Squeeze

No, you need not have clarified.

I'm cheap too. My car is sixteen years old, for example, and I penny-pinch at every opportunity. I just figured I'd do it once and do it right, so I bought new stuff -- but that was mostly because I didn't have a big box o' bike parts like a lot of you guys have.

Cyclist3098765

Thanks! I don't remember if it has a 42 or 39 on that crank, I'll take a look next time I see it.

Bikedued

Here's one I am just starting. Stem may change since it could be too far out there for reach. Rims are from a 91ish GT Team Avalanche, Deore XT hubs and Ritchey Vantage Comp rims. XT RD, front will be as well, probably. Cranks are Isis drive FSA with hollow spindle. Bars ar Ritchey BioMax Pro I got earlier this year at a bike swap.

Overall I am going for a black/silver mix components, with a slightly more modern look. This bike will do well with drops, since I found the handling to be pretty quick. Almost road bike quick. I had never heard of this Panaracer model tire before, the "Mach"? I like them, and hope they're still made. Kind of a CX style, but in 26 inch.,,,,BD

Bikedued

Yep, they're still made. Down at the bottom of the page! Nice. I will have to go find a new set, since the front os a little smoothed out (bald) for my taste.,,,,BD

Panaracer<Products>

ksryder

I realize I'm late to the party but someone else may also have this question. 8 speed ultegra bar ends are cheap, bullet proof, work on doubles & triples, and you can easily switch from indexed to friction on the fly. They also work flawlessly with 7 speed setups.

I used a pair on my Trek 750 with a triple & 7 speed cassette and it worked perfectly. Those shifters are now sitting on my road bike with a standard 53/39 double and 11-28 8 speed cassette and again they work perfectly.

Shimano Ultegra 6480 Triple 8sp Bar End Shifter | Chain Reaction Cycles

Squeeze

Wow. That's about $20 less than I paid for mine, and I didn't just click on the first link I saw. I remember going to amazon and seeing that there were several sellers but all charged right around $80. $61.49 is a very good deal.

3speedslow

Great start, BD. The dark green paint really sets the stage for the black components ! Should look and ride awesome.

ksryder

Yeah after you factor in shipping from the UK you only end up saving about $10 or so but still, $70-80 for reliable indexed shifters is a good deal.

LesterOfPuppets

I decided to grab 10-speed barends cuz they were so cheap. Still haven't gotten a cassette yet, and I'm hoping they'll work with 9-speed rear derailleurs

Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 10-Speed Bar End Shifters

himespau 

Do the 7900 bar ends have the option for friction shifting the rear? I was heavily disappointed when my 7900 downtube shifters arrived with no ability to change from indexed to friction. Not sure how useful friction would be, but I've had my bikes get bumped hard enough before while parked at work that the RD hanger was bent and I needed friction shifting to get home.

LesterOfPuppets

I've read that there's no friction option. I guess I should tear open the package and confirm that...

dgodave

I'm remaking my '94 Litespeed Ocoee into a "gravel" bike.... with Albatross style bars. Will it qualify for this thread?

ksryder

I've read the same but no first hand experience. However the microshift 10 speed bar ends have a friction mode. The gevenalle brifters are essentially a microshift bar end bolted to a brake lever, and I've confirmed this with Gevenalle's support. Only drawback is you have to use an allen wrench to switch modes, there's no d-ring like on the ultegras.

Timbeau

Yes.

Grand Bois

No. Albatross bars are not drop bars, but post pictures anyway. I want to see it.

Squeeze

More pictures, please.

--the official motto of the Drop Bar Conversions thread?

simmonsgc

If I were pressed to provide an official motto for this, my favorite, thread...it would have to be: "How's the reach?"

Johnny Mullet

I wanted to do a quick update on my 1995 Huffy Thunder Ridge. I did the 700c conversion and the drop bar conversion some time ago and posted it earlier in this thread, but then switched back to flat bars thinking I needed them for commuting. I missed my drop bars and decided to go back. This time instead of aluminum drop bars and aero levers, I went with old chrome bars with the old school levers and suicide handles. This allows me to ride in the tops through town to be more visible and still have some brakes and to use my drops on the open road part of my commute. Weight is not an issue with this bike since it's a commuter...........

Here is the original drop bars (these lighter bars/brakes went on my Huffy road bike)........



Flat bar conversion...............



Back to drop bars (Original bars/brakes from Huffy road bike)...........

arex

Does your bike really say "Mullet" on the top tube..?

Johnny Mullet

That's my nick name. Must be the hair. LOL



This big box MTB I used to have also had the Mullet sticker...........

anixi

Very clean. I like it, especially the functionality added...

mountaindave 

No, they no longer offer that option. You have to scour eBay to get the old friction/indexed option, model BS78. If you're lucky, you can get them almost as cheap as the new version.

Bikedued

Looking much better now. This is the shorter quill, I think 140mm? I just ordered a 180 stem with a 80mm reach, rather than this 100mm. This looks WAY better than the silver Lemond stem it had before, but too low for my numb prone hands. The taller/shorter stem should work much better. The same stem, only taller and less reach.,,,,BD

m3rle

Taller and less reach seems to be the ticket on mtb frames. It's looking good. Especially the black stem.

cooperryder

Is yours a 1992 model? 22" frame?
I like that color green.

I have a 1990 850 22" (posted a pic earlier in this thread) and choose it often for my riding.
Currently I have upright bars
and some great Maxxis DTH 26 x 2.15 tires on it.

I look forward to your completed pics.
These are great bikes to serve as your palette to build up into a variety of fun configurations.