Convert trek 2.1 road bike to commuter

[reedol]

I need to convert my road bike to a commuter and don't really know where to start. I want to change my handlebars to the mountain bike/ town straight bars. Obviously I'll need new shifters and brake handles. How should I go about doing this, and what do I need to buy?

 

[JTE83]

Above is my 2007 Trek 2.1 SPA modded with Jandd Commuter Pannier and a Burley Alternate Hitch which connects to a Burley Nomad. With this setup I can grocery 140 lbs worth of stuff. I once groceried about 12 Sunkist sodas this way.

Keep your road bike handlebars!

I think I used a Journey Axiom rack that's 100 lbs capable.

 

[maydog]

Why spend all that cash to convert a road bike to a straight bar? By the time you are done, you could have purchased a decent fitness/commuter bike.

 

[KD5NRH]

More to the point, what do you think you're gaining by going to a flat bar? If you want to be more upright, raise the bars a bit. If you need more mounting space for lights, etc. without giving up the tops, the Topeak bar extender will only need an inch or so of your tops, and Nobs will let you use handlebar mount lights down on the forks.