Switching out handlebars??
 

Hi there,

I currently have this bike, the Trek District S.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ct/district_s/

I like it alot, but I want to switch out the handlebars and get drops, I think its more comfortable for me. What do I need to do to get that done? And is it expensive/not worth it?

Thanks guys!

You just need the handlebars and an allen wrench. But I do suggest to just let the shop do it for you for 5-10 bucks. You can easily overtighten aluminum bars and crush them if it's your first time doing it. Or you could undertighten them and crush your skull instead.

It's pretty easy. The only hard part will be adjusting the brakes if you want to go for road style levers along with the new bars.

Depending on what bikeshop you go to as well, they may have drop bars that vary from one another, some may have more drop, less drop etc. I'd say if they have different types to hold them and kinda position yourself like youre on your bike to get a feel for the bars, and also make sure that the width of the bar feels comfortable, it should be as wide as the distance from the center of your shoulders.

I wonder if the bikeshop I go to think I'm weird. When I'm eyeing a new pair of handlebars it takes days or weeks for me to decide. So often time I'll walk into the shop, they greet me, I greet them back, then walk to the back of the shop where they have the handle bars, I grab them and try to get a good feel for them on how they would be on the bike then walk out.

I do this with two bike shops here. I ride with the guys from one shop so it's less weird. I'll look at pretty much any part in shops for like a month before I decide on something.

Cables (road terminus vs. MTB), longer housings, drop bars, brake levers, bar tape, and cable ends. Shorter stem may be needed as drops will place brake levers farther forward.