Quoted message said:Hello all,
I have a hybrid bike that I would like to convert from flatbars to drop
bars.
Apart from stem & handlebar, what else should I replace?
These are my current components:
-mountain bike front derailler
-mountain bike rear derailler
-v-brakes (excellent, new, I don't want to replace them)
-triple chainrings (24-32-42)
-7speed cassette (12-28) and chain
-frame with top cable routing (not "road style" bottom routing)
1. Brifter approach (which I'd prefer)
Do road brifters absolutely need a road front der? Are road front ders
compatible with top pull?
Then, I am sure there are problems with road brake levers and v-brakes.
Finally, I am afraid that 7 speed road gear levers could be hard to
find. Are 8 speed levers compatible?
2. Separated gear/brake levers approach
I could use special V-brake brake levers. Are bar-end shifters
compatible with my deraillers? Are they indexed?
Which approach is more feasible/less expensive?
Thanks,
Federico
I agree with RonSonic. Unless this 7 speed hybrid bike is really
special for you, just get a different bike with drop bars. New or
used. Going under the assumption you actually want to get this project
done in a reasonable amount of time, you will buy new parts for the
conversion. If you wait to find used parts at the right price, it may
take you a few years to get everything at the right price.
Parts needed:
1. Drop bar. Cheap and easy to find in the 25.4mm size so you can
keep on using the same stem. Or 26.0mm if you get a new road stem.
$20
2. Stem if you get other than 25.4mm size for your current hybrid
stem. $20
3. STI shifters. 9 speed STI is $200 on sale with discounts from
Nashbar, Performance. Includes cables.
4. Front derailleur. Cheap triple road front derailleur will work.
$20 on sale.
5. As mentioned by Peter C., that clamp on roller thing that goes
below the front derailleur on the seattube so you can route the cables
along the top tube, down the seattube to the roller thing and then back
up to the normal pull front derailleur. $10?
6. 9 speed cassette. Cheap. $25 at most on sale.
7. 9 speed chain. $12 on sale at Nashbar. KMC.
8. Bar tape. $6.
9. Travel Agent V brake adaptors to allow STI levers to work V brakes.
$20 each, $40 total.
About $360 for new parts, getting everything on sale from Nashbar,
Performance with their 15%, 20% off sales. You'd have to really love
the bike to spend this much money on it. Just get a different bike
with drop bars.
