Originally Posted by
mickey85
I did the conversion with an old hybrid that I bought. I got the drop bars from a co-op, $5 shipped for some ebayed Shimano Exage aero brake levers, and $20 for a set of bar end shifters. Chances are you wouldn't need to raise the drop bars too much to get where you want, and if you are converting a hybrid or mountain bike with a frame that's the right size for you anyway, the riser stem will get your bars about where you need them to be (seat height).
Agreed, it's not at all difficult or expensive if you're willing to do some work. I converted this Crossroads that I found at a pawn shop to drops:
The hybrid's top tube was a bit too long to get comfortable, so I found a smaller one on craiglist. It's wearing mustache bars at the moment, but will have a set of VO porteur bars eventually:
