Drop Bars to Flat Bars
 

Hello every one, this is my first thread. I have a Specialized road bike with full Shimano Ultegra component. 2 x 9 . My racing career is over and I would like to set up my bike with a flat bar or mountain bike style of bar. I'm looking for a brake lever and shifter that will fit my bike. Any suggestions ?

Something like this: https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ...vio-m4000.html, and nearby there is an acceptable brake lever.
You could look at SRAM but not sure what they might have in 2x9 and you have to stick with the Attack series for proper RD activation, if you
like twist grip.

I converted a 3x9 Specialized Sequoia Elite to a flatbar and it's been working out very well. I simply found a combo 3X9 shifter and brake lever set online and it installed very easily. It ****s extremely well and I think the brakes work better now. Good luck.

If you never intend to use the bike with the drops again, sell it, and buy a bike designed for flat bars.

Road bike generally will convert badly to hybrids (which is what you're effectively asking about), the same way that hybrids don't really work with drop bars.

The geometry will be compromised whichever way, making a purpose-built bike the better option either way.

If you really want to go ahead, you will need to source road compatible flat bar shifter (the M4000 may or may not work, pre-10 speed everything was compatible between road and MTB, now, don't count on it for any speed above 8 with current components), compatible brake levers, and work out the best stem/handlebars solution that make the bike comfortable. Given the age of the bike (as it has 9-speed Ultegra), it's at least 15 years old, you will probably have issues with tire clearance over 25mm as 23mm was the norm back then and anything wider was uncommon for a road bike.

Shame on you ! This is a family-friendly operation ! :lol:

This is not correct. Shimano front derailleurs have always been road/MTB specific. I think MTB pulls more cable so you may be able to get a MTB front shifter to work on a road FD, but you won't have trim positions and setup may be more difficult. For your specific application, I'd recommend microSHIFT R9 R859 shifters, which are Shimano road 9 sp compatible and retail for about $48. You'll need short pull compatible brake levers, which are readily available.

I agree that the bike may not make an ideal flat bar conversion, but in truth in the past a lot of brands high end hybrids were literally their endurance road frames set up with flat bars, and an awful lot of FG/SS riders are on road or track geo frames and flat bars and it works out OK. Also expect to need to change stems to find a good position with a flat bar. It may be financially and mechanically smarter to sell the road bike and buy a mid end hybrid.

I did this with a Fuji Roubaix and am pleased with the results. Rode it 27+ miles yesterday when the newly installed tubeless tires on the Giant TCR wouldn't hold air.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...derailers.html

Hoping that my thread will have the info you need. FWIW I would try using the Ultegra FD. I think the 105 FD would have worked properly with the Sora shifter if I hadn't installed the chain rings backwards after I took them apart and cleaned them.

Chris

Drop to flat conversions work fine as long as you understand that the riding position is going to be a lot more upright with a flat bar.

I will second the Microshift recommendation. I used their 2/3 x 10 for a conversion and they work fine.

Alternatively, if you can fine a flat bar shifter for a road front derailleur, then any shimano mountain 9 speed shifter will work for the rear.

For levers: https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-R5...d-Brake-Levers. Cheap and work.