Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
#7051
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Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!
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For this of you running 1x conversions, do you have any chainring and/or square taper chainset recommendations?
I am thinking of swapping out a 3x7 (or 3x8) drivetrain and going 1x10.
The donor bike is likely to have square taper and assuming the BB is ok I would hope to reuse it.
Dropping the chain is something I would really like to avoid; would one of these narrow/wide chainrings help?
thanks in advance!
I am thinking of swapping out a 3x7 (or 3x8) drivetrain and going 1x10.
The donor bike is likely to have square taper and assuming the BB is ok I would hope to reuse it.
Dropping the chain is something I would really like to avoid; would one of these narrow/wide chainrings help?
thanks in advance!
#7053
Junior Member
I looked up the levers & brakes you mentioned. Both should be compatible with eachother. That they don't meet your expectations suggests another issue is responsible.
The pads should be adjusted to rest flat against the braking surface when applied with just the slightest toe-in. Aluminum rims work better than steel.
The pads should be adjusted to rest flat against the braking surface when applied with just the slightest toe-in. Aluminum rims work better than steel.
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#7054
Junior Member
Thanks for the interest, I'll post a picture once I qualify to do so.
#7055
Junior Member
Thanks, the pads are very close to the rim yet it allways felt like they are too far away, I think it was just my impression and everything is more or less fine.
Last edited by bechermitT; 03-20-21 at 07:10 AM.
#7056
Junior Member
I haven't tried the Maxxis but the Billy Bonkers feels super fast with 4-5 bar yet still comfortable and it is surprisingly goood in slightly muddy conditions.
#7057
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I bought this from @OTS a few months ago and have finally gotten around to getting it built up. I bought it specifically to build up as a drop bar mountain bike but I am not sure if I will leave it that way because I like to tinker too much. I have contacted a builder in my area about replacing the ubrake/roller cam mounts with standard cantilever mounts so I can run 26X2.3 tires and fenders with it. The current brakes don't leave enough clearance but cantilevers would have plenty of clearance. Once that is done, I will probably get a second set of wheels so I can switch it between a commuter and a gravel/off road bike no problem. (Note, the handlebar is not straight in the pics and did not notice until I looked at the pics later. Also, I have not cut the housing and cables to fit this bike yet.)
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh Mountain bike. by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
Netroh Mountain bike. by Andy Beichler, on Flickr
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Andy
Andy
Last edited by beicster; 03-20-21 at 01:26 PM. Reason: Bad typing
#7058
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I had a great experience when I rented a Fargo while on vacation in Alaska a few years ago. That hooked me on the idea of a drop bar off road bike, which I started working on as soon as I got home. If I were to ever stumble upon a Fargo for a decent price, I would grab it in a heartbeat.
#7060
Junior Member
Maybe this is the wrong place to ask but there seems to be a lot of knowledge around here, so: Whats the best way to mount a framebag with exposed top tube routing? Nylon liners, full lenght outers or fiddeling the velcro straps underneath the cables? How do people usually do it?
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If its an unsuitable post please delete.
#7061
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Bikes: 1986 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1979 Schwinn Traveler III, Trek T100, 1995 Trek 970, Fuji America
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Maybe this is the wrong place to ask but there seems to be a lot of knowledge around here, so: Whats the best way to mount a framebag with exposed top tube routing? Nylon liners, full lenght outers or fiddeling the velcro straps underneath the cables? How do people usually do it?
If its an unsuitable post please delete.
If its an unsuitable post please delete.
#7062
Junior Member
#7063
Senior Member
Building up this Trek 750 for a friend of mine. They said they didn't care about any of the accessory colors so I went for broke. My first non-26" wheeled conversion.
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#7065
Full Member
I recently converted my '97 Ibis Mojo from flat bars to dirt drops. I'm not sure if it qualifies as Vintage or drop bar, but I hope it's close enough for inclusion.
1997 Ibis Mojo made with Tange Prestige/Ibis Moron tubing "More on" the ends, Big Butts
Fork is a Kelly mtb fork
Components are mostly 8-speed series XTR, Road brake/shifter levers are Microshift pulling thru travel Agent converters to v-brake arms.
Handlebars are On-One Midge bars with a VO Cigne stem
This was my turn of the century alternate to my full suspension ride. It had a suspension front fork and I did a bit of racing on it. Partly due to the tires and partly to the bars I am faster on semi-techy downhill than on my 29" gravel bikes.
It appears a bit silly to me now with the bars so high, but riding it, I get it having the drop position at least level with the saddle. Very comfy riding along with hands in the drops. One issue I have with the Microshift levers mounted to the angled Midge bars is that it is easy to accidentally hit the upper release shifting paddle when riding on the hoods, the paddle sits proud of the lever surface. If the levers are mounted vertically I can see it being lees of an issue. I'll have to make a habit of keeping my hands clear of there.
I prefer riding to the trailheads from home so will look into some more pavement friendly tire options, possibly looking at a conversion up to 650b wheels. There is enough adjustment freedom in the brake pad slots to accommodate. For now its fun to tackle some of the rougher trails with the fatter tires. It's also my lowest geared bike with a 1.4 gain ratio.
1997 Ibis Mojo made with Tange Prestige/Ibis Moron tubing "More on" the ends, Big Butts
Fork is a Kelly mtb fork
Components are mostly 8-speed series XTR, Road brake/shifter levers are Microshift pulling thru travel Agent converters to v-brake arms.
Handlebars are On-One Midge bars with a VO Cigne stem
This was my turn of the century alternate to my full suspension ride. It had a suspension front fork and I did a bit of racing on it. Partly due to the tires and partly to the bars I am faster on semi-techy downhill than on my 29" gravel bikes.
It appears a bit silly to me now with the bars so high, but riding it, I get it having the drop position at least level with the saddle. Very comfy riding along with hands in the drops. One issue I have with the Microshift levers mounted to the angled Midge bars is that it is easy to accidentally hit the upper release shifting paddle when riding on the hoods, the paddle sits proud of the lever surface. If the levers are mounted vertically I can see it being lees of an issue. I'll have to make a habit of keeping my hands clear of there.
I prefer riding to the trailheads from home so will look into some more pavement friendly tire options, possibly looking at a conversion up to 650b wheels. There is enough adjustment freedom in the brake pad slots to accommodate. For now its fun to tackle some of the rougher trails with the fatter tires. It's also my lowest geared bike with a 1.4 gain ratio.
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#7066
2k miles from the midwest
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Maybe this is the wrong place to ask but there seems to be a lot of knowledge around here, so: Whats the best way to mount a framebag with exposed top tube routing? Nylon liners, full lenght outers or fiddeling the velcro straps underneath the cables? How do people usually do it?
If its an unsuitable post please delete.
If its an unsuitable post please delete.
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#7067
Member
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Location: Central California
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Bikes: Surly Pacer road bike, Santa Cruz Tallboy 29, Trek Fuel EX 8 29, Surly Karate Monkey monster cross, 1985 Trek 500 650b conversion, 80s-era Schwinn World Sport, Schwinn Traveler converted to fixed gear, Raleigh Grand Prix single speed, 70s-era Lotus "
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1993 Hard Rock
Came out great, but 21-inch frame a bit small for me (cant get the drops quite high enough). Wheels are 650b (yes the brakes reach easily).
#7068
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#7069
Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Central California
Posts: 43
Bikes: Surly Pacer road bike, Santa Cruz Tallboy 29, Trek Fuel EX 8 29, Surly Karate Monkey monster cross, 1985 Trek 500 650b conversion, 80s-era Schwinn World Sport, Schwinn Traveler converted to fixed gear, Raleigh Grand Prix single speed, 70s-era Lotus "
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Velocity wheels (velocityusa.com), about the only place to go anymore for quality wheels for rim brakes (and tubeless-ready). . .this set was about $450. In hindsight, I should have configured these with machined sidewalls on the rims, but they work fine.
#7070
Newbie
That looks sweet. How’s the rear brake? I found the combination of modern Shimano NSSLR levers with those canti brakes to be sub-optimal.
#7071
Full Member
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Maybe this is the wrong place to ask but there seems to be a lot of knowledge around here, so: Whats the best way to mount a framebag with exposed top tube routing? Nylon liners, full lenght outers or fiddeling the velcro straps underneath the cables? How do people usually do it?
If its an unsuitable post please delete.
If its an unsuitable post please delete.
#7072
bOsscO
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Don’t know if anyone ever responded. Here’s my Stumpjumper with external cables on top and a small frame bag in the triangle. I replaced the velcro straps that came with the bag with some paracord I bought on ebay. Paracord is a little less bulky than velcro straps and looks semi-custom with so many color options and patterns. Hope that helps.
#7073
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Thanks, unfortunately a bit out of budget.
#7074
on the wheels of steel
They're by no means fancy, but I can vouch for these sta-tru builds from BWW https://bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/Rim-Brake-V-brake/
Also I'm back lurking this thread because I'm building up a 92 trek 970. I have 26" wheels on there and tektro cr720s whose pads sit at the very bottom of their sliders. Would be a great candidate for 650b conversion...
Also I'm back lurking this thread because I'm building up a 92 trek 970. I have 26" wheels on there and tektro cr720s whose pads sit at the very bottom of their sliders. Would be a great candidate for 650b conversion...