ktselios, congrats on your bike.
Not sure exactly what you meant by this:
Unless you intend to use the drops, there are other (including less expensive) options, including trekking bars and bullhorns.
Even a basic conversion to drops can be rather costly, especially if you pay msrp on parts and need to rely on a shop to do the conversion. That said, it would be beneficial to get some saddle time on a drop bar bike to determine if it's worth it.
For my 7.7 conversion, I used:
- Shimano Ultegra STI
- FSA Omega Compact h-bar
- Shimano R550 Canti brakes
- Shimano 6603 front derailleur
- Front & rear cable hangers
- Bar tape
Parts were discounted. The brifters were ridiculously discounted to $119 (~75% off), otherwise it would have barend shifters. V-brakes aren't compatible with STI levers, so I just replaced them with compatible cantilever brakes for not much more than the cost of "travel agents." The shifters also needed a different FD. I did the work myself, so no labor fee. Based on msrp for parts and minimal labor, the LBS probably would have charged $800 out the door for this. I did it for ~$300.
No, it still wasn't cheap, and certainly some would consider the conversion foolish. But the result works better for me. I like the hand positions of a drop bar, the option of sitting more upright or stretching out, and I regularly need the drops for dealing with wind here.
The conversion by ATX is very nicely done.