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Convert Mt. Bike to Rd. Bike

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Convert Mt. Bike to Rd. Bike

Old 05-16-05, 12:22 PM
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Convert Mt. Bike to Rd. Bike

My wife has a MTB, but she'll never use it on the dirt. We are a road family and on long rides she gets tired of the same position. I already put on slicks, but now I'd like to convert the handle bars to a road style so she can vary her arm positions. Can this be done economically with little hassle?

Thanks much.
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Old 05-16-05, 12:29 PM
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Keep the flat bar/controls and add a clip-on aerobar.
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Old 05-16-05, 01:32 PM
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If you get road bars, you'll also need to get new levers and probably brakes depending on what type you have on your mtb. It gets even more expensive when you figure you need the STI brifters to shift.

You might or might not be able to add clip on aerobars depending on how yoru flat bar is setup currently.
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Old 05-16-05, 03:10 PM
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I thought of that too. I love my aerobars, but my concern is the loss of control and quick reaction associated with aerobars. She's beginning rider.
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Old 05-16-05, 06:05 PM
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Here, I'm trying to do the same thing.

My thread

With new parts it could probably be done for $100-150. I'm trying to find a used short reach, long height stem for cheap at a bike shop since the nitto technomic is $40.

Honestly though, if I had the cash, I'd get a road bike. I was given a real nice bike that probably wouldn't sell for enough to get one so I'm just doin a few mods to make it more suitable to my taste. You might see if you could sell the offending bike and see what you could get.
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Old 05-17-05, 03:47 AM
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You can get mini aerobars which provide alternate hand positions, rather than triathalon type ones where you rest on your elbows.
Can you fit Cinelli Spinacci bars?
A treking-style/butterfly bar can retain MTb controls with lots of hand positions.
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Old 05-17-05, 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Craig Thomas
My wife has a MTB, but she'll never use it on the dirt. We are a road family and on long rides she gets tired of the same position. I already put on slicks, but now I'd like to convert the handle bars to a road style so she can vary her arm positions. Can this be done economically with little hassle?

Thanks much.
With all the fine quailty older road bikes out there why worry about converting anything.
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Old 05-17-05, 09:56 PM
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I've been very happy with the Nashbar Trekking handlebars. They allow a lot more hand positions but allow you to keep your Mountain Bike components. They're on sale right now for 14.95.

I wouldn't recommend anything more involved, and I wouldn't even recommend that if you're going to pay for the labor to get it installed. It is generally not economical to replace major components on a bike. The components are several times more expensive purchased one-by-one than they are purchased as part of an entire bike. You'll come out ahead if you sell the bike you have and buy one that fits your needs.
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Old 05-17-05, 11:53 PM
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The Nashbar Trekking handlebars look like they have potential. I am conserned about installation though. Are they easy to install?

I'd consider getting a road bike, but as I browse through ebay, I'm overwelmed with all the choices. At this point I don't want to spend more than $200. I'm not at the point where I want to put up bigger bucks untill I'm sure my wife will be riding more.

I may start by getting some aerobars for use with her bike and the trainer and a charity ride we're doing this weekend. Looks like the Trekking handlebars would accept aerobars too.
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Old 05-18-05, 07:00 AM
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Heh $200. That reminds me at Sporting Life they were selling these REALLY cheap road bikes I mean cheap for $200 (Canadian too). No STI, downtube shifters, but it was mainly good. Steel frame, alloy wheels, components however maybe weren't so hot. But you really couldn't beat the price, you could use it as a beater, a rain bike whatever.

You might have needed to upgrade the components after a while but $200..!
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