Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
It's also possible to put drop bars and brifters on a MTB bike and add narrow MTB rims and tires. My wife has a bike like that. Then the gearing is also appropriate. I'm not sure what older group of MTB FDs match up with brifters, but something must because we own one.
One might also look at a third class of racing. Cyclocross, which usually uses drop bar bikes, but with mud.
A 24" or 26" conversion would be good for such an event.
One can use road 24" (520 BSD), or perhaps 650c wheels on a 24" MTB.
Or, road 650c wheels on a 26" MTB. Or, of course, simply using narrow 26" tires.