Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
 

I know several of you have some really nice drop bar conversions. I finally got around to converting my Univega Alpina Pro. I did a minimalist job on this one, using stuff out of the bin only. The cockpit on this bike was cramped for me, I can already tell its better (riding on the hoods). It was either this or trekking bars, and I have done the trekking bar conversion before, so it was time for something different. I kept the original stem.

For those that thought all of the Univegas in the 1980s were built by Miyata, this one was built in Taiwan, so I am guessing KHS.

Smoked chrome, triple butted cromoly frame, what's not to like? OK, it does have a U-brake, and the frame is not lugged..

Lighting was kind of poor on these pics, I may have to redo them later.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7...c75d001e_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7...a47d7b11_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7...24b7896e_b.jpg

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Woo-hoo, another chance to post my Diamondback!

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...-32-18_591.jpg

I'm pretty happy with the conversion overall, but I would like to find some bars with more reach, as I feel a little cramped when in the drops.

Very nice!

Cheers,
Chris

Oh I should ban myself from this thread. I want one.

"Fast" MTBs are so much fun -- you should definitely add one to the stable. :thumb:

ThermionicScott, that bike looks awesome. A true fun-machine.

Well done. Over the last 20 years, I have tricked out a number of rigid MTBs and have always found them to be great allarounders. Really, if it came down to one bike, this would have to be one of the top choices.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...RPCanel34r.jpg

Allarounder....mmmm...stationwagon
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=258722

More like a light 4 wheel drive.

1987 Kuwahara Cascade... handbuilt model on Ishiwata quad butted tubes and the reason I will never need a Surly LHT or any other full sized touring bicycle and I have ridden this bike 40,000 km since I bought it 5 years ago.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...adeavocet1.JPG

1990 Moulden Custom XC mtb, Reynolds 853 and Ritchey Logic tubing makes for an extremely lightweight steel mtb... it was time to overhaul the drive train yesterday so swapped out the 11-30 for a 12-25 cassette and installed a fresh KMC SL chain and I am loving the closer steps and only need to drop off the 44 if I take the bike off road.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...ldenfalls1.JPG

I think you could use more seatpost.

Subscribing. Maybe I'll have one to post someday soon.

+1

If I ever get mine painted and put back together - it's been sitting primed for the last month, but we've got in-laws coming and are moving in 3 weeks after that - I'll have to put mine up here. I'm envious of how many of you seem to be able to turn projects around quickly. Mine seem to go on and on forever.

That's pretty neat!

Remarkable timing as I just finished up a complete rebuild of an old Univega MTB on Tuesday
& took it out for a long maiden voyage of 5 hours early yesterday.

I also just used parts I had on hand and since I had no preferred barend shifters I went with
the stem shifters in my parts box and they actually did very well shifting the 3 x 6 gear set up.

The cush of those fat tires and road bars has me hooked.

I will be updating my cockpit on this one soon with better brake levers as well as inline / cross levers & perhaps barend shifters.

I had no fresh bar tape so just recycled some used tape since I will be changing cockpit later.

One frustration on this old Univega besides being a heavy tank with only main frame of db tubing is that it takes a 21.1 stem & I want a taller stem. I have this one maxed out. I could not find any 21.1 stems on line that have a 26 clamp for a road bar.

I just happened to have this one I was able to use from an old 77 or so Nishiki road bike.

I did find a bmx stem adaptor online in a 21.1 so I could go with that and perhaps a Velo Orange removable faceplate stem.

Those Shimano Exage levers sucked at taking advantage of the Shimano AT-50 canti's.

I measured those tires at 51mm. Inflated them to 50lbs and cush time on the hot roads around Dallas.

My first real experience at trying this but I did not think those fat tires slowed me down that much
with the slower speeds I mostly ride.

Fun stuff.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...7&d=1340903757

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http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...9&d=1340903763

Subscribing. this thread is relevant to my interests.

I have loved this concept since I first saw this bike:

http://www.cycleexif.com/f-moser-motard

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=258789http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=258790

I have all the components for a full 3x9 univega, all
campy down to the rims, with Mafac brakes for that extra touch, save for racks, fenders and spokes. Hm.

'90 Bridgestone MB-5
 

My number one workhorse. It takes care of my hilly 30m rt commute, loaded pannier trips, and towing the utility trailer (170lb record, 5miles, ~1000ft total elevation gain) I've probably put close to 2k mile on her so far this year.

An early build.

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/404/bridgestonef.jpg

And it's finished evolution.

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/6048/p1040250q.jpg


The Basil rack up front fits a 12pack perfectly, although it's also been used to carry 40lbs of cat litter. Cheap Sanyo dynamo hub powers the front light and a ReeLight blinks in back. Drivetrain is friction mode barcons pushing a rapidrise RD. Favorite build ever.

I'm seeing a lot of inspiration out there. Come to think of it, I have that MB-6 sitting there waiting, and MTBs have minimal value around here anyway. Maybe I need a fat tire version?

Interesting this thread comes about at this time- I just picked up a bunch of parts the other day- for putting drops on my High Sierra.

I think I've decided I'm going to be running Suntour friction stem shifters.

Do you think a drop bar conversion would also work well with a flat-bar hybrid frame, 700c/35 wheels?

I've done it to a couple of Cdale hybrids. The same rules apply, 90% chance you'll have to run a dirt-drop angled stem or a Technomic. Some of those old hybrids have incredible tire clearances...

I like how these builds develop in character. Gravel grinders, grocery getters, some still ready for singletrack. They seem to adapt to their enviroments rather well. Watch out Fixies, 650B-ers and Carbon Jockeys...you might be looking at the next hot trend?