drop bar and thumb shifters adaptation problem ?
02-28-13, 07:19 AM
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drop bar and thumb shifters adaptation problem ?
Hi, i have a trek fx 7.2 3x8 gear and i put drop bar on it.I tought barend shifters are good choice but also very expensive.
I 'm thinking now , if i get one of these shifters
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SHIMANO-SL-M...item4170f83e08
I'll cancel the sixth or 7th gear and after that i'll adjust 3x8 gear frictions .
i tought this is a good idea
is that a logical choice ?
if this isn't going to work i have to spend extra money
I 'm thinking now , if i get one of these shifters
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SHIMANO-SL-M...item4170f83e08
I'll cancel the sixth or 7th gear and after that i'll adjust 3x8 gear frictions .
i tought this is a good idea
is that a logical choice ?
if this isn't going to work i have to spend extra money
02-28-13, 07:44 AM
#2
Thrifty Bill
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Define very expensive. I have done several drop bar conversions and I use barcons. I am patient, and have found them at pretty attractive prices. Bought a set earlier this year on ebay, came with a set of handlebars, stem, and brake levers. This is a plus for me, and it discourages other bidders. Ended up reselling the stem alone for what I paid for the entire set up. So at that point, the bar cons were free.
02-28-13, 07:46 AM
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Those shifters ought to work. They have steel clamps which ought to flex enough to fit drop handlebars, and as they're friction shifters, you should be able to use them to shift an 8-speed system.
02-28-13, 07:57 AM
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my dropbar has a 25.4mm diameter shifters fits well .
Last edited by starcom321; 02-28-13 at 08:01 AM.
02-28-13, 09:04 AM
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Not many handlebars are 25.4mm where the shifters clamp on, if anything's 25.4mm it'll probably be the area that's clamped by the stem. Most drop handlebars taper to 23.8mm for the clamp area, most flat handlebars taper to 22.2mm. Those shifters are for flat handlebars, so the clamps will be 22.2mm, but those clamp bands are steel and will flex to fit the 23.8mm diameter of a drop handlebar.
02-28-13, 09:33 AM
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I've done several drop bar conversions recently and found Suntour barcons in decent shape for well under $50, including the shipping. You can find them for less if you are willing to be patient.
02-28-13, 10:28 AM
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Keep looking for Suntour barcons unless you absolutely want the ones referenced. I found 3 for $15 and some others for less and ended up with 2 1/2 sets with an average of $5 each! the half represents everything but the body and the fastner.
02-28-13, 10:32 AM
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Not many handlebars are 25.4mm where the shifters clamp on, if anything's 25.4mm it'll probably be the area that's clamped by the stem. Most drop handlebars taper to 23.8mm for the clamp area, most flat handlebars taper to 22.2mm. Those shifters are for flat handlebars, so the clamps will be 22.2mm, but those clamp bands are steel and will flex to fit the 23.8mm diameter of a drop handlebar.
Clamp fitting size 25.4mm
Handlebar dia 22.2mm
and i bought the shifter .
thanks for all comments
02-28-13, 11:12 AM
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You're doing a drop bar conversion; so I'll assume that you plan on actually using the drops. -inconvenient to have to reach up top to shift....
02-28-13, 07:35 PM
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i'm planing put the shifters exact same location
02-28-13, 07:45 PM
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Bear in mind that picture may have custom made parts..
drop bars the most of them is bigger than MTB bars by 1/16th of an inch , diameter,
so clamp band has more circumfrence to go around.
Pauls thumbies; and The indexed bar end shifter approach; Paul makes parts for both.
drop bars the most of them is bigger than MTB bars by 1/16th of an inch , diameter,
so clamp band has more circumfrence to go around.
Pauls thumbies; and The indexed bar end shifter approach; Paul makes parts for both.
02-28-13, 09:24 PM
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https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...s/IMG_1664.jpg
i'm planing put the shifters exact same location
i'm planing put the shifters exact same location
In light of the fact that your bike has flatbars(with perfectly good rapidfire pods) to begin with, and this is a dropbar conversion; I would call that setup for shifting (for lack of a polite term) half-assed.
The way they're up top; to use them conveniently you'd have your hands up top too; essentially the same as your old flatbars just without easy brake lever access. ie-why drops if you're up top all the time?
On the other hand; if you are planning on really using the drops, bar end shifters or STI will be much more useful than what amounts to stem shifters(without the C&V cred).
And on the yet another hand; if the dropbars are for fashion, putting the shifters up there makes that moot.
Conversions are costly in money and parts; best make it worthwhile and get the right stuff.
alternatly; have you tried lowering the stem on the existing flatbar?
P.S. The trek 7.2 has v-brakes; make sure the road levers you use are compatible. You want ones which are linear-pull, traditional pull road levers wont have enough travel.
these will work: https://www.amazon.com/Tektro-RL520-L.../dp/B003UWJO0W
Last edited by xenologer; 02-28-13 at 09:33 PM.
03-01-13, 04:38 PM
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I have an old Suntour thumb shifter on my commuter bike with drops.
If you dismantle them, you can re-attach them to a piece of hose clamp. It's a total kludge which involves punching out some threads in the hose clamp and also praying that is doesn't snap (it's lasted about three months now but has loosened a bit).
There's a better solution out there if you're cheap and willing to experiment
If you dismantle them, you can re-attach them to a piece of hose clamp. It's a total kludge which involves punching out some threads in the hose clamp and also praying that is doesn't snap (it's lasted about three months now but has loosened a bit).
There's a better solution out there if you're cheap and willing to experiment
