Want to convert regular handlebars to road handlebars
 

Hello,

So I'm looking at a cheap singlespeed from Target but I want to convert the regular handlebars to road handlebars. I'm wondering if I can simply take the standard brakes that are on it and use them along the horizontal axis of road handlebars? And if not, are there brakes I can buy that only attach to the horizontal axis of the road handlebars, as I'm not sure I want the protruding vertical brakes. Thanks!

Step one: Don't buy a bike from Target. Your wasting money on the bike and you're wasting money on changing a bike when you could find one that fits your needs from the get-go.

Peruse your local Craigslist or go to a local bike shop to test ride some bikes and see what you like best.


Please do not buy a Target bike and waste your money upgrading it.

Have you checked out Bikesdirect.com yet?

just flip it over to fixed and forget about brakes. check out the documentary "premium rush" for more info.

Cheap is the most important word and should be in 72 point font extra bold (Comic Sans MS). Literally the bike is not worth whatever they are charging you for it. Save your money go to an actual bike shop and get what you want and be able to test ride it.

I have seen plenty of bikes come in to the shop from Wallymart, Seers and Targét. that end up needing 150-300 dollars worth of parts and work because simply the bike was bolted together by someone who's job it is to bolt whatever they are given together. Notice I didn't say the bike was built by someone it was bolted together an important distinction. The wheels don't get trued which means brakes don't really work properly, parts aren't always properly tightened, the parts used are of cheap quality, so on and so forth... Basically a recipe for a rather unsafe bike either from the get go or at least on down the line.

Be careful with Craigslist, sometimes you can find good stuff but a decent portion of the stuff is overpriced, stolen or the dude didn't want to get work done on their bike and are passing on those costs to you without telling you. I have seen some legit stuff but it is generally buried in crap. I especially hate it when people put a ton of buzzwords in the thing when the bike doesn't have any of those brands or components associated with it.

One final note: The more you spend on the bike the more you will want to ride it and enjoy it. Not only because of the money spent but because it will generally be lighter, have nicer components, look and perform nice or maybe just fit you better. You will care for the bike more and maybe take more caution in locking it up and getting regular maintenance which will save you money in the long run.

Trying to kill the guy?

OP, don't bother. By time you get the brake levers(if going for hoods), bar, bar tape and new brake cable and housing and brake since there's a chance the cheap stock single pivot brakes that are on it are not compatible with the brake levers, you're going to be over what the bike was worth when new and you'll have a decent chunk of change where you could have gotten something better from a place like bikesdirect or a lbs.

As mentioned, don't buy from Walmart - you're giving away good money for rubbish.

However, if you were to buy a decent bike with flat handle bars and you wanted to fit drop bars (the curved ones like racing bikes), you may be able to use the brake levers depending on the diameter of the clamps. However, you'd be better off with racing type brake levers. Actually, you'd be better off again keeping the flat bars because the cost of converting will add up fairly quickly.

It's apparent you don't know a lot about bikes from your question. This is fair enough, we all started somewhere and we only know our own niche anyway. Go to a bike shop and get good advice on what to buy and get fitted to your bike properly. If your bike is the wrong size, you won't enjoy riding it. Getting the wrong bike and/or one that doesn't fit is the main reason people stop riding soon after starting so spending a bit up front can save you a lot down the track. There's nothing wrong with buying a bottom end bike from a bike shop to get started. If you stay with riding, you'll want something better but at least by then, you'll have a good idea of what it is you want.

Have fun mate. Bikes is good.

The others are right. I scored a single speed Italian-made chromoly road bike off the Bay for just a little more than you will pay for that hi ten bike from Walmart. If you know where and what to look for - you will get a much better bike.

Dude, for road riding - you need at least a front brake for FG riding on the road. You want that element of added safety. They forbid brakes in velodromes for safety reasons, no one is going faster than any one else and you slow down to a complete stop on a smooth track. That's rarely possible on rough real world roads.

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