frantik

that Cimmaron needs thumbies but otherwise loving it

neo_pop_71

Thank you andyfloyd for the kind words! Glad I could help, beyond the surprising capabilities of the "Deerhead" stuff, the quality and aesthetic of the early components are by far the best (IMHO) that Shimano has put out to date.

Right on WNG, thanks very much, I really wanted to go a different direction and hopefully end up with a bike I hadn't seen before. I suppose if you spent an extra few moments looking at the details, then I pulled off what I was going for once I figured out how I wanted to approach the build.

I appreciate that frantik, thanks man! You know I've always enjoyed your builds but I can't see where I mount thumb shifters on those Soma Sparrow bars... where would you mount them? I know I can mount bar end shifters, the bars are machined to fit them but I'm not a big fan of bar end shifters. I'm pretty sure I have another set of DKG Shift-Ease shifter pod mounts like I ran on my poor man's Yeti Ultimate tribute (the one you inspired my daughter to paint with the black spider web spray paint on your tandem).

So, I have a couple options if the brifters don't last, but I can't see thumbies wold go unless I got a new bar. That would be a bummer since I spent some time making the shims to mount the brifters on the Sparrow bar, I'm not ready to scrap anything too quickly as it took quite a bit of effort to put the bar set up together.

frantik

you coudl put the thumbies near the stem.. but the brifters might be better from a functional standpoint honestly. sometimes i kinda wish i had them on my univega cause the shifters are so far from the drops

fixed1313

I have been meaning to post here for a while but I had not taken any pictures. Finally took some pics so here goes. The Marin has been around for a few years, fun bike to ride but I need a different stem (less reach and more rise) and I am cheap and waiting to find one for a great price. The Fuji, while not a true drop bar, seems to fit the intent of the thread. I just finished this one about a month ago, it was $30 at a local pawn shop and I needed the Nitto bars for another MTB build I am working on. I decided to play around with some different setups, both drop and mustache bars and settled on the mustache bars.

wrk101

Nice work on both of them!! Also a great example on sizing: one small frame with a very long stem and lots of seat post, and another large frame with a much shorter stem and very little seat post.

How do they feel when you ride them?

oddjob2

$18 for the two bolt stem I used on my Miyata TR. Any cheaper it would have to fall out of a tree!

https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Alloy-.../dp/B007BWR602

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...a#post15940083

bici_mania

I did this just this weekend, It is a tad small with the seat post and stem fully extended but will work for now. It is intended to be my commuter so that I don't wear out my Olmo. A friend of mine gave me the seat and the saddle bag. He says he rode from Chicago to Huntsville Alabama and back in the sixties on this saddle. The handlebars came from my Bianchi and the brake levers came from my Raleigh Grand Prix, both deceased. The wheels came were the original wheels on my Trek Y-3, donated to a local kid at the co-op and the cranks were originally on my Redline Monocog. I traded and old LX derailleur for the pedals, bottle cages and rack. The handle bar is wrapped in old road tubes.



I hope to eventually swap the frame out with a size or to larger but it should get me through a fall and winter of commuting. I have never used panniers before, always carrying everything in a back-pack. I am in the process of sewing together a pannier so that I can get the weight off my back.

wrk101

That's the other nice thing about a mtb drop bar conversion. Parts are almost all universal, and there are so many deals on mtbs out there, it should be easy to swap out later.

fixed1313

Thanks, the Marin is a 16.5" frame and the Fuji is a 22.5" frame, both measured CTT. When I had the standard MTB bars on the Marin it fit me well, with the drops I need a stem with more rise and less reach. The Fuji fits me well as pictured. For reference my main MTB is an 18" frame and my road bikes are 21" frames. As a rough starting point when I build up a personal bike I like to have 22" to 23" from the nose of the saddle to the upright hand position (hoods, flats, etc.). The Fuji measures out to what I like, the Marin measures in at about 25". With the given info you can guess that I feel to stretched out on the Marin. Both saddles are set at the proper height for correct leg extension.

Thanks for the link, the reason for not jumping on deals like these is that the Marin needs a 25.5mm stem, not as easy to come by and I like to recycle. (You can read this as I am cheap and like to use parts I scrounge up).

WNG

I went canal trailing through the desert yesterday. I took the Hardrock and it proved the right choice to take on the rough conditions. I was dodging river rock the size of melons. After 45 miles, I was sore, but the bike held up. Felt like Paris-Roubaix.

Although this 18" frame was able to be fitted to me, with the bars and saddle level, there is merit to go one size up when going drop bar. Note the length of seat post. I think the higher BB height is to blame.

The Hardrock beater will be retired and a 20" Giant Sedona ATX frame will take its place for such romps through the desert.


Arizona Canal-029 by WNG555, on Flickr

Arizona Canal-008 by WNG555, on Flickr

anixi

^You can tell right away that the 18" frame is too small for you. Have you considered converting to 700c wheels?

WNG

No, this one will stay 26". I used to have a 700C gravel grinder until it's demise. This was a quick build to fill in the gap. I just picked up a medium 700C hybrid that will be converted soon.
I will probably donate the Hardrock to a coop, once the 20" Giant is completed. I still think there are conditions a 26" wheeled, wider tired bike is better suited out here.

Goosecheck 

Newbie who just stumbled across this forum and joined up. Nice to see a group of like minded Frankenbike riders who know how the oddest, ugliest, or oldest bike in the stable can be the #1 favorite to ride. Didn't know there were some many others out there.

Rain, frost, dirt, gravel, potholes.... It just doesn't matter. Riding my drop bar MTB conversion just make me smile! I'll post pictures of mine shortly.

Old School, Drop Bar Cool!

Goosecheck 

New to the forum and enjoying the MTB drop bar pix. I've been enjoying mine for about four years now. Originally a Mongoose Rockadile (1994) I've had since about 1996. Did most of the conversion about four years ago, with a few tweaks since. Great commuter, trail bike, touring, gravel, whatever. Some pix attached. Thanks!

Build
Original Stock Shimano STX Drivetrain
Original Vetta Saddle (re-covered in brown Oct 2013 to match new h-bar wrap)
Soma June Bug bars
RaceFace Stem
Surly 1x1 Fork (replaced an old aftermarket Rock Shox Judy) - BEEFY!
Shimano Bar Ends (Sweet!)
Tektro CR720 Cantis (old Shimano cantis had too much flex)
Cane Creek levers and Headset
Axiom Journey Rear Rack
Racktime front rack
Vuelta Zerolite Wheelset (Nashbar special - replaced original Arayas lent to brother-in-law) -Helluva a good set of inexpensive wheels.
Maxxis Overdrive Kevlar 26 x 1.75 tires (559-47)
Ahrens WiseCracker (the most important addition)

wintermute

Impressive way to say "hi"! Welcome!

fixed1313

Welcome Goosecheck.................... great looking ride. How do you like your front rack, I almost bought one the other day but was not sold on the "new" look. After seeing it on your bike, it doesn't look bad.

WNG

+1 Goosecheck! Great looking Mongoose.

Squeeze

Wow. Nice bikes posted here recently. I love this thread, and you guys are making me feel really sad to have a straight bar on my vintage MTB...for now.

jdefran

I have this rack in silver if you're interested. Got it for my drop bar conversion but didn't like the idea of using p-clamps.

Goosecheck 

It works great. The size and placement lets me run my rack trunk up front where its more accessible, and still mount small panniers if desired. The P-clamps weren't an issue for me. All that mattered was that it's sturdy (it is). It includes a mounting bracket for a dynamo light and otherwise provides a mounting spot for a secondary rechargeable. In one pic i think you can see where I affixed a short piece of 3/4 PVC pipe to one of the light bracke holes up front. I have a second Cygolite mounted there which I can still reach while riding. The PVC isn't as asthetic clean as a Problem Solver mount, but it was cheaper.

Goosecheck 

BTW, Thanks all for the "props" and the warm welcome

fixed1313

Thanks for the offer, I need a black one though. Going on the Fuji I posted towards the top of the page. P-clamps are a none issue for me as well.


Goosecheck - thanks for the info, I may have to go back and pick it up.

Vonruden

This has become my favorite thread. Here is my first drop bar MTB project. So far I have a Brooks saddle, Shimano RX canty's, derailleurs and recently order Origin8 Gary Bars 2's and NOS Gen 1 Dura Ace bar end shifters. I'm worried that the bar ends wont be compatible?? More to come shortly.

Sixty Fiver

The Rockadile is suhweet.

frantik

nice i picked up that same exact year/model recently.. the frame went to my girlfriend and i swapped over the parts from her rockhopper drop bar conversion.. i'll have to take some pics