Carlsont9

I have a Univega Sportour that I bought new in 82 or 83, and haven't ridden it much in the last 20 years. I want to replace the drop handlebars with something more upright like the Velo-Orange Milan with Tektro City Brake levers.
I want to leave the shifters where they are. Is this an easy swap? Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks,
Tim

nashvillebill

If you buy a new stem, it's an incredibly easy swap. Pull the brake hoods back and remove the brake cable ends from the brake levers. Then loosen the old stem, and the handlebars and stem and brake levers all pull off as one unit, no bar tape removal required. This also lets you go back to the old setup quickly too.

Then you can put the new handlebars, levers and stem on as one unit as well, and just reattach the brake cables to the new levers. Easy peasy.

I am considering making a similar change to my Nishiki Riviera GT touring bike, since I happen to have a spare stem handy. I really don't want to undo bar tape just to get the stem out.

p.s. Nice looking bike.

nashvillebill

Oh, just to clarify: If you do NOT have another stem, here's what you must do. Detach the brake cables from the brake levers. Remove the bar tape from at least one half of the handlebars, all the way to the stem. Remove the brake lever from the side of the bar that you took the tape off (loosen the screw inside the lever housing and slide the entire brake off). Now loosen the bolt that clamps the handlebar to the stem. Slide the handlebar out of the stem. Insert the new handlebar and clamp it into the stem. Mount your new levers and then attach the brake cables to the new levers. Add the handlebar grips of your choice.

Then ride and enjoy.

Still an easy swap, but if you want to ever go back, you must retape the old bars.

Nubra 

Do the cable ends for the drop bars work with the Tectro City Brake levers???

nashvillebill

Can't say for sure, since I haven't seen the Tectro City brake levers in person, but the Velo Orange site doesn't indicate anything different, it says they fit standard road bars and standard pull brakes. The cable housing recess shown in their pictures sure look standard.

I did a quick search and found a review which said something to the effect that the cable end retainer clip can be reversed to accept mushroom shaped cable ends as well, which implies that in the clips regular position it accepts regular barrel ends. Several reviews indicated that they used the levers on old street bikes with drop bars without difficulty.

So it sure looks like they will work. The only caveat someone noted was that this lever didn't have cable length adjustors.

Carlsont9

I ordered them and will report back this weekend.

Tim

Prowler 

This reminds me of a 'moment' several years ago. I'd not ridden a bicycle much for 20 years but borrowed a road bike with flat bars and really enjoyed it. When we got home I dug out my Motobecane Mirage and promptly swapped the drop bars for flat bars. "I cannot see me EVER riding drop bars again" I says to the wife, I says.

Now I have 9 bikes, 7 with drop bars including the Moto which was swapped back. I'm in much better shape now and have learned how much more versatile drop bars are for me. Funny old world. When you swap out the drop bars, save them somewhere - just in case.

willydstyle

Really if you're switching your bars you should take the opportunity to replace the cables anyways unless they're like brand new. Replacing cables is the easiest way to "upgrade" your bike's performance!

Plus, it's very likely you'll need different cable/housing lengths for best braking performance with your new setup anyways.

Lascauxcaveman 

^This^

From a couple years after college until about 7 years ago, I rarely rode my bike. And when I did, I was always on the tops, it seemed. I didn't bother looking into getting a flat bar; I wasn't riding enough to bother with it, and only going a couple miles at a time. Nowadays I spend well over half my time in the drops, and it feels right.

I currently have 18 bikes; 16 of them have drop bars. (The other two are mountain bikes) It's very important to me to have multiple hand positions available if I'm going to ride more than 10 miles or so.

ramzilla

Drop bar brake lever cables won't work on city brake levers. Drop bar brakes usually incorporate mushroom heads & city brake levers will use barrel heads. Also, you're gonna regret keeping the down tube shifters once you got an upright ride. If I were you, just get some inexpensive thumb shifters or, even some NOS vintage Suntour thumb shifters & mount them on the handlebars right nex to brake levers.

Velocivixen

IF the levers are specifically Tektro FL750 brake levers then they DO take road bike brake cables. I have a pair.

Carlsont9

I installed the new handlebars and Tektro FL750 brake levers, but should also replace the 30 year old cables. Ordered new red Shimano cables from Amazon to match the ones I'm replacing, and will get them Tuesday.

Nubra 

Thanks Ramzilla,
That has been my experience also. I don't usually order levers, but use what I have salvaged from other bikes, of course depending on whether they are V-brakes, Canti or center pivot. Most conversions are for people who want to have a more upright posture and so Thumb Shifters are what I use also, unltess the client really wants trigger shifters.

Nubra 

Hi Carlson...I see from another response in the thread that the Tektros do work with mushroom head shift cables. Just wondering of barrel head will fit them also? Good luck with the red housing. Sounds pretty. Hope you post photos.

Carlsont9

I finished the conversion with new brake cables, and took it for a ride today. I liked the new feel, and it looks great!

squirtdad

nice..... if you decide you don't like the down tube shifters with this setup, consider going to thumb shifters. I find them to work really well (1x8 setup) on a similar build

WolfRyder

Clean bike and nice mod on that. The Univega is perfect for that bar set-up. I want to do the same thing, just need to find the right Grand rally for it.