Changing to drop handlebars
 

I just bought a Nishiki Olympic (1970s) and am trying to change the handlebars into a drop or bullhorn. Now I know that I will need a new stem & of course the handlebar & brake levers....BUT I don't exactly know which ones I need (since I've never done this before). I have posted pictures of my handle bars & bike...if anyone can tell me what I need that would be great! or maybe even direct me to a website that would be helpful for this project.

I was also thinking of buying the parts on ebay...is that a good idea for a first timer?

Click on the images to enlarge:
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/356/h5nh.th.jpg
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/8201/h21gt.th.jpg

Sheldon Brown's website at Harris Cyclery is a great resource. He has webpages dealing with various parts of bikes, such as handlebars/stems, and various makers as well. http://sheldonbrown.com/articles.html

You'll find that most bikes use one of a number of standard sizes for parts, but there are always exceptions. So it is very important to know what size part you need before buying. I speak from perosnal experience - I have wasted money and ruined parts trying to use the wrong size parts.

I am NOT trying to dissuade you, however - this stuff isn't rocket science. Just follow the old 'measure twice, cut once" rule and you should be fine. Some bikes are so bizarre in thier specs they are a hassle if not impossible to modify/repair but yours is probably fine.

Ebay can be okay for parts but you might also check out Bikeparts USA, Nashbar and Performance as well as your local mom and pop LBS for parts. assuming you are not looking for high performance cutting edge, you should be able to add the stem, bar and brake levers quite easily. You may need new brake cables as well. The problem with ebay is people listing parts without sizes, or the wrong sizes, or with wear that could make riding unsafe.

The stem must fit into the fork steerer - your steerer is likely 1", so your stem should be a 22.2mm. The stem's handlebar clamp will probably need to be 26.0 mm to fit most inexpensive handlebars. You may or may not be able to keep your present stem and just slide drop bars right in; but your current bars may be narrower than 26.0. If they are 25.4mm you may have to resort to ebay for a used pair - they'll probably be steel, not AL, and in my experience they are way too narrow - or you can hunt for a new 22.2mm stem with a 26.0mm clamp to be able to use more light bars in a variety of widths ( http://sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-handlebars.html ). imho, a used stem in good shape is fine, but you are safest with a new AL handlebar.

Point is before throwing cash around, plan out the project, make sure everything will fit, parts are available and within your budget, etc. A first step might be to simply take apart, clean, lube and reassemble what you have to check for sizes, etc. Keep in mind many cheapo parts won't have the sizes inscribed, but I would make a note of all markings while you have the part out, and that can often help when looking for parts later.

If you are a total newb with tools, bikes or both, take your time and try to get hands on help from someone the first time. I am pretty inept with tools but was inspired by watching friends disassembling and fixing their bikes and now I can handle many types of repairs; it's a lot of fun, sometimes a headache and extrememly satisfying when you get it right. Just check out some of Sheldon's creations!! :)

Good luck!

E-bay is fine for folks who know EXACTLY what they want and can sort through the mistakes and mis-information by the sellers. You are new at this and the bike is old enough that the component sizes are questionable so you are not a candidate for e-bay. A "bargain" that doesn't fit isn't.

Try to find a bike shop that has been around for a while and isn't part of a chain. Older shops will have drawers full of old and/or obsolete parts and should be able to come up with what you want at reasonable cost.

It's done!! I bought another old Nishiki that had gotten into an accident just for parts and just got a new handlebar....
here is the bike:
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2699/after6dj.jpg

Nice! :)

Well done!

Couldn't ask for better timing.