To drop or not to drop (bar)
11-01-15, 06:25 PM
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To drop or not to drop (bar)
I picked this Ritchey up from NLerner earlier this month and after riding it for a bit, I just feel like I'm sitting up too high and the skinny slicks have to go. I'm on the fence between finding a more traditional mtb stem and running knobby tires or finding a shallow and wide drop bar and run knobby tires as well.
Any input guys?
Any input guys?
11-01-15, 06:30 PM
#2
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long stem and drop bar.
Of course that means something besides thumbies..
edit... why knobbies? If it's going to see any use on pavement, I'd insist on something else. Wide? yes. Knobby? no.
Of course that means something besides thumbies..
edit... why knobbies? If it's going to see any use on pavement, I'd insist on something else. Wide? yes. Knobby? no.
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Last edited by USAZorro; 11-01-15 at 06:34 PM. Reason: added question
11-01-15, 06:39 PM
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Of all the variables in bikes, I think fit is the most important. If it doesn't feel right, it isn't right. So something reeks you a drop bar well make it feel right? Go for it. You'll know soon enough.
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11-01-15, 06:44 PM
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You might find that installing a drop bar in that stem gets you enough reach and drop. These VO Rando bars with 120mm reach and 130mm drop do the job for me.
They won't do everything a real "dirt drop" bar will, though.
They won't do everything a real "dirt drop" bar will, though.
11-01-15, 07:44 PM
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I vote no drop. I put Nitto dirt drop bars on a vintage mtb and hated it. I would use the Riv Albastache bar. You get many hand positions, can get aero, can take it off road and still have the leverage you need when you hit the rough stuff.
11-01-15, 08:02 PM
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Ah, cool bike. Congrats. What will you use it for? That'd help me decide on setup if I was the one playing with it. Same for tires. I'd keep the flat bars, change the stem and get some knobbies or Holy Rollers as a first step, but that's me.
11-01-15, 08:33 PM
#7
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I never felt comfortable with drop bars on my mtb. I vote different stem.
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11-01-15, 08:39 PM
#8
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I am in the camp of trying a proper mtn bike stem. It should fit better, and will look awesome. I did a mtn bike drop bar conversion once and it was not impressed, but maybe you'll never know till you try.
11-01-15, 09:07 PM
#9
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I say put drops on it. I used a longish reach Technonic stem on one of my drop bar mtbs when I felt kind of cramped with a more traditional mtb stem.
11-02-15, 12:55 AM
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Oh, I'd drop that baby like a hot potato. 
But, yeah, ditto on what everyone else is saying about fit. I'd probably need a fairly long, tall stem to pull it off on that little frame. One nice thing is the conversion is easily converted back, if you don't like the results.
But for me? Technomic, rando bars, barcons and done.
But, yeah, ditto on what everyone else is saying about fit. I'd probably need a fairly long, tall stem to pull it off on that little frame. One nice thing is the conversion is easily converted back, if you don't like the results.
But for me? Technomic, rando bars, barcons and done.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
11-02-15, 10:51 AM
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I hated the original Ritchey bars on my Schwinn until I shortened them by about 1 cm on each side and bolted extensions onto the ends. With my 4-finger motorcycle-style Shimano brake handles, I can easily reach the brakes from the extensions, which have become my primary riding position.
Since this picture was taken I have put padded grips on the extensions and in the original grip positions on the main bars, as well.
Since this picture was taken I have put padded grips on the extensions and in the original grip positions on the main bars, as well.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
11-02-15, 11:47 AM
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Bullmoose would be perfect for an OG Ritchie MTB.
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