moustache bar on a surly mtb



K

koolpaws

Guest
Hi newbie here.
I've just inherited a surly bicycle with disk brakes, all deore xt stuff and
I love it. But I hate the flat bar. I want to install a drop bar or a
moustache bar in order to get more hand positions but I'm told the XT
shifters/brakes cannot be installed on a road bar. Why not? Do i have to get
rid of the xt brakes and shifters just to get a road bar on this great bike.
Is there a workaround I'm not seeing.Any and all help appreciated.
jack
 
FWIW I'm selling an almost new moustache bar and matching 80 mm Nitto
Technomic stem. I installed these briefly on my touring bike and went
back to regular drop bars. Contact [email protected]
(delete the middle part).
 
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In article <[email protected]>,
koolpaws <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi newbie here.
>I've just inherited a surly bicycle with disk brakes, all deore xt stuff and
>I love it. But I hate the flat bar. I want to install a drop bar or a
>moustache bar in order to get more hand positions but I'm told the XT
>shifters/brakes cannot be installed on a road bar. Why not?


_ The diameters of the bars are different. Try poking around
www.sheldonbrown.com to find out more about this.

> Do i have to get
>rid of the xt brakes and shifters just to get a road bar on this great bike.
>Is there a workaround I'm not seeing.Any and all help appreciated.


_ I'd try one of the various Trekking bars available. Nashbar
sells them cheap and they are nearly as good as drop bars when
it comes to hand positions. All your MTB shifters/brake levers
will mount just fine.

_ Booker C. Bense


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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

In article <[email protected]>,
koolpaws <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi newbie here.
>I've just inherited a surly bicycle with disk brakes, all deore xt stuff and
>I love it. But I hate the flat bar. I want to install a drop bar or a
>moustache bar in order to get more hand positions but I'm told the XT
>shifters/brakes cannot be installed on a road bar. Why not?


_ The diameters of the bars are different. Try poking around
www.sheldonbrown.com to find out more about this.

> Do i have to get
>rid of the xt brakes and shifters just to get a road bar on this great bike.
>Is there a workaround I'm not seeing.Any and all help appreciated.


_ I'd try one of the various Trekking bars available. Nashbar
sells them cheap and they are nearly as good as drop bars when
it comes to hand positions. All your MTB shifters/brake levers
will mount just fine.

_ Booker C. Bense


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koolpaws wrote:
> Hi newbie here.
> I've just inherited a surly bicycle with disk brakes, all deore xt stuff and
> I love it. But I hate the flat bar. I want to install a drop bar or a
> moustache bar in order to get more hand positions but I'm told the XT
> shifters/brakes cannot be installed on a road bar. Why not? Do i have to get
> rid of the xt brakes and shifters just to get a road bar on this great bike.
> Is there a workaround I'm not seeing.Any and all help appreciated.
> jack


You could install bar ends. That will give you more hand positions.

Installing a new handlebar isn't out of the question, either, just might
require more work than it's worth for some. But if that's what you
want, go for it.
 
koolpaws wrote:
> Hi newbie here.
> I've just inherited a surly bicycle with disk brakes, all deore xt stuff and
> I love it. But I hate the flat bar. I want to install a drop bar or a
> moustache bar in order to get more hand positions but I'm told the XT
> shifters/brakes cannot be installed on a road bar. Why not?


This page explains how to switch from flat bars to drop or mustache
handlebars: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/deakins/handlebars.html
You will need to buy new brake levers and bar end shifters. If you
decide to go with drop or mustache bars, it may be more cost effective
to buy a new cyclocross or touring bicycle.

The Nashbar 'trekking bar' does seem like a good alternative, if its
diameter is indeed 22.2mm.

-Mike
 
"koolpaws" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi newbie here.
> I've just inherited a surly bicycle with disk brakes, all deore xt stuff
> and I love it. But I hate the flat bar. I want to install a drop bar or a
> moustache bar in order to get more hand positions but I'm told the XT
> shifters/brakes cannot be installed on a road bar. Why not? Do i have to
> get rid of the xt brakes and shifters just to get a road bar on this great
> bike. Is there a workaround I'm not seeing.Any and all help appreciated.
> jack
>

It is possible the bars are of different diameters, thus you would have to
buy new shifters and or brake levers to make the switch.
The other possiblity is the shifters and or brake levers might not be able
to get around the bar curves to the positions where you want to place them.
You may or may not need to put on new brake and or shifter cables as well.
 
Do they still make those atrocious things? There was one on my
landlady's vintage 1950 schwinn, and she asked me to take it off because
she couldn't control the bike with it.

- -

"May you have the winds at your back,
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner