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Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions

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Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions

Old 04-12-14, 03:10 PM
  #2901  
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Originally Posted by Vonruden
Yes, I really like Moustache bars, got them on my Zeus fixed gear beater. Some don't like them, however I find em to be very comfortable. Looks like I will have to build something else around the Woodchippers.
I know which frameset I would use if I were you.

I dare you.
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Old 04-12-14, 07:34 PM
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Just finished converting a 1992 Trek 930. I found it at a local flea market, it obviously was a retired cop bike with a hardshell case on the rear rack sporting an antenna mount and a cable from the (missing) antenna to a walkie-talkie bag on the handlebars. Not that I am a weight-weenie but some of the original parts were on the heavy side so I substituted lighter ones from the parts bin where I could. I had used the wheelset for my High Plains drop bar conversion but picked up a second Specialized wheelset at VeloFest with Specialized hubs and Mavic X221 rims. I used Shimano Deore II canti brakes (BR-MT62) from a cannibalized Rockhopper, Suntour XCE 170mm cranks with 48/36/24 chainrings and an 8-speed 11-28 cassette. The original cup/spindle square-taper bottom bracket was in fine shape so it went back on the bike. I got the slightly used VO platform pedals at a recent VO garage sale. They are quite light and grippy. The almost-new rear derailleur is a Shimano STX and the front the original Exage 400. The handlebars are Civia Emersons with 8-speed Shimano bar end shifters and Tekto RL340 levers. The alloy stem is a Nashbar ATB with a 2-bolt faceplate. The tires are 1.75 Panaracer Tservs.

This was something of an experiment, the bike is a size smaller than I would normally ride as a mountain bike but the virtual top tube length (54cm) was right at my optimum length for a road bike. The bike got its first real shake-down cruise today with about a 10 mile mix of highway, MUP, gravel and single-track. It was fairly exciting on the single track, we took a shortcut and it got kind of technical for a mile or so. It did great on gravel and was a delight on paved stretches. The STX derailleur indexed really well with the bar end shifter. The bike came in right at 26 lbs without the bar and seat bags.

P4120228 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

P4120236 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

P4120229 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

P4120238 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

P4120232 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

P4120233 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

P4120235 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

P4120234 by galoot_loves_tools, on Flickr

Last edited by Paramount1973; 04-12-14 at 07:41 PM.
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Old 04-12-14, 10:18 PM
  #2903  
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man seeing a lot of early 90s treks lately that have looked really impressive nice ^^^

here's a sneak peek of my Axis with the new headset and cockpit installed. Just waiting for the cables which should come next week

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Old 04-12-14, 10:46 PM
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Oooh that Axis Ti is looking good!

Nice Trek up there Paramount1973. The bar bag reminds me of the newfound usefulness I have in my old bar bag. I used to run it on my road bike but since going with the side-exit shift cable shifters I'd shelved the bag. I have to run the bag backwards for easy zipper access, as the cables kinda inhibit said access a bit but yeah, cables over the top of the bar and into top tube cable stops works with my Ultegra shifters!!!

The re-bending of the bracket wire to fit a fat stem and bar didn't go so well aesthetically but works like a charm.




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Old 04-13-14, 04:49 PM
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+1 Yes, some very nice rides recently posted!
@frantik Can't wait to see the DBR completed...what a desirable model!!

Here's a pic of my Giant from Friday's ride with forumite Chuckk, in the northern 'burbs of Austin, TX. I tried to keep up with his great Allez Team.
I mounted on some Michelin city tires for pavement duty. They worked well, but the tubes didn't...3 flats.

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Old 04-13-14, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by gomango
I know which frameset I would use if I were you.

I dare you.
I just may have to do it! Moots drop bar would be nice.

Frantik, nice Axis!
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Old 04-13-14, 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
Oooh that Axis Ti is looking good!

Nice Trek up there Paramount1973. The bar bag reminds me of the newfound usefulness I have in my old bar bag. I used to run it on my road bike but since going with the side-exit shift cable shifters I'd shelved the bag. I have to run the bag backwards for easy zipper access, as the cables kinda inhibit said access a bit but yeah, cables over the top of the bar and into top tube cable stops works with my Ultegra shifters!!!

The re-bending of the bracket wire to fit a fat stem and bar didn't go so well aesthetically but works like a charm.




That IBOC is looking good. I really like the way it looks with drop bars. I have been keeping my eye out at the bike coop, if one ever comes in in my size I'm going to grab it. I have become real fond of bar bags even getting a small one for my Paramount.
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Old 04-13-14, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Vonruden
I just may have to do it! Moots drop bar would be nice.
No drops on the Moots. Road Handles!
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Old 04-14-14, 10:01 AM
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My seat stays at the seat tube on my red Cimarron broke loose a few weeks ago.
Before:


After:
Perhaps it secretly wanted to be a GT. Ha Ha!


Until I can get it repaired I am building up this Peugeot mtb.



I disassembled the Peugeot a few days ago & will be rebuilding with some of the old and also some parts
from the Cimarron as well as these 2.3 fat Michelin Pilot Sports. The Peugeot has a few cm more clearance for them than the Cimarron.
I thought the similar matching checkered flags was a nice touch. (See downtube and tire sidewall.)


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Old 04-14-14, 09:25 PM
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Old 04-21-14, 03:34 PM
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I think I may need to tweak the bar position on my Grizzly.
Anyone happen to know if Midge bars will go into one of these Kalloy dirtdrop stems? How about a Nitto? Any other suggestions? I'd like to stick with a quill.
Thanks.
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Old 04-21-14, 04:11 PM
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Midge bars take a standard 25.4mm clamp.
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Old 04-21-14, 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Grand Bois
Midge bars take a standard 25.4mm clamp.
Thanks, that much I know; I guess I wasn't clear with my question. What I meant is, given how tight the curves are on Midge bars, will I be able to coax them into this stem?
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Old 04-21-14, 04:33 PM
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I have experience with the Nittos, so I can definitely say you can.
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Old 04-21-14, 05:08 PM
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I notice most of you have nice wide tires on your rides. So are you using your vintage mountain bike to ride dirt, trails and the like or more for just cruising around asphalt, streets? I had these on my Sekai for awhile - they look awesome but they're so wide. The DMR SuperMoto black/skinwall are 26 x 2.2". They looked huge compared to the rest of the bike, so I took them off for some Continental Travel Contact 26 x 1.75" tires.

Here are the SuperMotos: Universal Cycles -- DMR SuperMoto Tire
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Old 04-21-14, 05:08 PM
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If I was going to buy a new stem, I'd just go with one of those that has the removable face plate. It will cost you a few dollars more, but it is worth the convenience. Niagara sells one for under $20. Matter of fact, I just ordered one today. All the take off stems I have, I needed one with a different length...

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Last edited by wrk101; 04-21-14 at 08:50 PM.
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Old 04-21-14, 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Velocivixen
I notice most of you have nice wide tires on your rides. So are you using your vintage mountain bike to ride dirt, trails and the like or more for just cruising around asphalt, streets? I had these on my Sekai for awhile - they look awesome but they're so wide. The DMR SuperMoto black/skinwall are 26 x 2.2". They looked huge compared to the rest of the bike, so I took them off for some Continental Travel Contact 26 x 1.75" tires.

Here are the SuperMotos: Universal Cycles -- DMR SuperMoto Tire
Looks like a very nice dirt trail/asphalt duty tire, albeit a tad heavy.
I installed 2.10" CX tread foldable tires because I use it to ride the rocky trails mostly. But also run 1.8" Michelin City's and another set of wheels with 1.25" Forte slicks.
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Old 04-21-14, 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Thanks, that much I know; I guess I wasn't clear with my question. What I meant is, given how tight the curves are on Midge bars, will I be able to coax them into this stem?
Originally Posted by Grand Bois
I have experience with the Nittos, so I can definitely say you can.
Go for it due ruote, Grand Bois is spot on with the Nitto stems working beautifully. The underside of the clamping area has to have the relief cuts that the Nitto Dirt Drop stem has, without those relief cuts it's hard to make the bends without marking up your bars. I've run Midge bars with a Nitto Dirt Drop stem on a couple bikes with no issues. On my Cimarron I'm running a Dirt Drop stem with a SOMA Sparrow bar, the Sparrow bar has much tighter bends than the Midge, I had zero issues with the install. Here's a shot of the Sparrow bars with the Dirt Drop stem.
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Old 04-21-14, 07:08 PM
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Just an update on the Grizz. New tires, frame bag, and handlebars since the last post. New BB too, but that's not really observable.





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Old 04-21-14, 07:15 PM
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Great job Steamer! If I had a beautiful Celeste Green Grizzly I would build it up just as you have... that is one fantastic Bianchi!!!

Thanks for sharing!

-D-
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Old 04-21-14, 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by neo_pop_71
Great job Steamer! If I had a beautiful Celeste Green Grizzly I would build it up just as you have... that is one fantastic Bianchi!!!

Thanks for sharing!

-D-
Thanks!

I took these glamour shots right before a 39 mile Easter Sunday ride. It was a beautiful day, and the Bianchi was a blast to pilot. You know, it never made for a very good mountain bike, but in this particular form, for rural road and gravel, it rides and performs very, very nicely.
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Old 04-21-14, 07:29 PM
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Great job Steamer! If I had a beautiful Celeste Green Grizzly I would build it up just as you have... that is one fantastic Bianchi!!!

Thanks for sharing!

-D-
+1

Please brand frame bag is that bag? Interesting to say the least.
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Old 04-21-14, 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by OTS
+1

Please brand frame bag is that bag? Interesting to say the least.
Revelate Tangle.

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/inde...ngle-Frame-Bag

I like it better than the small saddle bag it replaces (most of the time) as I can access it while riding, and it seems to make the bike handle better and feel less top heavy. It's lighter and probably a little more aero too, but this bike isn't really about speed (obviously), but I'll take what I can get anyways.
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Old 04-21-14, 08:30 PM
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This is an 88 Schwinn Cimarron I finished few weeks afo. It's proving to be a great commuter.















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Old 04-21-14, 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Steamer
Just an update on the Grizz. New tires, frame bag, and handlebars since the last post. New BB too, but that's not really observable.





Your bike looks great. Tell me about your mudflaps- I was in Portland last week, and saw a couple bikes with rear "spray guards" like that; I'd love to put one on my bike.
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