putting drop bars on my Cannondale Quick 5
 

I have a Cannondale Quick 5 that I love when I am riding a combination of rough gravel and paved roads
in southern Vermont. The triple crank helps with steep gravel climbs and it is a very comfortable bike.


I would like to replace the flat bars with drop bars as I feel more comfortable riding on the hoods and sometimes
in the drops on my road bike. Having drops on my Cannondale seems like it would make it more like a "cyclocross" bike.

Would I need to do anything beyond buying new handle bars and brifters and installing them? Am I missing any other complications if I decide to do this? Will I be able to find brifters that are compatible with my drive train?

Thanks for any advice.

I'd ;ook at some of the previous threads on this , since its a FAQ, by now.

in short loosen all 4 cables and the stem bolts around the fork steerer and pull it all off & start over..

I make the assumption your stem choice will be different with Drop bars.



You could just drop it off at the LBS and say "make it So".

Depends on your current drivetrain... In short you can probably expect a need to swap the FD for a road version. If you're running Shimano 10spd you may need to swap the RD as well (a Shimano 9spd mtn RD will generally work with an otherwise 10spd road group).

Another issue may be brakes, again depending on what is current.

There may be grifters out there that are compatible, depending on your current setup, I'll have to bow out to those more experienced with these swaps.

It's normally a complex task, since the shifters and brake levers need to be changed to integrated units. If you have a 8 speed cassette (common for your bike) you will need these and a new front derailleur:
http://www.bikewagon.com/shimano-sor...ever-set#99259

You might be happy with these bar end extensions, they allow you to keep your existing flat bar and shifters: Robot Check

Aside from parts cost, the main complication is bike fit. You'll want to check the effective top tube length and compare it to your road. Hybrid bikes generally have a longer TT since the handlebars usually sweep back slightly. On drop bars the hood position is significantly forward of the stem. Getting the hoods in a comfortable location may require an extremely short stem.

In general, you should at least consider selling the Quick and simply buying a CX bike. Many times the net out-of-pocket cost is similar.

The conversion is complete and it was very simple. New Sora 8 X 3 integrated shifters on line for $70.
Drop bars for $25, new cables and housing $45 and nice Fizik bar tape for $20. $150 total, did the work
with a buddy who is an experienced bike mechanic. Came out beautifully. No need for FD or RD changes.

Sounds cool. pics??