I finally convinced myself not to convert my '90s Rockhopper Comp to drop bars... and this thread comes up!

Resistance is futile!

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...um/photo-3.jpg

Not the first time I've posted this bike and probably not the last. It's evolved some. Technically it's my winter bike but I took it on vacation with us to the Badlands and Black Hills this past week and a half. Missed the hot weather back home for commuting but got it on vacation instead. Do tire patches take longer to cure in hight heat? Mine kept leaking and I've never had that problem before.

The IGH is new this spring. Liking it so far but sometimes miss the greater range and closer spacing of the old derailleur system. The Jtek bar end shifter works well but I'd prefer a brifter. Shifting is generally nice and smooth though and brifters aren't always the easiest to operate with heavy gloves or mitts anyway.

Looks good tjspiel :thumb:

I've used direct heat to remove tire patches before (applied via a flat piece of steel heated with a propane torch,) but I'd be surprised if ambient air temperature would be enough to cause them to cure slowly.

I've come to like Trekking bars , the figure 8 bend is a quick control swap,

with out the whole lever incompatibility, cable swap issue ..

More recent, I got an Ergon GC3 grip set,

gets most of the trekking bar benefits,

without even swapping the bars out..

a near/far reach , rather than up down..

I am tempted to at least get bullhorns on my MTB as the stock handlebars are much too wide for me, but I won't be able to remount the shifters/brakes on bullhorns since they're wider. But then if I do that I'd also want to change out the crappy stock front shock and get a standard solid fork... more $$.

Consider the Ergon grip, mentioned, on a shortened bar, perhaps, idc,
Find them a well designed product.

26" hammered fenders?!
 

Noticed the hammered aluminum or steel fenders. I have been looking for these in 26" size but can't find. Did you buy them at 26" or resized a different set? Info and advice grately appreciated!

Mountain bike commuter, no drop bars
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=457965

That's the big issue with drop bar conversions. MTB geometry is typically designed for a shorter stem and bars that sweep backwards. Drop bars always shift you forward significantly. MTB's that are one size too small are actually the perfect candidate and you get better standover clearance.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...7&d=1352937065

GF Cronus, originally a 9sp urban flat bar bike based on a mtn bike frame, it saw many iterations, including drop bar commuter.

I think those were VO's 650b fenders.

Yep, I've learned that lesson. My current Rockhopper has flat bars, it's not set up as a commuter.

Nice looking bike! Is that Portsmouth NH?

I use a pair of Origin8 drop ends. They work well enough for my needs. I'll post a picture later.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=458235

Have thought heavily about converting my KHS to drop bars. Only thing is I would have to run brifters, and I haven't found a simple solution for getting the FD to work correctly. It's top pull. Thought for awhile about getting the older style 10 speed campy brifters, which work well with my 8 speed, and it had a more ratcheting FD shift. But I'm only finding new ones which eliminated the multiple ratchets for just three clicks.

Here it is with 2.35" cruiser tires.
http://i.imgur.com/x0yrhmF.jpg

Also, it's my lock up/beater commuter which was originally purchased to use my parts bin parts on and not invest heavily into. I feel like not only would the drop bar make it redundant in my stable, but also significantly increase the cost.

This is one of my favorite bikes...

Normal set up

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1olnygrz.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/photo-46.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps72e0533d.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdf7a513e.jpg

Studded tires and platform pedals in winter

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7ec27c0e.jpg

Dog chariot

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2f2937e0.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps664125d4.jpg


Frame me is an early 90s litespeed mtb - Tange prestige fork. Origin 8 gay bars, Suntour commands, XT v-brakes, tektro Levers designed for v-brakes, drive train and wheels are deore DX.

I like it.

You forgot to mention the RHM saddle.

So this setup really works in snow and ice, huh? I struggled this past winter without winter tires, and folks told me it would make a difference. Also having a MTB would help a lot, I'm told.

Thanks! Good eye -- yes, Portsmouth NH, the old Memorial Bridge, looking at Portsmouth from the Kittery/Badger's Island side of the draw. Note the rust and ugly/charming wood walkway -- bridge has since been demolished and replaced with a new and better bridge.

If you really want to convert it, you could do a clamp on pulley cyclocross style, combined with a road FD and integrated brake/shifters...

http://problemsolversbike.com/files/...crossclamp.jpg

Here's mine: it's a 2003 Trek 7200 comfort bike. It's a little funny looking, but I use it most days in the winter (with Marathon Winter tires). I bought it new 12 years ago, and rode it for a few years as a comfort bike before I started changing things. It has a Surly Instigator fork.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=458286

Here is a conversion that I did and ended up giving to my cousin.

My dad and I bought this Univega on Craigslist for $40. I took the v-brakes off and put them on my dads bike and then started tinkering. I had most all of the parts laying around (including the drop bars and brake/shifters). What I ended up with was 1x7 gearing with a range of 33 to 84 gear inches. Overall, it's just a good beater bike that is relatively comfortable and utilitarian.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps24e8ab44.jpg

It's not a mountain bike, but a hybrid of sorts. Swapped out everything but the frame with a mish-mash of components--6600 crnaks, 105RD, 3500FD, Short4 cantis, Sora 3x8STI's. Just recently got a shortened stem and narrow 40cm handlebars.

Like someone wrote, a size-smaller frame is ideal; this one is a size smaller than what I normally ride, so it works well.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=458300

Here's a picture of mine. Lately, I've been considering adding a dummy brake lever on the right to gain another hand position:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...nowcommute.jpg