Hybrind to Road conversion
#26
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Get a room guys. There's an OP here that wants advice on converting to drops. Not petty bickering and point scoring over pros and cons of drops or flat bars.
Last edited by fairymuff; 08-30-11 at 05:19 PM.
#27
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[strike]I'm siding with qmsdc15.[/strike] I'm siding with fairmuff. If you want to fight this out, take it to PM chat.
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Welcome Aboard, Georgel
Welcome to the hybrid forum, Georgel Excellent question.
That Raleigh is a sweet looking ride, and has some road stuff already. In going drops, probably the first question you need to answer is:
How do you want to shift? Friction or Index? Friction is easy, as you will prolly be stem mount or bar end, and then all of your current components will work swimmingly. Indexed will mean that you need to get integrated shifter / brake levers (sometimes referred to as brifters), which can be a pricey item, and you will need to get 9 speed ones. Friction cares not for number of speeds on your cassette, but indexed shifters must match.
Now everyone can correct me if I am wrong, but I think Sora and Tiagra have nine speed versions, and I know that Microshift does as well. I have played with the Microshift, and they are not bad. No experience with the others. You will want to get a left shifter set for triple to cover the current crank.
You will need a new front derailleur. The R4403 is road bike crank with mtb throw, designed for flat bar shifters. Anyone's triple road front will work, including SRAM, Shimano, and again Microshift.
Brakes are another potential issue. You definitely need different cables (barrell end vs. round end). Once you have the cables switched, your new levers (be they brake only or shifter / brake / brifter) may have the wrong throw for your brakes (shorter throw than MTB levers). I have heard conflicting stories, and have no experience with this. I do know that ProblemSolvers makes a little cable dohickey to adjust for this if needed.
Good luck. The Bike Mechanics forum may have also been a good spot to post this.
That Raleigh is a sweet looking ride, and has some road stuff already. In going drops, probably the first question you need to answer is:
How do you want to shift? Friction or Index? Friction is easy, as you will prolly be stem mount or bar end, and then all of your current components will work swimmingly. Indexed will mean that you need to get integrated shifter / brake levers (sometimes referred to as brifters), which can be a pricey item, and you will need to get 9 speed ones. Friction cares not for number of speeds on your cassette, but indexed shifters must match.
Now everyone can correct me if I am wrong, but I think Sora and Tiagra have nine speed versions, and I know that Microshift does as well. I have played with the Microshift, and they are not bad. No experience with the others. You will want to get a left shifter set for triple to cover the current crank.
You will need a new front derailleur. The R4403 is road bike crank with mtb throw, designed for flat bar shifters. Anyone's triple road front will work, including SRAM, Shimano, and again Microshift.
Brakes are another potential issue. You definitely need different cables (barrell end vs. round end). Once you have the cables switched, your new levers (be they brake only or shifter / brake / brifter) may have the wrong throw for your brakes (shorter throw than MTB levers). I have heard conflicting stories, and have no experience with this. I do know that ProblemSolvers makes a little cable dohickey to adjust for this if needed.
Good luck. The Bike Mechanics forum may have also been a good spot to post this.
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No I haven't, and no I don't. However, I'd be surprised if the OP (on his/her very first post) was expecting or is helped very much by the responses given. Generally, they haven't been very constructive have they?
Last edited by fairymuff; 08-30-11 at 05:54 PM.
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Yeah, I'm the only one who gave good advice, but the others tried.
You are right. I should have started another thread to begin this discussion. My reaction to a remark sent this thread off the rails. Apologies to the OP.
You are right. I should have started another thread to begin this discussion. My reaction to a remark sent this thread off the rails. Apologies to the OP.
Last edited by qmsdc15; 08-30-11 at 06:09 PM.
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Seriously, it's horrible that the sales geeks steered you away from the bike you wanted. Put a rack on your hybrid, and sell your car. Use the money to buy a nice road bike. Or sell your hybrid and use the money plus a another thousand dollars or so and buy a nice road bike.
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Although I put it in a humorous (sarcastic?) way, I do believe Georgel should get the road bike he or she wants rather than try to make one out of the hybrid.
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Back on topic -
While I am pretty new here - and my knowledge and experience are limited -
I think the original poster should also consider geometry and whether that lends itself to such a conversion.
FWIW, I bought a hybrid to get into biking and roughly 30 days later bought a road bike. For me, the road bike is a lot more comfortable to ride. I'm 65 and while not in bad shape for my age, I do have some quite minor issues. In my case, I do a whole lot better with hand issues, arm issues, other issues on the road bike. Not to mention it handles better and I am far more stable on it.
Granted, the road bike I went to has a MSRP about 4 times that of the hybrid - but I believe a good bit of my preference is due to my personal physical attributes and the geometry of the road bike.
As for "riding in the drops" I don't believe that is nearly as large an issue as the multiple hand positions and different shifting geometry of "drop bars"
While I am pretty new here - and my knowledge and experience are limited -
I think the original poster should also consider geometry and whether that lends itself to such a conversion.
FWIW, I bought a hybrid to get into biking and roughly 30 days later bought a road bike. For me, the road bike is a lot more comfortable to ride. I'm 65 and while not in bad shape for my age, I do have some quite minor issues. In my case, I do a whole lot better with hand issues, arm issues, other issues on the road bike. Not to mention it handles better and I am far more stable on it.
Granted, the road bike I went to has a MSRP about 4 times that of the hybrid - but I believe a good bit of my preference is due to my personal physical attributes and the geometry of the road bike.
As for "riding in the drops" I don't believe that is nearly as large an issue as the multiple hand positions and different shifting geometry of "drop bars"
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You know, you seem far to prone to throwing out the "hater" epithet at even the tiniest provocation. You did it to me (did not appreciate it one bit) and you are doing it again. Once again, one has to wonder where the heck that came from.
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Just to side with anyone is offering NO RESPONS to OP. Is there experience behind the siding? Thats just scoring another post!
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Ah, come on. Lots of amateur sportives, semi-pro events and everyday people engaging in the sport (all over the globe) prefers to do it with drops. Including pro and amateur CX. Aint no rule anywhere telling them what to do.
I noticed you left out the bit about hand positions...a key point.
I noticed you left out the bit about hand positions...a key point.
#39
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qmsdc15~ you've been hostile from your first response to this post...it's silly to say otherwise. i know you're not always so, as i've seen other posts. cool it, this isn't politics or religion.
+1 for drop bars in the wind (i have flat bars)
+1 for flat bars along a scenic ride (nice to look around)
Also, to the OP...I'm working on a drop bar conversion now...do your research, my shifters led to deraleurs led to a cassette led to a crank which came with a chain and ultimately led to tools cuz i have no more money for a mechanic!
+1 for drop bars in the wind (i have flat bars)
+1 for flat bars along a scenic ride (nice to look around)
Also, to the OP...I'm working on a drop bar conversion now...do your research, my shifters led to deraleurs led to a cassette led to a crank which came with a chain and ultimately led to tools cuz i have no more money for a mechanic!
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Don't fling your poo at me monkey boy.
You don't know what you're talking about. Cool it.
You can set drop bars above saddle height (well you can't without help but someone with a modicum of knowledge and mechanical skill could) and one can set up flat bars 5 inches below saddle height.
Handlebar shape is unrelated to handlebar position, a rider's aerodynamics or his ability to view scenery!
You don't know what you're talking about. Cool it.
You can set drop bars above saddle height (well you can't without help but someone with a modicum of knowledge and mechanical skill could) and one can set up flat bars 5 inches below saddle height.
Handlebar shape is unrelated to handlebar position, a rider's aerodynamics or his ability to view scenery!
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Last edited by qmsdc15; 09-29-11 at 06:20 AM.
#42
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the hybrid forum is usually so friendly. it sucks that you're trying to mess that up.
#43
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Hey guys,
I recently purchased a 2011 Raleigh Cadent ft3 to use to commute. I wanted a road bike but every bike shop I went to suggested going with a hybrid instead. After putting some miles on the raleigh I've decided I'd rather have drop bars and now I need suggestions for going this route. What bars, shifters, etc should I go with?
I recently purchased a 2011 Raleigh Cadent ft3 to use to commute. I wanted a road bike but every bike shop I went to suggested going with a hybrid instead. After putting some miles on the raleigh I've decided I'd rather have drop bars and now I need suggestions for going this route. What bars, shifters, etc should I go with?
Happy shopping.
edit...Nice bike BTW
Last edited by giantcfr1; 09-29-11 at 08:33 AM.
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Agreed. This thread will now be closed.