Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
11-11-12, 02:31 PM
#326
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The idea of an early mtb dirt drop setup was to primarily ride the drops, thus the tall LD stems you see on the era correct bikes above. I never ride the hoods on this bike, but if I did, it would not be comfortable. The goal was improved hand position and a bit of old school suspension built into the bars while riding in the drop position.
11-11-12, 02:37 PM
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WTB shift pods. Out of production for several years, If you are patient, a set will show on Ebay every few months. Again the setup is such to facilitate riding in the drop position. From there, using the shift pods, you can reach out with your thumb to shift while still maintaining control of the bars.
11-11-12, 02:43 PM
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Finished building up my Schwinn Cimarron from frame & fork.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
I'm liking it very much & have became a big fan of fat tires.
As I have gotten older I like the taller stem / bar combo. YMMV
That's the tall Soma stem adapter & that thing can get your bars sky high if you like.
I also really like the cross style brake levers coupled with the bargain Tektro Aero levers with Q/R.
Ever bike I have tried this on has been an improvement for my slower paced riding style.
11-11-12, 03:07 PM
#329
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Man, I love this bike, really great job on the build! It looks so different than anything available today. What happened to the stem you had when you previously posted this bike? I would prefer a slick Nitto stem but that's just my preference.
[/IMG]Last edited by neo_pop_71; 11-11-12 at 03:48 PM. Reason: punctuation
11-11-12, 03:17 PM
#330
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Finally rode the train from Dallas to Ft Worth with a friend with our bikes and rode the Trinity Bike Trails.
I took my Schwinn Cimarron.
Here are a few pics. I offered Mark Twain a ride on it but he was feeling a bit stiff & it may have been a bit too tall for him as well.
He did borrow my eye glasses for a few pics. LOL.
We passed by that old Methodist church near downtown...what great architecture! Snapped a few there as well.
I took my Schwinn Cimarron.
Here are a few pics. I offered Mark Twain a ride on it but he was feeling a bit stiff & it may have been a bit too tall for him as well.
He did borrow my eye glasses for a few pics. LOL.
We passed by that old Methodist church near downtown...what great architecture! Snapped a few there as well.
11-11-12, 03:26 PM
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Your build came together nicely, well done! I gotta ask, I can see your drop levers are Tektro but what brand are your cross top levers? The levers have a similar shape to the PAUL Cross levers... hopefully without the price tag! Thanks!
11-11-12, 03:35 PM
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Super nice! I recently parted ways with my '87 Panasonic MC7500 ("7 Up" color, yellow/green fade)... double butted Tange Prestige, fully lugged, and the complete stock XT group intact... I gifted it to a friend in need. Hopefully I don't regret letting go but I know the new owner appreciates it. Thanks for sharing!
Last edited by neo_pop_71; 11-11-12 at 03:51 PM. Reason: stupidity
11-11-12, 03:54 PM
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What a great thread! Sorry for taking over, I've really enjoyed seeing the interesting variety of builds. Thanks again to all who shared, it's been inspiring!
11-11-12, 05:57 PM
#334
You gonna eat that?
Finally rode the train from Dallas to Ft Worth with a friend with our bikes and rode the Trinity Bike Trails.
I took my Schwinn Cimarron.
Here are a few pics. I offered Mark Twain a ride on it but he was feeling a bit stiff & it may have been a bit too tall for him as well.
He did borrow my eye glasses for a few pics. LOL.
...
I took my Schwinn Cimarron.
Here are a few pics. I offered Mark Twain a ride on it but he was feeling a bit stiff & it may have been a bit too tall for him as well.
He did borrow my eye glasses for a few pics. LOL.
...
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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-12-12, 09:34 AM
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I put a flipped Soma Sparrow bar on my CL $50 Bridgestone MB-5 and love it except for the cockpit feeling a bit cramped. Suggestions?
Longer stem? Different bar?
Longer stem? Different bar?
11-12-12, 10:00 AM
#336
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Longer stem and possibly drops. Those Sparrows bring your hands closer, which is working against you.
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11-12-12, 10:29 AM
#337
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11-12-12, 11:39 AM
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11-12-12, 05:58 PM
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This thread has become one of my favourite threads here and I would like the opportunity to share with you my own vintage MTB that I had built earlier this year.
It is a vintage Norco Sasquatch MTB that I have converted to one of my touring bikes. Circa 1987 would be my best guess. The frame was actually a Craigslist rescue as it was destined for the scrapyard if no one had picked it up for $15. I took my chances at spending the $15 for what was supposed to be a strip down and respray project as the frame looked to be in terrible shape cosmetically. When I cleaned up the frame, the paint shone through and it turned out to be in amazing shape. I've left it all original and built the bike as you see now. It's amazing what a little bit of elbow grease and some TLC can do to a bike that was to be scrapped. It has now turned into one of the prettiest bikes I own.
More pictures of the bike here on my Flickr set https://www.flickr.com/photos/theborn...7630168934938/
Thanks for looking.
It is a vintage Norco Sasquatch MTB that I have converted to one of my touring bikes. Circa 1987 would be my best guess. The frame was actually a Craigslist rescue as it was destined for the scrapyard if no one had picked it up for $15. I took my chances at spending the $15 for what was supposed to be a strip down and respray project as the frame looked to be in terrible shape cosmetically. When I cleaned up the frame, the paint shone through and it turned out to be in amazing shape. I've left it all original and built the bike as you see now. It's amazing what a little bit of elbow grease and some TLC can do to a bike that was to be scrapped. It has now turned into one of the prettiest bikes I own.
More pictures of the bike here on my Flickr set https://www.flickr.com/photos/theborn...7630168934938/
Thanks for looking.
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11-12-12, 07:08 PM
#341
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Great-looking build and pics, Bluelight! With the right frame size and accutrements, a casual glance might not reveal that these started off as mountain bikes. 
11-13-12, 10:25 AM
#343
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11-13-12, 12:59 PM
#345
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Here are some "finished" pics of my 1986 Rockhopper. Noteable upgrades include:
NOS bottom bracket spindle to replace the original.
MKS "foot jaws" gold anodized pedals
Original WTB dirt drop handlebars
A longer Specialized branded Nitto stem, black
Shimano aero brake levers
Suntour Bar-con shifters
WTB 26x1.5 "slicks" tires
Brooks Flyer saddle
SRAM PC-870 chain
NOS CyclePro Countryside originals h-bar bag
Custom Sewing Sloth tool roll my friend Jeff created for me.
REALLY liking this setup, and have been commuting on it pretty much exclusively since I built it up. I like the setup so much I just purchased a NOS Kogswell P/R (the one designed for 26" (559) wheels.) that I will be slowly building up as a new years project. I'm a 26" wheel guy now for sure!
here is a link to the full build specs and lots more pictures. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cobraby...th/8162649656/
NOS bottom bracket spindle to replace the original.
MKS "foot jaws" gold anodized pedals
Original WTB dirt drop handlebars
A longer Specialized branded Nitto stem, black
Shimano aero brake levers
Suntour Bar-con shifters
WTB 26x1.5 "slicks" tires
Brooks Flyer saddle
SRAM PC-870 chain
NOS CyclePro Countryside originals h-bar bag
Custom Sewing Sloth tool roll my friend Jeff created for me.
REALLY liking this setup, and have been commuting on it pretty much exclusively since I built it up. I like the setup so much I just purchased a NOS Kogswell P/R (the one designed for 26" (559) wheels.) that I will be slowly building up as a new years project. I'm a 26" wheel guy now for sure!
here is a link to the full build specs and lots more pictures. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cobraby...th/8162649656/
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11-13-12, 01:14 PM
#346
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That's a slick build, man.
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11-13-12, 01:40 PM
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11-13-12, 06:11 PM
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Yes, you guys are indeed correct, they are thumb shifters. Specifically Suntour Power Thumb Shifters. You guys have good eyes! They are original to the bike frame and they work extremely well. I've also done this to my cross bike as I have a few of these vintage shifters lying around.
As to mainstreetexile's question, they were definitely a tight fit on the bar ends but with a little bit of 'massaging' they do eventually go on. Once they're on and have fitted itself to the bar, they pretty much install on and off without a fuss.
Thanks guys!
Love this thread. Keep em coming!
