bicyclridr4life

I have a 2003 Giant Cypress DX 'comfort' Hybrid.

The rubber on the twist grip shifters are gone - the rubber turned to mush. In addition, the flat bars give a limited number of hand positions (as in one).

I was thinking of converting/upgrading to a drop bar configuration. I have to replace the shifters anyway, since the rubber grips for the shifters are not sold separately.

Does anyone make a good looking 3 x 8 brifter? If not, does anyone make a 3 x 8 bar end shifter set?

Would I be better of replacing the twist grips with trigger shifters and putting on a pair of bar-ends?

I'm in the process of setting this bike up for long distance self contained touring. Yeah, I know; not an "ideal" touring bike, (stock, from the LBS) but it is what I have, it fits me, and with a few upgrades to the gearing, a rack or two, and a set of fenders, a Brooks Saddle ... and maybe upgrade the derailleurs to Sram or a higher line Shimano, it should suffice for a tour around the country. If it is not suitable for the Great Divide, I'll just have to take the West Coast route to the Southern Route, instead. then the East Coast route, and Northern Route; like I said: a tour AROUND the Country.

Thanks for your input.

Coal Buster

Have you considered trekking bars?

practical

I have had grip shifters and trigger shifters. Both can good. I would add bar ends. Also, consider get a road friendly tire.

bicyclridr4life

Changed from the original KENDA 700-45-C to Cyclo-Cross tread 35's, I forget what brand. (The Kenda's that came with the bike, both front and rear, came with small "cuts"/holes in the sidewalls that allowed the tubes to blow out. I'll NEVER run Kenda again.)

I have trigger shifters on my KHS, and Diamondback, and Grip Shifts on my PK-7 as well as the Giant. If I decide to go with bar ends or a trekking bar, I'll put trigger shifters on the Giant. I like them a little better than the twist grips.

dynaryder

Switching to a drop bar will require quite a bit of work. In addition to the bar and shifter/brake levers,you'll also need a new stem,and you'll either need to swap the brakes or add Problem Solvers Travel Agents(your V brakes are long pull,road levers are short pull). As others have suggested,a trekking/butterfly bar will give you as many positions as a drop bar,and will use your stock components,making it an easier and cheaper conversion.

Sounds like you just got a bad set. I've never had an issue with Kendas;they're also used on the share bikes in DC and NYC. I've had problems with tires from other companies,but it's always been just those tires,and not the entire line.

bicyclridr4life

dynaryder, I want to trash the V-Brakes and replace with a good set of high profile Canti's anyway.

Little Darwin

I have a 2003 Sedona DX, basically the same bike with 26" wheels, and what I did:

1) Rigid Fork (also moved to threadless)
2) Trigger Shifters
3) Ergon grips
4) Better saddle

I did have bar ends on it for a while, but I never used them, so I took them off.

Other than that, and trying various tires through the years, it is still pretty stock. I would swap out the seat post to go with rigid to save a little weight, but I weigh a lot, so that minimal savings hasn't been done. I have screwed down the suspension post tight enough that it doesn't move. The component mix has been bullet proof... I have replaced cables and brake pads a couple of times, swapped the chain and cassette, and popped one spoke. Otherwise, nothing but occasional cleaning and lubrication.

If you want a drop bar bike, you are better served to buy a drop bar bike, since you will need the brifters (the most expensive part) and a new front derailleur (road and mountain groups have different pull) and as you mentioned, the brakes need to be allowed for. In the end you would still have a drop bar bike that was not built for drop bars. (Although I have considered that change myself a few times).