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Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions

Old 10-10-20, 02:23 PM
  #6901  
dunkleosteus
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I've been putting the finishing touches on my 84 trek 850 I already posted above. This is my first time building up from just a frameset and I really like how it's come out! I love the feeling of riding something unique and born of my own madness!





I took some stylistic risks trying to blend the old with the new, which I think this crankset really embodies



I was excited to try this 9-speed clutch RD from microshift. I have a 48/34 in the front and 11-42 in the back. For now I don't think a FD is necessary. Here in the LA basin it's either moderately flat or steep mountains, so I just switch by hand in the foothills. The cassette range is enough that I'm happy running it as a 1x in either mode. This thing goes from about 19.5 to 115 gear inches. Still need to trim that cable...



The oury grips on the drops are super comfy when riding trails!



The hite-rite is completey silly but loads of fun. I haven't crashed using it yet but there have been some close calls!



Move over basketpacking, laundry hamperpacking is the way of the future!



There's a secret basket inside tho Not a wald, just some random paper tray from the office LOL




Seems legit idk

see ya in the mountains

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Old 10-12-20, 07:03 PM
  #6902  
ZudeJammer
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black drillium nice
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Old 10-12-20, 10:36 PM
  #6903  
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Those pink flamingos, tho!

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Old 10-14-20, 09:52 AM
  #6904  
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Love the pink flamingo basket liner dunkleosteus and the rest of the build is fantastic.
- Another vote in favor or the DTH tires?
- Is the matching bar tape around the top tube to protect it from bar strike?
- The clearance between your tires and brake cables looks tight; has it given you any issues yet?
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Old 10-14-20, 11:01 AM
  #6905  
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So I picked this old Merida up a couple months ago for it's parts to use on another bike but I got to thinking maybe I should build it so. I threw a random generic fork on it so I actually had some steerer tube to work with, what do you guys think drops, tourist, or strip for parts?
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Old 10-14-20, 11:14 AM
  #6906  
dunkleosteus
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Originally Posted by bOsscO
Love the pink flamingo basket liner dunkleosteus and the rest of the build is fantastic.
- Another vote in favor or the DTH tires?
- Is the matching bar tape around the top tube to protect it from bar strike?
- The clearance between your tires and brake cables looks tight; has it given you any issues yet?
Cheers mate!

- Absolutely another vote for the DTH!
- I was looking for a way to cover a top tube dent (oof, probably from a handlebar strike), and as a bonus it gives me some nice grip for shoulder-carrying and some protection when locking up.
- I think that's just how it looks in pictures. There's a good finger's width of clearance. The tightest spot is between the front rack and the tire. I'm not sure it'll work out with fenders...
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Old 10-14-20, 11:39 AM
  #6907  
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Originally Posted by dunkleosteus
Cheers mate!

- Absolutely another vote for the DTH!
- I was looking for a way to cover a top tube dent (oof, probably from a handlebar strike), and as a bonus it gives me some nice grip for shoulder-carrying and some protection when locking up.
- I think that's just how it looks in pictures. There's a good finger's width of clearance. The tightest spot is between the front rack and the tire. I'm not sure it'll work out with fenders...
Right on. I've got a front rack and fenders for a '92 Mongoose IBOC I'm building so it will be interesting to see where the new V-brakes land in relation to these and the tires.
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Old 10-14-20, 10:14 PM
  #6908  
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Originally Posted by ZudeJammer

50mi later I like the ride but struggled to get up a few steep dirt hills with the back tire spinning out. 1.95” crossroads tires are fast but what’s the point if I can’t get up a rooty old hill. What tires should I get?
Sit and spin- it keeps weight over the rear tire.
Or stand and adjust your balance so it isnt front biased.

It isnt the tires.
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Old 10-15-20, 11:51 AM
  #6909  
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Originally Posted by Germany_chris



So I picked this old Merida up a couple months ago for it's parts to use on another bike but I got to thinking maybe I should build it so. I threw a random generic fork on it so I actually had some steerer tube to work with, what do you guys think drops, tourist, or strip for parts?
IF it was me and IF I was going to build it up I'd determine if that stem is important to the build.
- If it is, then go with the upright tourist bars.
- If it's not, get as short a stem as possible and go with the drops.
Just my opinion.
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Old 10-15-20, 03:11 PM
  #6910  
ofajen
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Originally Posted by bOsscO
IF it was me and IF I was going to build it up I'd determine if that stem is important to the build.
- If it is, then go with the upright tourist bars.
- If it's not, get as short a stem as possible and go with the drops.
Just my opinion.
My thought exactly. Great stem for touring bars, but too long for drops.

Otto
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Old 10-20-20, 02:54 PM
  #6911  
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Well cool; I hope we both like them!
Looks what showed up in the mail yesterday. Hope to mount them this weekend after I have my shifting/indexing sorted out.
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Old 10-20-20, 04:55 PM
  #6912  
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That stem is like something from a Stayer track bike.
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Old 10-20-20, 06:27 PM
  #6913  
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Originally Posted by bOsscO
Looks what showed up in the mail yesterday. Hope to mount them this weekend after I have my shifting/indexing sorted out.
I got mine too. Haven’t mounted them yet but they look promising.
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Old 10-21-20, 06:32 AM
  #6914  
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I want me some DTH goodness.
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Old 10-21-20, 10:18 AM
  #6915  
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Originally Posted by Het Volk
That stem is like something from a Stayer track bike.
I think it's this one from VO: https://velo-orange.com/collections/...ss-stem-26-0mm
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Old 10-21-20, 05:31 PM
  #6916  
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I shared several photos of my Kuwahara doomsday tourer-in-progress where the camera angle made it look like there was an ungodly amount of stem showing. Here's a more accurate photo showing that there's only an obscene amount of stemKuwahara5 by
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Old 10-23-20, 03:47 AM
  #6917  
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1991 Bridgestone CB-1 dropbar/650b conversion






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Old 11-10-20, 02:55 AM
  #6918  
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Amazing!

This looks like a very nice thread to follow.
Bought an old Rockhopper which I want to convert to a singlespeed gravel racer with drop bars!
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Old 11-10-20, 03:19 PM
  #6919  
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Originally Posted by h0dl
This looks like a very nice thread to follow.
Bought an old Rockhopper which I want to convert to a singlespeed gravel racer with drop bars!
Yuuhhh do it! Post pics of the process and the complete bike.
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Old 11-15-20, 10:52 AM
  #6920  
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Love all the builds, inspired me to build a conversion. Will post soon. List of bikes I will be doing conversions on:

Diamond Back Topanga (completed)
Scott Tampico
Head 610
GT Tequesta
Montague/BMW folding mtb
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Old 11-15-20, 12:58 PM
  #6921  
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Panasonic MC2500 that I made into a 26"tourer to replace my Trek 950 I donated to the local co-op.
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Old 11-15-20, 01:01 PM
  #6922  
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I have yet to add racks and fenders, BTW.. I wait until i have all the gears and accessories working well, and I'm still doing some shakedown cruises.
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Old 11-19-20, 03:17 PM
  #6923  
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greetings from Philadelphia!

here’s the current iteration of my commuter/all ‘rounder/do it all machine

started out as just a nashbar 3000x frame (straight gauge tank weight tubing) i got off craigslist, caniblized the fork from my cannondale alpine series. fenders off a cheap beach cruiser at the dump (custom road side couch “leather” mud flap), mismatched wheels and tires as my front got stolen at one point, girvin-esque “flex stem” with a single thumbie mounted on it (1x7), good size crane brass bell, origin8 gary bars with vintage mafac levers (mafac whenever possible) most other bits aren’t anything special and came out of the parts bin at the co op


75E3B3A7-6B3F-491F-BA61-6EA5B8FF66A3 by kyle cotter, on Flickr



Last edited by 10speedterror; 11-19-20 at 03:40 PM.
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Old 11-20-20, 02:02 PM
  #6924  
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Originally Posted by 10speedterror
greetings from Philadelphia!

here’s the current iteration of my commuter/all ‘rounder/do it all machine

started out as just a nashbar 3000x frame (straight gauge tank weight tubing) i got off craigslist, caniblized the fork from my cannondale alpine series. fenders off a cheap beach cruiser at the dump (custom road side couch “leather” mud flap), mismatched wheels and tires as my front got stolen at one point, girvin-esque “flex stem” with a single thumbie mounted on it (1x7), good size crane brass bell, origin8 gary bars with vintage mafac levers (mafac whenever possible) most other bits aren’t anything special and came out of the parts bin at the co op


75E3B3A7-6B3F-491F-BA61-6EA5B8FF66A3 by kyle cotter, on Flickr
Love this workhorse build. I am geeking out on that flex stem and now I want one. Another thing to add to the "look out for at the co-op" list.

How does that 1x7 work out for you with this being a commuter and something you would possibly load up heavy? I have no idea what the terrain is like in Philly,
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Old 11-20-20, 04:12 PM
  #6925  
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Originally Posted by tricky
Love this workhorse build. I am geeking out on that flex stem and now I want one. Another thing to add to the "look out for at the co-op" list.

How does that 1x7 work out for you with this being a commuter and something you would possibly load up heavy? I have no idea what the terrain is like in Philly,
hey! thanks! it’s a fun machine. the flex stem is a neat idea, but i don’t really notice any difference in ride except when i’m really bearing down on them on a climb. i got lucky and found this one on ebay for a reasonable price and i was the only bid!

the 1x7 is great for me! i’m not trying to get anywhere too fast, it’s a 42 upfront and a fairly standard freewheel in the back. For whatever reason i feel the need to bring about 40 pounds of stuff with me to work and have no issues pushing it all up the hills on my commute
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