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Gear levers on MTB drop bar conversion

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Old 12-20-13, 01:24 PM
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Gear levers on MTB drop bar conversion

What options are available for gear levers on MTB drop bar conversions?
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Old 12-20-13, 01:27 PM
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Gear levers? If it's an aluminum drop bar it should measure 23.8mm. That allows for integrated levers, Suntour Command, Kelly Take-Offs or bar end shifters. Even thumb shifter mounts are available in 23.8. The world is your oyster.
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Old 12-20-13, 01:28 PM
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Bar cons are a favorite of many. Next seems to be thumbshifters on the tops of the bars. Brifters are used occasionally. Stem shifters are the least used but work. There is a whole thread on vintage mountain bike conversions:https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ar-Conversions
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Old 12-20-13, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by likebike23
Bar cons are a favorite of many. Next seems to be thumbshifters on the tops of the bars. Brifters are used occasionally. Stem shifters are the least used but work. There is a whole thread on vintage mountain bike conversions:https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ar-Conversions
yes, I was perusing that but not all photos show where the gear shifters have been put. Some, as @ColonelJLloyd have suggested, are bar ends and I saw no downtubes but I couldn't figure out the rest.
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Old 12-20-13, 04:13 PM
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Thumb shifters are usually put on either side of the stem. As for downtube shifters, if you had a steel frame MTB and clamp on shifters, you could most likely do it. The brazed on housing guides on the downtube could get in the way on some bikes though.
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Old 12-20-13, 04:31 PM
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There is a fellow producing a stainless steel clamp-on down tube shifter bosses in several tubing sizes. Search ebay....that's where I saw them last.

If you have a 1" threaded steerer tube fork, you can also use a 1" quill stem shifters.

And there is a new option on the block, Retro-shift brake levers.
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Old 12-20-13, 05:24 PM
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One way to obviate that problem.

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Old 12-20-13, 09:35 PM
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One option not mentioned is to get a set of DKG Shift-Ease shifter pod mounts, this will allow you to get the shifters close to the brake levers and avoid the need to reposition your hands. This option is great if you have a large stash of parts, many on here do, everything needed aside from the DKG mounts was in my parts bins. As far as the additional parts, you'll need a pair of strap clamp towers off some old Suntour thumb shifters and some Shimano shift pods (specifically the integrated shift/brake lever with the attachment bolt) from the early 90's. DKG is still around, you might try contacting them to see if they have any Shift-Ease sets on hand.



A little side note, DKG designed the early seat post clamps for Salsa, you can still buy an original DKG for $10 or $15 cheaper than a new Salsa.
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