Adding flat handlebars, new brake levers and down tube shifters

Cianos

Hi there,
Following on from this thread, I am now thinking of putting on some flat handlebars.

So this means I'd have to get some new brake levers. As for the gear shifters, I guess I'll stick with down tubers just to leave the handle bars cleaner looking. Maybe some time in the future I'll move them back up there.

This is a low budget project so I'm wondering where the best place is to source the parts? I had a look around ebay and there are handlebars going for cheap enough. I've also seen some brake levers and gear shifters there too. Or would I be better off going in to a normal bike shop?

This'll be my first time taking apart and adding stuff to a bike so just hoping for a bit of help as I work through it

Thanks

blorg

I have a few bits, some of which may suit, some not:

- A-head stem (I think you have a quill)
- flat bars (black) - I think they are 25.4, would have to check. They match the stem anyway.
- flat bar brake levers/gear shifters for 3x9 speed

Are you sure though you want to dump the drops? You can stick on a downtube shifter for the front and leave everything else as is (with the shifter on the bars still working the brakes.)

Cianos

blorg wrote: »

I have a few bits, some of which may suit, some not:

- A-head stem (I think you have a quill)
- flat bars (black) - I think they are 25.4, would have to check. They match the stem anyway.
- flat bar brake levers/gear shifters for 3x9 speed

Are you sure though you want to dump the drops? You can stick on a downtube shifter for the front and leave everything else as is (with the shifter on the bars still working the brakes.)

I was initially just going to put a downtube shifter on for the front, but thought it'd be nice to have flat handlebars, and I also just want to try it out for the sake of doing a project

Would you be looking to sell those parts so yeah? Where are you based etc?

The gears are 2x7 speed. Here's a pic of the quill etc. Would your parts do? ;

blorg

It depends on the diameter bar your quill stem takes. Also- they are black which might not be the best aesthetic.

I don't think the shifters would work unless you changed your cassette on the back also to upgrade to 9 speed.

I'll check if it makes sense to seperate the brake levers and the gear shifters, they are distinct but designed to be mounted together.

I have these bits for sale, yes, but to be honest I would just look at getting a cheap (secondhand) front downtube shifter and leaving everything else as it is. It would look much better (IMO) on that bike as well as leaving you with more hand positions on the drops.

All you will gain with flat handlebars on that bike is slightly wider bars and loss of the hoods and drops. The flats will go just where the tops of the current drops are.

Why not try some of those auxillary brake levers that go on the tops? That way you'd have the best of both worlds.

Cianos

Thanks again for the input. I saw a few flat handlebar bikes today and I'm quite sure I'd like to try it out with my own. It may not be the best choice but as I said half the reason I'm doing it is just for the sake of messing around with my bike and learning a few things along the way!

Blorg, if your flat bar is of the correct size (afaik there are two standard sizes, a bigger and a smaller, and my bike will take the smaller), I'd be interested in taking it. I'll send you a PM.

For the brake levers and downtube shifters I'll have a poke around ebay and see if I can get something suitable.