Hi all, looking to convert a drop bar Cannondale 9 speed to a flat bar using existing brakes/shifters. Is there any issues to be aware of when doing this. Seems straight forward to me, just turn them sideways and mount, just wondering if they will be snug enough to rely on . Anyone done this, your input would be valued. Thanks

You will need new brake levers which are designed for flat bars and compatible with your brake calipers. Drop bar levers are short pull while most flat bar MTB style brake levers are long pull.

There's a couple handlebars designed to hold brifters about where flat bar levers works go. Maybe the generic term is mustache bar? Nitto makes a set.

Expensive when a real flat/straight bar if you need new shift levers. Might need new derailers as well. Plus brake levers as most mt bike shifters are a separate unit. Maybe look at an alternative handle bar to straight flat as you can mount the existing road bar shifters in a Jones bar or something similar and still use them comfortably. maybe a different stem as well.

Are these the old style levers that were only brake levers and the shifters are on the downtube? If so, and you are going to spend money, then get proper STI's and then you'll have a more comfortable hand position on the hoods.

A flat bar is only going to give you less choice of hand positions. And the one it does give is not a good position if you are actually riding for time and distance... IMO. Being able to change up positions is part of keeping your hands and wrists from having issues on long times in the saddle.

thanks, I have those and many more, my thinking was a café style ride for no extra money, the mustache bars sound good . I will probably try different styles . I'm close to 70 now so just really want a Greenway bike.

Here is a Lemond Poprad with a Velo-Orange Porteur handlebar, with 4600 brifters mounted. The Porteur is the 23.8 grip version. It also comes in 22.2 for flat bar type set ups.

It is quite comfortable with room for position changes, and easy access to shifting and braking.
The handlebar has a 15mm drop in the picture. No problem flipping it to give another inch + for bar height.

A Soma Smoothie with a V-O Left Bank handlebar, matched with Dura Ace bar end levers and Tektro cross brake levers.

Brifters are not compatible, road drop bar brake levers not compatible. Grip area is 23.8, not for flat mtb levers.

I've done two drop-flat conversions in the past couple weeks. At the co-op, it seems that flat bars sell faster than drop bars for bikes that are "fast & light, but not full-on race bikes". On both, the OEM brifters were gummed up, so that made the decision easier (I eventually plan to completely degum the brifters in the ultrasonic cleaner, but it might be a while). I'll admit I have a pile of flat bar index shifters around here in 7, 8, and 9 speeds, a box of flat bars, and a bin of brake levers for caliper/cantilever brakes, so that helps. On the first one, it seemed relatively straightforward to change out, until I was reminded the hard way that Sora front derailleurs don't like flat bar (MTB pull) front shifters, so I had to swap the front derailleur as well. On the other, the Sora front derailleur spring was broken (a very common occurrence, it seems), so it's reassembling as a 1x9.

Friction shifters work good for FDs in my experience. Tough to miss a gear when you only have 2 or 3 with limit stops on either end, and you get infinite trim positions as a bonus.

A good set of bar ends helps with that. I would never ride flat bars without bar ends.

If you go in based on how it seems you are doomed. Road and MTB are barely interchangeable. Manufacturers change the diameters of the bars and clamps, pull ratios, other criteria to make conversions tricky and expensive to remain at the same quality level. Proceed with caution.

give it a try...who knows, maybe it will work for you...if it fails miserably we are here to gloat and assist...lol...oh and plenty of 'i told you so's'...

And one more, an Orbea Avant with a V-O Tourist handlebars. It has a 70mm rise width at the ends of 57cm, and has Tiagra 4700 brake levers matched with 4600 road trigger shifters, 10 speed. QR disc brakes. The tourist bar is one of my favorites.

[QUOTE=delbiker1;23716395]And one more, an Orbea Avant with a V-O Tourist handlebars. It has a 70mm rise width at the ends of 57cm, and has Tiagra 4700 brake levers matched with 4600 road trigger shifters, 10 speed. QR disc brakes. The tourist bar is one of my favorites.

Nice, reminds me of my wald 858 bars. Thanks for the pictures ./QUOTE]

Rivendell also sells a moustache style bar called the Albastache, also made by Nitto. It’s slightly wider, flatter, extends farther back toward the rider, and has less drop (1/2” vs 2”) than the standard Nitto RM016 moustache bar.

Both of those have road bar diameter and could fit brifters. Obviously the angle of operation will be different since they will be oriented on their sides with brake levers pointing out, not down.

Otto