howdy - here's my former RockHopper - now it's TourHopper!
There's a whole big giant thread on drop bar conversions. http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...nversions.html
Look through that if you haven't already for more ideas.
My recommendations:
- raise the bars and make sure you're compfy (it's a quill stem, so take a look at NITTO Dirt Drop stems; check bar diameter and clamp diameter, make sure they match)
- tune it up as everyone already done recommended
- ride it until you figure out how you want to use it
- add a rack to make it useful
- i'd leave the cantilever brakes so you don't have to change out brake levers also; also, cantilever brakes give you more room for fenders ( i think.... someone correct me if not. what am i saying? this is B.F.s - someone is always correcting someone.)

Cheers!