kingston 

Thanks. I've seen that one. While I'm sure it's completely functional, a $15 sunlite stem just isn't blingy enough for me.

alecjahn

[tried to trim for reply] this is almost exactly how my Trek is looking. Though my fender fit way less gracefully than yours! I'm running 1.25 tires so it's hard to find 26" fenders that aren't "too wide". Mine is even the same color.
I'm constantly considering dropped bars and then just keeping the flats. I REALLY like the brake levers that I have on it, and the grips, so it's a difficult push to make the transition to drops. The shifters are even period correct thumbies that work super well... Just so many steps for me to go to drops that if I were to do so, I think i'd at most change the bars and keep the levers/shifters etc.

cs1

OMG tell me I didn't hear that! Specialized made a nice riser stem in the 80's probably a Nitto. You can find them on old Stumpjumpers.

kingston 

I have one on my 89 miyata ridge runner team. While it lacks the dazzle of an LD, it has just enough bling for an old dirt drop.

hankaye

alecjahn, Howdy;

If you truly want to use your thumbie shifters then take a look at the top of the previous page and the set-up
that MeatloafOvadose has.

hank

Bikedued

That needs to be offered in chrome, or at least some type of silver finish. I might bite then. Otherwise it's too close in appearance to many other stem riser/stem combos.,,,,BD

hankaye

Bikedued, Howdy;

So, tell the folks, me, I'd just use some paint stripper then polish the steel to make the shiny object of your
desires ...

hank

Camplex

I completed my '83 Ross Mt. Whitney a few weeks ago and having decided prior that I would sell it, listed it and sold it two weeks later. I decided to buy a 650b bike. Meanwhile, I have another Mt. Whitney frameset in-case I want to again build a similar bike in the future. Here are some pics of the bike just prior to being sold.








The bike came out wonderfully. Surprisingly light, with firm braking and the ability to ride over most any surface comfortably. Rat Trap Pass tires would be a nice little upgrade but in any case, this impressed me as the most qualifiable "all-rounder" I have personally owned... I kept many of the stock Deore parts, such as the XT hubs, where I simply added new bearings and grease. I upgraded the RD, replaced the Shim. brakes with MAFAC tandem cantis, GB randonneur bars, Tange NJS Levin headset, stock rims - crank - pedals, and much more.. the fenders and reflector were amongst the French parts picked up overseas, though Honjo hardware made it possible to mount... Anyway, a great riding bike! Let me know your thoughts. :-)

kingston 

Very nice looking bike @Camplex. Curious to know how much you sold it for.

Pemetic2006

https://1drv.ms/a/s!AtSdd0-YfMGPgmyPUQFG5UMCs8Nk
Sorry about the link but I'm still poor at the picture posting.
Just got this 1988 Panasonic Mountain Cat 6500 last weekend and since I spend a lot of time in this thread I thought perhaps I'll try the conversion. I have a set of Ultegra 8 speed bar end shifters and a Nitto 135 handlebar so I'm part way there.
This bike's top tube is the same length as my road bikes so I assume a similar length stem would be in order but I'm not sure. I haven't checked yet but I'm guessing the current stem won't work or might be too long for drop bars.
@simmonsgc recommended some Tektro brake levers which look nice and I may go that route, or I may go with some "period correct" Shimano levers. Would pretty much any levers work? I'm new to this so I'll likely ask some basic questions along the way.
I live near a 23 mile rail trail and this bike (even in it's current setup) will be perfect, I hope, for riding it. Drops may sweeten it a bit.
All components are Deore (I believe the next step down from XT for 1988) and as far as I know they are all original. The original biopace rings have been swapped for Sugino. Cosmetically it's not top notch but that doesn't bother me so much.
Anyway, thanks for looking and for any suggestions. I'll decide pretty soon whether or not to do this.

simmonsgc

You have a front cantilever and a rear U-brake on that bike, so any 'road' levers that work with cantilevers will work fine. Just don't buy "long-pull" levers for V-brakes if you're keeping the original brake set. Those Tektros are what my friend wanted for her MC6500 project and she likes them a lot, and they were easy to set up and work great with the original Deore cantis and U-brake. Can't wait to see your project!

simmonsgc

It was rude of me not to follow up with a thanks for the nice words about this build. Always much appreciated, friends.

BUT, may have to delete this one from the 'drop bar' thread. My friend brought her bike back to the house today, along with a set of Soma Sparrow bars. Fell outta love with the drops, it seems. Tearing it down again for MTB levers, etc., etc. But, what good is a cool build if she won't ride it? So, on with the Sparrows!

Pemetic2006

QUOTE=simmonsgc;19093370]You have a front cantilever and a rear U-brake on that bike, so any 'road' levers that work with cantilevers will work fine. Just don't buy "long-pull" levers for V-brakes if you're keeping the original brake set. Those Tektros are what my friend wanted for her MC6500 project and she likes them a lot, and they were easy to set up and work great with the original Deore cantis and U-brake. Can't wait to see your project![/QUOTE]


Thanks for more input, I appreciate it.
I will keep these brakes so glad to hear if I decide to go with some Shimano levers they'll work.
Wish my bike was half as clean as your friend's. That thing looks fantastic.

Wright Bros

It's getting to be that time of year in the midwest, installed my Planet Bike fenders on the 930.

Squeeze

It's been a while since I've contributed anything to my favorite thread at this forum, so here's a shot from today's ride.

coolkat

Racing cross today on my Hardrock. Performed pretty well! (Saddle looks high; it's cause I'm coasting)

Camplex

I wasn't sure what forum rules on the subject were, but I got ~500 for the Ross. Less than I wanted, of course! Haha.. but really, I only came out on top because I built this up over time and got great deals on a lot of parts.

Anyway, this definitely "sold me" on drop bars for old MTBs and the like. Very comfortable, looks the part, and is about as light as some sport tourers from the period...

romperrr 

I like those bars. What are they?

Wright Bros

Thanks, They're the first design of the Gary Bar from Origin8. I don't think they were very popular as they won't accept barcon shifters. I enlarged the ends of mine with a adjustable reamer at my work. I posted more pics on pg 212 of this thread. Here's a link to my pics. https://www.bikeforums.net/18980057-post5294.html

Pemetic2006

Is there a consensus on whether to go aero or non aero on these conversions?
I have a Panasonic Mountain Cat with a front cantilver and rear U brake that I will be converting to drop bars with bar end shifters.

ksryder

This is BF... there's no consensus on anything, ever!


I think people just use what they have/prefer.

Pemetic2006

Thanks. That's what I pretty much figured.

due ruote 

Not really sure it qualifies as a conversion, but I feel like our 1992 Ibis tandem would be at home on this thread. Quite a plush ride with the Big Apples.

himespau 

That looks outstanding. Color me jealous.

700

What... no drops on the back?