vmaniqui

hi all,

bullhorn or drop bar ? what do you guys think is better ?

tia,
vic

pacificcyclist

Trekker bar (aka Butterfly). One thing you need to be made aware of is that the MTB shifters on your Speed TR will not mount properly on the road drop bar as it has a different diameter tubing. Also, you need to get new shifters as well as the V-type road levers (Cane Creek or Tektro sell them).

vmaniqui

yes. i am going to get a shimano sti shifter 3x8. thanks.

Rick@OCRR

I would think you'd get a smaller fold with the bull-horns, unless you have a really clever fold-idea for the drop bars. And, unless you're riding long distance, I would think the bull-horns would give you most of the advantages of the drop (okay, one less hand position) and fold a lot smaller.

So the bull-horns get my vote, even with the Shimano STI brifters.

Rick / OCRR

pacificcyclist

Still won't work on the brake lever side. The STI shifter are meant to pull caliper brakes, not linear type or V-brakes unless you use a pair of QBP V-adapters which causes the brake action to become slightly spongy. It's already spongy due to the long cable lengths, so you don't want to reduce braking effectiveness with these contraptions on long downhill runs. That's my opinion as I had ran them with both my ex-Bike Friday NWT as well as my ex- 700c touring bike that had V-brakes and I just gave up. My hands would get cramps and sore after a long downhill. Never happen with normal MTB brake levers. I do have good experience with the Tektro or Cane Creek V type brake levers -- these give good leverage and looks like a Campy Ergo shifter from afar. For shifters, the Dura Ace or Ultegra bar ends are the best and works with the 3x8 hub and don't break down like the STI shifter, especially on the return spring.

pacificcyclist

The original poster can also run a pair of drop bar (bar ends) on his existing straight MTB bar on the Speed TR and convert his like this
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Mountain-Road...3#ht_824wt_906

This way, he can preserve the shifters as is, remove the MTB brake levers and install drop bar V-type brake levers (Tektro or Cane Creek sells them). During packing, he can just unmount those bar ends and then voila, both flat bar and these contraptions fold flat in the suitcase. I actually seen 2 people mounted these guys on and seemed to work better than actual drop bar.
Of course, if the poster wants an all in one brifter setup, drop bar is a better setup than bull horn just because you have more hand positions with drop.

fietsbob

Add Ergon GC3 grips to your existing flat bar.
almost as good as Trekking Bars ..
when time comes to fold the bike , loosen the clamp and the whole thing rotates.

It's what I fit on my Brompton M3L {with a 2 speed crank

gdb415

I've been considering changing the bars on my Speed Tr also. What are the options with the Andros stem ? I'd like a Northroad or Albatross, but don't understand how they might mount with the double stem.

Glenn

bhkyte

I ran sti for a road bike with v brake and they worked OK when carefully set up.

DVC45

I like the drop bar on my Nova, but I have to pull the stem off to get a smaller fold. It fits in my car trunk just fine without pulling the stem off, but I couldn't fit it in a folding bike bag like my Birdy which has a flat bar.

bhkyte

I need to mod a Nova Downtube. Wish I still had the NS8 pctured earlier.

brakemeister

I like the dropbar better, if you go through all the hassle and expense anyhow...
https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/technic...conversion.htm
but what pacific said, the brakes feel a little spongy with the travelagents, they work alright but not as u are used to with the mtb levers.

thor

pacificcyclist

Yes they will if the bike is set up to ride with no load. My assumption with the original poster post was with the Speed TR. Since this is a touring bike, it is meant to carry a touring load. There is a big noticeable difference between a heavy loaded Speed TR and an unloaded TR going down a big steep downhill with effective brakes. In some instances, it can be between life or death. When I did going up to sun road in Montana with the Friday on this setup, it was to me more like going the chances up to the heaven if you know what I mean. The current MTB levers give good leverage. The STI ones in my opinion do not even with the travel agents, unless you are willing to keep the pads extra extra super close to the rim. Problem is, when it rains or when the wheels goes out of true, then the rim is going to rub against the pad which drags the wheel.

The V-type road brake specific levers are much better, but you don't get the integrated brake and shifter arrangement like you would on the STI.

vmaniqui

thanks for the info. my TR is actually a lighter version and not intended for touring. i may say it is unloaded TR. i removed front and rear racks, changed front rim to kinetix pro and put on kojak tires. it went from 30lbs to 22+/- lbs.

vmaniqui

do you think i should try this first before getting the travel agents ? any technique ?

vmaniqui

here's my Speed TR...

bhkyte

never tried the travel agents. but yes try without first
from my experience, good blocks and teflon cables

fietsbob

shorter arm V brakes, there are some, take less cable pull ,
Just because the arm is shorter..

TRP has a set , made for Cross Racing, with road brifters.

pacificcyclist

Great looking bike!

In particular to your riding terrain (San Fran has a few steep hills as I fondly remember plus some nice flat bike paths along the Presidio and to Golden Gate), you definitely want brakes that should work great on a dime; not maybe but surely.

Here's what you can do. You can run STIs on your bike, but you should run a travel agent on your front brake, since this provides about 90% of your braking power, so you want to ensure that this gets the best leverage possible and pull and also don't need to run your brake pads super close to the rim. This allows you to modulate your front brake so you don't have an on/off front brake, not good in SF as you may get more chances going "endo". Use GOOD QUALITY brake cable and housing for the front and always check for cable fraying on the bend loop of the travel agent during your regular maintenance.

For the rear, you may be able to skip the travel agent and just run the pads closer to the rim and use good quality brake cable and housing. If you feel you need more pull or you are anal about pad rubbing against the rim, then, you can always buy another travel agent for the rear brake.

badrad

with my MuSL conversion to track bars, i used travel agents with a pair of basic road levers. i used barcon for the rear shifter.

the travel agents definitely have a different pull, but i found it had a lot to do with the state of the brake cable. i tried reusing a piece of cable which has some kinks, and the travel agent never had a clean pull and release. after i swapped it and put in a brand new cable and did clean route through the travel agent, the brakes have been pulling very smooth.

vmaniqui

thanks. love the TR. great advise. i will try putting travel agent on my front first and see how it goes. when you say good/premium cable, will the shimano brake cable that comes with the shifter good enough ? i know that it doesn't come with shifter cable so i will need to buy some derailleur cable,

vmaniqui

i was looking at that too since they mentioned when i googled that this is a possiblity for STI levers using V brakes. but wow - they cost $127 !

https://www.amazon.com/TRP-Mini-Brake...xp_grid_pt_0_1

wonder if this is good enough: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektro-V-Bra...87031332827350

vmaniqui

thanks. i wonder if the shimano brake cable that comes in the box is good enough ?

vmaniqui

NICE BIKE..... what a mean looking bike you've got there...nice color too. i just wish the TR comes in different color other than british green.

DVC45

Thanks!

I am really tempted to try out that Mini V you found in Ebay, looks like it might work. I have an RSX brifters I want to use on another bike.