Drop Bars for Hybrid
04-16-08 | 06:42 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Allegheny Mtns of WV
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Hampshire County, West Virginia
Bikes: Giant Cypress
Drop Bars for Hybrid
I have a Giant Cypress Sport Comfort with 700c wheels with flat bars and grip shifters. I was wondering how much work is involved with switching the flat bars for drop bars to give it a cross bike feel to it. I do quite a bit of riding on the road and kinda miss having a drop bar bike, but I also do a lot of riding on the C&O and crushed limestone bike trails. I'm thinking I would need new drop bars and new shifters is there anything else I would need to do?
04-16-08 | 06:52 PM
#2
You may need a shorter stem too, i.e., to put you in a similar position on the brake hoods as you had on the straight bar.
bar tape too
bar tape too
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Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
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shameless POWERCRANK plug
Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
Condor Cycles - quite possibly the best bike shop in London
Don't run red lights, wear a helmet, use hand signals, get some cycle lights(front and rear) and, FFS, don't run red lights!
04-16-08 | 07:24 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
It's a pretty major project.
For sure you are going to need different shifters and brake levers because the ones that you have now won't fit on the slightly larger diameter dropped handlebar. The combination brake/shift levers that most of the road bikes use can get pretty pricy but, if you buy brand new ones, they'll come with the new shifter and brake cables and housings that you are going to need.
You will also probably need a new stem. Flat bar stems have a slightly smaller clamp diameter and won't fit road bars without modification. As the other poster mentioned, you might want a shorter stem to make the new confituration fit right.
I assume you have linear pull brakes. That's going to require some kind of adaptation to make them work. If it was my bike I'd use brifters and travel agents on the brakes but there are some other choices.
What are you using for a crankset and front derailleur? I haven't tried it personally so I can't say from personal experience but I'm told that road brifters and a mountain bike front derailleur doesn't work.
For sure you are going to need different shifters and brake levers because the ones that you have now won't fit on the slightly larger diameter dropped handlebar. The combination brake/shift levers that most of the road bikes use can get pretty pricy but, if you buy brand new ones, they'll come with the new shifter and brake cables and housings that you are going to need.
You will also probably need a new stem. Flat bar stems have a slightly smaller clamp diameter and won't fit road bars without modification. As the other poster mentioned, you might want a shorter stem to make the new confituration fit right.
I assume you have linear pull brakes. That's going to require some kind of adaptation to make them work. If it was my bike I'd use brifters and travel agents on the brakes but there are some other choices.
What are you using for a crankset and front derailleur? I haven't tried it personally so I can't say from personal experience but I'm told that road brifters and a mountain bike front derailleur doesn't work.
04-17-08 | 11:36 AM
#5
A cheap and fast alternative would be to mount a set of trekking bars. They'll take your stock controls,give you an aero riding position,allow for all kinds of hand positions,and give lots of room to mount acessories. With your adjustable stem,you'll have a big range of positions to mount the bar. All you'll be out is the cost of the bar plus bar tape/grips.
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04-17-08 | 05:13 PM
#6
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
I was planning to do the same thing with my hybrid. After doing some research and realizing how much work (and $) was involved, I opted for the trekking bars instead. As dynaryder suggested, they really are a great alternative. I just ordered them a few days ago, along with a new stem (I wanted a longer one, and one that was adjustable). $50 all together. Now I just need to stop at the LBS for some tape.
04-17-08 | 06:32 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,321
Likes: 360
From: Paradise, TX
Bikes: Soma Pescadero, Surly Pugsly, Salsa Fargo, State Warhawk, Gravity SS, Schwinn Klunker
Origin 8 makes a set of drop bar ends for your flat bar. I just googled them and Amazon has a shop advertising them for 16.98
04-17-08 | 07:09 PM
#8
Yup
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 6
From: where the sunbeams end and the starlight begins
Bikes: Kona Unit, planet X cx bike, khs fixed gear
Anyways I just flipped my flat bars on my mtb for origin8 gary mtb dirtdrops. It's not that easy a project. I had to get new:
1) Stem
2) Brake levers
3) Cantilever brakes, cables and housing
4) Barcons
All told it was a pricey project with the parts and labour involved. The origin8 drop barends look to a very easy and cheap way to add the option of riding drops without the cost of a new bar project.
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When sadness fills my days
It's time to turn away
And then tomorrow's dreams
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When sadness fills my days
It's time to turn away
And then tomorrow's dreams
Become reality to me
04-18-08 | 06:47 AM
#9
These go to 11.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Bikes: 06' Trek 7.5 FX, '09 Dawes Steel SST
A cheap and fast alternative would be to mount a set of trekking bars. They'll take your stock controls,give you an aero riding position,allow for all kinds of hand positions,and give lots of room to mount acessories. With your adjustable stem,you'll have a big range of positions to mount the bar. All you'll be out is the cost of the bar plus bar tape/grips.
I bought a set of returned trekking bars on sale from Nashbar for 12 bucks for my Trek Hybrid & love them. Wrapped them with bar tape & they are oh-so-comfy. Soooooooo many hand positions, great for climbing & you get a real nice stretch in your arms using the very top of the bar. You may have to swap out for a longer stem if you do not want to be in more of an upright position while using the closest part of the bar where you will move your shifter & brake levers to.
Nashbar has them now for $22.99. Definitely get some bar tape if you purchase them.
04-18-08 | 08:52 AM
#10
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,187
Likes: 6,265
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
It's a pretty major project.
For sure you are going to need different shifters and brake levers because the ones that you have now won't fit on the slightly larger diameter dropped handlebar. The combination brake/shift levers that most of the road bikes use can get pretty pricy but, if you buy brand new ones, they'll come with the new shifter and brake cables and housings that you are going to need.
You will also probably need a new stem. Flat bar stems have a slightly smaller clamp diameter and won't fit road bars without modification. As the other poster mentioned, you might want a shorter stem to make the new confituration fit right.
I assume you have linear pull brakes. That's going to require some kind of adaptation to make them work. If it was my bike I'd use brifters and travel agents on the brakes but there are some other choices.
What are you using for a crankset and front derailleur? I haven't tried it personally so I can't say from personal experience but I'm told that road brifters and a mountain bike front derailleur doesn't work.
For sure you are going to need different shifters and brake levers because the ones that you have now won't fit on the slightly larger diameter dropped handlebar. The combination brake/shift levers that most of the road bikes use can get pretty pricy but, if you buy brand new ones, they'll come with the new shifter and brake cables and housings that you are going to need.
You will also probably need a new stem. Flat bar stems have a slightly smaller clamp diameter and won't fit road bars without modification. As the other poster mentioned, you might want a shorter stem to make the new confituration fit right.
I assume you have linear pull brakes. That's going to require some kind of adaptation to make them work. If it was my bike I'd use brifters and travel agents on the brakes but there are some other choices.
What are you using for a crankset and front derailleur? I haven't tried it personally so I can't say from personal experience but I'm told that road brifters and a mountain bike front derailleur doesn't work.
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Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
04-18-08 | 01:12 PM
#11
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Picked up a pair of the drop bar attachments @my local LBS. I will give them a try. I like my straight bar bike but sometimes the wind is a killer and being a not small guy it sure feels like I am huge sail. I am hopeful the drop bar attachments will help me out from time to time. I am gonna miss my other bar ends as I like those for climbing hills. I wonder if I could fit both of them on the end? Too much?
