Originally Posted by
The Hansenator
Thanks for the replies.
For the handlebars: I was hoping to use some drop bars I already have. I can look for other ones later if I don't like them but, since I already have them, I thought I would start there.
It looks like Surly's Long Haul Trucker pairs up Tektro RL520s with mechanical disks so that should work for me as well?
I know nothing about shifters but STIs are outside my budget, so bar ends it is. Are there different shifters for different derailleurs? For my Deore XT derailleurs, are some shifters compatible while others aren't? I'd prefer index shifting.
I have a road bike stem I can use for this. It might be too long but at least I can put everything together and see how it works.
Your rear derailleur will index fine, as long as you select the shifter to match the number of gears on your cassette. The front will only shift properly in friction mode, as the cable pull between mountain and road front derailleurs differs. You can also purchase a new FD such as the IRD Alpina, or a Tiagra triple if your granny ring isn't absurdly small.