sean.hwy

I just picked up a used topstone shimano 105 2x gravel bike

I am thinking of converting it to flat bar so the GF will have an easier time with the desents.
She is a strong climber but does not care for the steep descents on gravel with roots and drop while on the hoods.

For the brakes from what I read seems like I can just use shimano MTB levers
with the shimano 105 brakes on the bike.

How does the SHIMANO BL-RS600 brake lever compare to the shimano SLX brake lever?
Just as good in strength and feel just different finish and paint?


Anyone use the the shimano flat bar road shifters or the microshift r11 flatbar road shifters?

$24 each
https://www.performancebike.com/shim...600ll/p1215941


$44 each
SLX brake levers
https://www.theproscloset.com/produc...SABEgJDYfD_BwE


shifters

$133
SHIMANO SL-RS700 FLAT BAR ROAD SHIFTERS (BLACK) (PAIR) (2 X 11 SPEED)
https://www.performancebike.com/shim...BoCo28QAvD_BwE



$75
Microshift R-11 Flat Bar Shifters
https://www.modernbike.com/product-2...RoCoMgQAvD_BwE



$83
MICROSHIFT R11 ROAD FLAT BAR TRIGGER SHIFTER SET (BLACK) (2 X 11-SPEED) (PAIR) (SHIMANO COMPATIBLE)
https://www.amazon.com/Microshift-Tr.../dp/B083WN7Q7X

t2p

I have a Quick hybrid with RS700 2x11 shifters and M8000 brake levers

the shifters and brakes work well

the brake levers are small / 2 finger and have free stroke and reach adjustment

yes - the MTB brake levers will work with the 105 calipers - but don’t know if new brake hoses will be required (length ? fittings ?)

as you are probably aware - Topstone has a fairly / relatively long top tube so the flat bar conversion could possibly assist to tighten up the reach (?)

(also have a Topstone)

sean.hwy

Did your bike come with all that?

The Cannodale site does list all the specs :/
https://www.cannondale.com/en-us/bik.../quick/quick-1

Right now the quick 1 is on sale for $1,145. Does it do as well as topstone in the gravel?

I wonder if it would be just easier to sell the topstone and get a quick 1 that comes as flat bar.

Does the Quick have a thread BB? At first I thought maybe the same bike just different bar but
https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/c...one-1-2022-sm/

shows very different geometry

t2p

I believe the Quick is 2017 model - originally equipped with the RS700 shifters and M396 brake levers

the M396 brake levers (and calipers) worked fairly well - but were replaced late last year with the M8000 brake levers and RS785 calipers ... (have another hybrid with M785 brakes - so I wanted to bring this bike up to similar spec)

yes - threaded BB ... original crank on the bike was a square taper BB with FSA crank (later replaced with BB60 BB and 6800 crank)

the Quick is a versatile and fun bike to ride - but with the original 30mm tires swapped with something wider/better ... with the original 30mm tires it’s basically an upright road bike ... but even with wider rubber much different feel than the Topstone - but only ridden the Topstone a handful of times so cannot provide too much in the way of comparison

Topstone has a fairly long top tube - when compared to other similar gravel etc bikes - so that can be a factor ... and the Shimano hydraulic road levers / hoods sit out (farther away) than some other levers (compared to some SRAM levers for example) - so that can also be a factor

have you checked out some other new bikes ? ... including Spec Sirrus and Trek FX ... the Trek FX especially looks sweet

sean.hwy

First ride for her on the conversion. She was faster down hill & the hills she had to walk down with her drop bar gravel bike she easily went down with the flat bar gravel bike.
That was to be expected and the reason I did the project.

What surprised me was how much faster she was UP hill. On the drop bar gravel bike her rear wheel kept losing traction with the flat bar she has more weight shift on the rear wheel to help with traction. I don't think this would help an experienced rider that much up hill but it was night and day different for her.

@ Mt Tam today

sean.hwy

ps for anyone else that might stumble onto this thread looking to convert a shimano drop bar to flat bar.

while the mtb brake levers are compatible with the grx/105 calibers what I did not know was the fittings from road to mtb levers are not.

so order this also

t2p

super !

is that a S or XS ?

appears it could be XS - from the size of the seat tube and headtube (?)

( my Topstone is XS )

t2p

sheesh - what kinda hills are you taking her on ? lol

sean.hwy

https://www.strava.com/activities/9031158054