Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
#1126
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Those Dia Compe hangars are worth the price of admission as they are very well made and righteously stiff which really helps improve braking.
#1127
Goes to 11.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Wichita, KS, USA
Posts: 2,547
Bikes: 2015 Soma Double Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I had considered a stem-mounted cable hanger, but I saw your conversion a few pages back with the cable run through the stem and must have ignored the cross levers. I guess I'll have to stop by the co-op tomorrow and see what they have lying around.
After my bar-end shifter pods arrive on Monday, I should be ready to finish sewing it all up. Looking forward to that first ride!
After my bar-end shifter pods arrive on Monday, I should be ready to finish sewing it all up. Looking forward to that first ride!
#1128
rain dog
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Northern PA
Posts: 772
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
I had considered a stem-mounted cable hanger, but I saw your conversion a few pages back with the cable run through the stem and must have ignored the cross levers. I guess I'll have to stop by the co-op tomorrow and see what they have lying around.
After my bar-end shifter pods arrive on Monday, I should be ready to finish sewing it all up. Looking forward to that first ride!
After my bar-end shifter pods arrive on Monday, I should be ready to finish sewing it all up. Looking forward to that first ride!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AO5KXS/
Edit: should've read the rest of the posts, looks like some other people beat me to it! Regardless, +1 for those, and there's the link.
#1129
Thrifty Bill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,526
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
+10 Found it finally, $1.68 at Niagara.
As usual, navigating the Niagara site is a major PITA.
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=12341
+1 I tend to fill out orders at Niagara with small parts like these cable hangers, seat post clamp bolts, chain ring bolts, loose ball bearings, etc. (free shipping for $100+)
As usual, navigating the Niagara site is a major PITA.
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=12341
+1 I tend to fill out orders at Niagara with small parts like these cable hangers, seat post clamp bolts, chain ring bolts, loose ball bearings, etc. (free shipping for $100+)
#1132
Senior Member
Thanks,
I love that bike.
These are pretty cool also and can be found with a little effort. Old Diacompe stamped Ritchey:
No offense to the hanger posted up above but it looks like a $1.98 hanger. With limited space in the garage wouldn't you want something era correct and pretty?
The details make the outfit.
I love that bike.
These are pretty cool also and can be found with a little effort. Old Diacompe stamped Ritchey:
No offense to the hanger posted up above but it looks like a $1.98 hanger. With limited space in the garage wouldn't you want something era correct and pretty?
The details make the outfit.
Last edited by Aemmer; 03-03-13 at 10:28 AM.
#1133
Carpe Velo
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 2,519
Bikes: 2000 Bianchi Veloce, '88 Schwinn Prologue, '90 Bianchi Volpe,'94 Yokota Grizzly Peak, Yokota Enterprise, '16 Diamondback Haanjo, '91 Bianchi Boardwalk, Ellsworth cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times
in
13 Posts
I seem to be leaning toward V-brakes for my conversions, they work better with the levers I like than cantis do.
'92 Schwinn Crosscut by Yo Spiff, on Flickr
'92 Schwinn Crosscut by Yo Spiff, on Flickr
#1135
Senior Member
Ha,
i am just a pawn in the WTB game.
I do on the other hand have a new Ritchey project coming in the mail. Something a little more to the likes of this forum.
And that old blue bike is still at the top of my list for favorite to ride.
i am just a pawn in the WTB game.
I do on the other hand have a new Ritchey project coming in the mail. Something a little more to the likes of this forum.
And that old blue bike is still at the top of my list for favorite to ride.
Last edited by Aemmer; 03-03-13 at 01:04 PM.
#1136
The Rabbi
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,123
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I haven't found anything I like as much as the through-the-stem setups myself. When routing with drop bars, I usually wrap the brake housing along the back of the bar, and then have it taped up to near the clamp with the housing coming out almost on top of the bar, then up and down into the stem. It creates a nice, smooth bend on my bike.
#1137
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 834
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
I haven't found anything I like as much as the through-the-stem setups myself. When routing with drop bars, I usually wrap the brake housing along the back of the bar, and then have it taped up to near the clamp with the housing coming out almost on top of the bar, then up and down into the stem. It creates a nice, smooth bend on my bike.
#1138
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 834
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
I'd like to see that build... "old blue" is about as tasty as a dirt drop bike could possibly be in my opinion. It's pretty hard to beat a fillet brazed Ritchey frame all decked out in vintage WTB dirt drop components!!! I'd like to see you top "old blue" and somehow or someway I believe you probably have the parts stash to pull it off!
#1139
Senior Member
I don't even know what it is, but it's got Tourney derailleurs, SL-BS64 shifters, Tektro levers, Ritchey headset, 203mm XT rotor, CX75 caliper, Nexus dynohub, Brooks Flyer, Kenda Kross tires, and a Dimension 700c cross fork
Last edited by Taxi Rob; 03-03-13 at 08:49 PM.
#1140
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,007
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
interesting build up of an old school MTB with new parts... that frame's got the chainstay brakes which puts it solidly in the late 80s..
#1141
Senior Member
Looking back through this thread, I came across a photo of an Ibis Avion that shares many details. This came sans decals of any kind, so I've been building blind. Current weight without u-lock: 34.5 lbs. I think most of it is in the wheels and fork. I'm going with a bigger crankset for the street, and wired lighting. Ultimately gonna powdercoat it army green, as the chrome down low is getting pretty sketchy.
Last edited by Taxi Rob; 03-04-13 at 06:45 PM. Reason: spelling
#1144
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 510
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
2 Posts
Finished this last night. My 9 year old son has been asking for a road bike for about 1.5 years(since he was 7.5). I watched craigslist for about 6 months with no luck. Decided to do a rigid mtb conversion. I found this ($20) about a year ago and switched out the knobby tires ($40) he road it for about a year as a flat bar. Spent an additional $2 at the co-op for the friction thumb shifter, everything else was out of the parts box. it is a 1x6, 24 inch tires, 12 inch frame. Schwinn Thrasher.
#1146
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 834
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
I agree with BD, super simple install (no special tools needed) and a standard English thread bottom bracket (new or your co-op maybe). I bet you have a spare square taper crank in your parts stash
https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...n-to-Euro.html
-and-
https://www.treefortbikes.com/cat/0/7...222347288___90
The cool thing about Tree Fort is they'll price match any online price. Good luck!
-D-
https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...n-to-Euro.html
-and-
https://www.treefortbikes.com/cat/0/7...222347288___90
The cool thing about Tree Fort is they'll price match any online price. Good luck!
-D-
#1148
Full Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 333
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
1 Post
Is there a preferred/desired geometry of a vintage mountain bike when doing these conversions? So far it seems 'not so slack' angles is one element. Fitting a bike by top tube is another. Honestly, for me, I feel like I have to build the bike to see how it handles to understand the geometry.
#1149
Goes to 11.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Wichita, KS, USA
Posts: 2,547
Bikes: 2015 Soma Double Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Depends on your use case. I wanted a little more trail because I plan to ride with the front end loaded, and the shorter stem compensates for the more sluggish steering. Others might prefer more aggressive geometry for bombing paths or singletrack.
You'll never really know for sure how a bike's going to ride until it's built, but ST/HT angles can give some clues about ride characteristics.
You'll never really know for sure how a bike's going to ride until it's built, but ST/HT angles can give some clues about ride characteristics.
#1150
The Rabbi
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,123
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Is there a preferred/desired geometry of a vintage mountain bike when doing these conversions? So far it seems 'not so slack' angles is one element. Fitting a bike by top tube is another. Honestly, for me, I feel like I have to build the bike to see how it handles to understand the geometry.