expect to have an "after" pic within the week.
Old Red by Yo Spiff, on Flickr
After I try this conversion for a while, I'll then decide if i want an actual touring bike or not.
Old Red by Yo Spiff, on Flickr
After I try this conversion for a while, I'll then decide if i want an actual touring bike or not.
#188
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Got to ogle this up close the other day... 1988 Steve Potts.
https://velocult.com/bikes/steve-potts-custom-1988-red/
Velo Cult in Portland has a wonderful collection of vintage mountain bikes.
https://velocult.com/bikes/steve-potts-custom-1988-red/
Velo Cult in Portland has a wonderful collection of vintage mountain bikes.
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#189
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Velo Cult is a great shop. They used to be here in San Diego for a long time before they moved up north. I'm going to be up in Portland next week, looking forward to checking out their new location.
#190
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Starting on the conversion now. Old bars are now coming off. Hope this turns out as good as I think it will be.
#191
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Finished building up my Schwinn Cimarron from frame & fork.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
Last edited by cooperryder; 08-15-12 at 01:40 PM. Reason: error
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#192
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Finished building up my Schwinn Cimarron from frame & fork.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
#193
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Finished building up my Schwinn Cimarron from frame & fork.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
I've used one of the soma hi-rise adaptors in the past and liked it, but this time I'm going to try using a nitto technomic and see if I can get that high enough when I build it up again. And inline brake levers can be really useful as well.
I'm curious about how you finished your bar wrap. Is that cork with cotton covering the ends?
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#195
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Of course it original. I mean I get that no one makes 23" 26-ers anymore, but I wish I could find one chrome fork somewhere (and avoid spending more than I did on my frame to get it).
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#197
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Finished building up my Schwinn Cimarron from frame & fork.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
Yarper, I have a question about yours. I am using the same Tektro levers that you went with and it looks like you have similar style cantilever brakes. I found those levers with my brakes had little travel & very poor stopping power, which surprised me, as I have seen the same levers used on Salsa and Surly bikes with cantis. I changed them out for a set of V-brakes (which was an upgrade I had wanted to do anyway, but wasn't sure if the Tektro levers would be compatible) and the stopping power and ability to modulate them is much better with the V-brakes. How are you finding the braking with your canti setup?
Going in to tape the bars and I'll have a pic of my own conversion up shortly.
#199
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Oh, only ~$125 or so and the rest of the bike (mostly replaced by now) was attached. After I posted that, I looked again and suddenly found a chromed fork (ramiko brand, which I'd never heard of before) for $40 that might work. Maybe my google skills have become stronger since I last looked or maybe there was a reason I turned it down before, at least it's something to look into further. I do wish for lugged rather than unicrown, but I know that's a futile wish. Then again, maybe I should just sell the mutt I've made and buy a road bike, which is apparently what I wanted all along.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
Last edited by himespau; 08-15-12 at 03:30 PM.
#200
Senior Member
himspau, looks like niagara has that fork for 27$ https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=802949
edit: sorry, the hi-ten version is 27. the chromo one like you posted is 37
edit: sorry, the hi-ten version is 27. the chromo one like you posted is 37