Drop Handlebars on a Mtb ?

Zorba

Just wondering would it be possible to put drop bars on a Mtb or has anyone here done it ?

The bike in question had the standard Mtb bars 22mm I think would the stem take 26mm drop bars ? The cassette is 7 speed restricted to 6 and there's a triple chainring on the front at the moment I'm only using the one chainring. So would I need 7 speed shifters or something too ?

cdaly_

Is the standard Mtb bar not 26mm already? AIUI, you'll only get 26.4mm (or is that 25.4mm?) drop bars and those hard to find. It's likely that your brakes are not of the correct type for the drop-bar shifters either. Unless you're getting all the parts cheap second-hand, you'll be spending a lot on something like this. Is your Mtb something seriously good that you want to spend loads on it?

You'd probably be better off hunting down a decent second-hand road bike instead.

Dermot Illogical

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81316870&postcount=4931

Tonyandthewhale

You can get a different stem to fit drop bars.

However, if you've got V-brakes you'll need either special brake levers or an adaptor to be able to run them with drop bars.
If you've got hydraulic discs I don't think there's a compatible drop bar lever yet and as far as I know only some mechanical disc brakes will work with drop bar levers.

You'll need new shifters as well obviously, 7 speed integrated shifters are pretty hard to find these days but I suppose you could use barcons instead.

Think about how adding drop bars will affect your riding position as well, you'll be further forward on the hoods and in the drops so you might be a bit stretched.

What are you hoping to achieve by adding drop-bars to the mountain bike?

rp

On-One Midge bars are a common choice for MTBs.
I've a pair on my road bike at the moment, and I think I'll put them on the Inbred too, they are just so good.

dancecatz2000

If you check out this link It has Johnny T at the 1990 worlds, Johnny T made the transfer from road bike to mtb and kept the road bars,

http://twowheeledworld.com/u-s-national-mountain-bike-championships/

Zorba

cdaly_ wrote: »

Is the standard Mtb bar not 26mm already? AIUI, you'll only get 26.4mm (or is that 25.4mm?) drop bars and those hard to find. It's likely that your brakes are not of the correct type for the drop-bar shifters either. Unless you're getting all the parts cheap second-hand, you'll be spending a lot on something like this. Is your Mtb something seriously good that you want to spend loads on it?

You'd probably be better off hunting down a decent second-hand road bike instead.

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

You can get a different stem to fit drop bars.

However, if you've got V-brakes you'll need either special brake levers or an adaptor to be able to run them with drop bars.
If you've got hydraulic discs I don't think there's a compatible drop bar lever yet and as far as I know only some mechanical disc brakes will work with drop bar levers.

You'll need new shifters as well obviously, 7 speed integrated shifters are pretty hard to find these days but I suppose you could use barcons instead.

Think about how adding drop bars will affect your riding position as well, you'll be further forward on the hoods and in the drops so you might be a bit stretched.

What are you hoping to achieve by adding drop-bars to the mountain bike?

Should have said the bike has V brakes so thought i might run into problems with the brakes alright.

I only use the bike for commuting and as it's stored outside in the rain while in work and such i don't want to spend a lot on it or use my good road bike for commuting.

Kinda tempted to do a bike to work scheme but with it being out in the rain do i really wanna spend the money on something that's going to left out, also like the feeling i get when i hop onto the road bike on the weekend after using the mtb all week, the road bike feels like a rocket !

This was just something i was thinking cycling home today battling the headwind that maybe it might be a bit easier and more comfortable with drop bars on this thing.

Thanks for all the replies, think i might give up on the idea before i really start.


Oh one more thing i looked on wiggle and chain reaction earlier and couldn't find anything, is there some sort of covers u can get for the bar ends on mtb bars, on the cold mornings i can't use them cos the bare metal freezes my hands, was thinking of covering them with some old handlebar tape or something ?

kenmc

Zorba wrote: »

Oh one more thing i looked on wiggle and chain reaction earlier and couldn't find anything, is there some sort of covers u can get for the bar ends on mtb bars, on the cold mornings i can't use them cos the bare metal freezes my hands, was thinking of covering them with some old handlebar tape or something ?

yes, you'll find them in the section called "gloves"

Run_to_da_hills

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

You can get a different stem to fit drop bars.

You can always split shim the existing stem to fit the bars.

kincsem

rp wrote: »

On-One Midge bars are a common choice for MTBs.
I've a pair on my road bike at the moment, and I think I'll put them on the Inbred too, they are just so good.

Thanks for that link. I've ordered Midge bars

and I'm starting to grow my handlebar moustache.

Zorba

kenmc wrote: »

yes, you'll find them in the section called "gloves"

I call that section the wimps section :-)