clarkw267

So here's the story. I bought a hybrid bike off of a guy cheap ($75) because he bought direct from Nashbar, didn't set it up right and put the chain into the spokes bending the RD and the derailleur hanger. And I guess he just didn't want to deal with getting it fixed??? I had a spare Deore RD sitting around, so I ordered the hanger, and put the new RD on and the bike rides good.


Here are the components currently on the bike:


FD - Shimano Tourney FD-TY710 (Triple)

RD - Shimano Deore RD-M591 (Running as 8 spd)

Crank - Suntour SR Triple

Brake levers/Shifters - Shimano, ST-EF500

Brakes - Tektro mechanical disc M280


Now... the only thing, is I cannot stand the straight bars. It's killing my hands. I'm so used to riding drop bars, it just is way more comfortable for me, so I would like to make the change. I have a spare drop bar sitting around (Bontrager IsoZone OS VR-CF 440mm). So I'm good on that. However, since the FD and RD are both MTB parts, I'm not sure how to go about switching to drop bars, as all of the Brake levers and Shifters I've seen for drops are Road parts, and I've been told the cable pulls are different.


Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should be looking for to make this work?


Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks!

Bill Kapaun

You are OK on the RDER.
FDER has different pull ratios.
I'm ignorant about most things drop bar, since I can't ride them. (and I don't work on anything i can't test ride)
I'm not sure if changing to a 'road" FDER (to match the shifters) will result in "clean" shifting on a "mountain" crank. It may be serviceable?
Hopefully someone will chime in.

BTW, this could be a wonderful time to go 9 speed. Since you have to buy shifters anyway, I presume, 9 speed would just add a 9 speed chain & cassette. The 2 less expensive parts.
9 just gives more options over 8 for cog selection.

clarkw267

Thanks. Yeah I figured the RD was fine. I was hoping I won't have to get a new FD as it's operating range is listed as : MTB, Touring.

I'm good with the 8 speed to be honest. I haven't had any issues on hills.

fietsbob

The drop bar shifters and brake levers must be replaced, not cheap , & all 4 cables housing etc. time consuming even if you've done it a lot



Figure 8 bend Trekking bars are a simpler conversion you keep every thing on the bars already

the many hand positions are sides near and far , rather than Up/Down.. A European design for just that..
getting more comfortable hand positions on a Hybrid Bike..

might want a different stem ..

,,

Retro Grouch 

Shifters and brake levers.

Shifters are easy if you don't mind bar ends. The left bar end shifter is going to be friction which will also simplify the front derailleur set up.
You'll either need to find a long pull brake lever set, short pull brake calipers or use Travel Agents to modify the cable pull. Travel agents will probably be the cheapest but I've never used then with disc brakes.

fietsbob

here is mine, the grip shifter is made for 22,2 tube

Bill Kapaun

Simply because "touring" bikes are typically triples and need the take up capacity "road" RDER's don't have.

SalsaShark

Most cost effective way to make this work would be to go with a barend shifter and pair of Tektro brake levers. These brake levers are available for short or long pull, so be sure to get long pull designed for linear pull brakes or Mtb disc calipers You can pick up an 8-speed indexed barend shifter set, which will shift your FD with a friction barend, and your RD with either index or friction. With this, you could keep your current derailleur setup. You should be able to setup everything including cables for under $100.

clarkw267

Thanks! So would something like this work for the brake levers?

https://www.amazon.com/Tektro-RL520-.../dp/B07C41F11F

As far as the shifters go, do you or anyone else have any recommendations? There are some used dura ace 3x8 bar ends on ebay for cheap right now. I've never worked with bar end shifters, are they more difficult to set up?

clarkw267

Thanks! Didn't see this before I posted the link to the Tektro levers in my previous post.

Do you have any recs for the barends?

clarkw267

Thanks for the suggestion. I've never seen that before. Does it take a lot of getting used to?

Retro Grouch 

1. I'm 95% confident those brake levers will work but it's not a conversion that I've ever done personally.
2. Bar end shifters are actually easier to set up than brifters because the front is friction so they have infinite trim.

fietsbob

the 8 speed shimano indexed right shifter would be the thing for a Shimano rear derailleur...

2 kinds of drop bar brake levers 1) long pull-V brakes, , 2) Short pull cantilever or regular caliper brakes..

Disc brakes are made in both cable pull types..
...


...

SalsaShark

A quick search seems to suggest the Shimano Ultegra 8 speed barends have been discontinued, which are the levers i would have suggested - i bought a pair just a couple years ago and assumed they were still available.
Looks like Microshift makes a Shimano compatible set which would work for you. They were the only one i was seeing on searches for indexed 8-speed that are currently being produced. You could check ebay and maybe score a used set of Shimano on the cheap - they are pretty indestructible.

As for the brake levers, the Tektro RL520 are the long pull drop bar brake levers, and should work with your M280 calipers.