Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
12-01-17, 02:07 PM
#5803
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[QUOTE=eom;20023965]
The classic "not sure if these are the handlebars I'm gonna keep" bar tape. 
12-01-17, 03:59 PM
#5804
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huh, crazy that the Audax are out of stock for so long- they are just the brake levers with the mount but not bar end shifter attached. Basically, every other mechanical shifter that is in stock is an Audax with an extra step(attached shifters)
12-01-17, 05:06 PM
#5805
Junior Member
I've been lurking for awhile, so I guess it's time to post my conversion inspired by this thread:
GT Karakoram drop-bar conversion by Ted Major, on Flickr
It's a 1989 GT Karakoram I bought new. Original derailleurs & brakes with new levers & Shimano 8-speed bar-end shifters on Nitto 115 bars. I put an 8-speed freewheel on and re-dished the rear wheel. Compass Rat Trap Pass tires and a cheap front rack round it out. I started playing around with it over the summer, and lately I've been riding to work on Fridays with a messenger bag bungeed to the rack.
GT Karakoram drop-bar conversion by Ted Major, on FlickrIt's a 1989 GT Karakoram I bought new. Original derailleurs & brakes with new levers & Shimano 8-speed bar-end shifters on Nitto 115 bars. I put an 8-speed freewheel on and re-dished the rear wheel. Compass Rat Trap Pass tires and a cheap front rack round it out. I started playing around with it over the summer, and lately I've been riding to work on Fridays with a messenger bag bungeed to the rack.
12-01-17, 06:14 PM
#5806
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I agree. I would prefer to use the silver levers on the build I want them for. But I'm holding off on spending quite that much money that the whole thing would require anyway, so they can take as long as they want I guess. But that bike above with the Gevenalles looks good.
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12-02-17, 09:07 AM
#5807
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Put this one together over the summer as my "night bike". Sort of a long story with this one...
The frame was NOS Koga-Miyata fore-runner in my size that I picked up a couple years ago. It hung around the shop waiting for inspiration. Had always thought about 650b for it, but wasn't sure the brakes would have the reach.
Fast Fwd to last summer during the week that we rent a lake place, and a local CL add offers a new and unused "mountain bike" wheel with a shimano generator hub and a light for $80. Went over there and scooped it up hastily, only to get home and realize that it's a 650b wheel. The Koga 650b project was reconsidered, and came together quickly.
The parts bin was hit for most of the items, as this was really intended to be a bike that would be grabbed for rides when the temperature was in the 30's-50's, typically after the time change. I needed a rear wheel so went on the cheap for a freewheel model, since the 135 spacing had plenty of room for an 8 speed freewheel. I had the sora level 8 speed controls, RD, and FD in the bin. Needed an inline cable adjuster for the FD, which was a fallback, but the frame was designed back in friction days of yore. BB and crank came from my brother's old trek 1000 that we'd previously upgraded to a rival drivetrain. CL supplied two 2.0x27.5 tires for $20. Topped it off with a comfy Brooks pro, and took it for a ride.
The lighting was ordered from Germany (and was reasonably priced for how well it works). It was easier for an electron illiterate guy like me to install than I would have thought. Although it's not the $$$ top of the line, it's perfectly adequate for path riding. I really like the fact that you just get on and go. For more tricky night riding, I supplement the package with a magic shine light in the low mode on my helmet. For just running out for dinner or to the party store it's just fine as is. It is re-assuring knowing you're not going to be completely SOL in terms of lighting, as is the constant worry with batteries.
Unfortunately, the parts bin BB and headset aren't quite up to the task, but still perfectly workable until it gets really cold out and then they can be replaced.
Anyhow, long story short... I now have a pair of drop bar MTB bikes (the Croll for loose gravel and ATB trails, this for more suburban duties including during the long nights).
The frame was NOS Koga-Miyata fore-runner in my size that I picked up a couple years ago. It hung around the shop waiting for inspiration. Had always thought about 650b for it, but wasn't sure the brakes would have the reach.
Fast Fwd to last summer during the week that we rent a lake place, and a local CL add offers a new and unused "mountain bike" wheel with a shimano generator hub and a light for $80. Went over there and scooped it up hastily, only to get home and realize that it's a 650b wheel. The Koga 650b project was reconsidered, and came together quickly.
The parts bin was hit for most of the items, as this was really intended to be a bike that would be grabbed for rides when the temperature was in the 30's-50's, typically after the time change. I needed a rear wheel so went on the cheap for a freewheel model, since the 135 spacing had plenty of room for an 8 speed freewheel. I had the sora level 8 speed controls, RD, and FD in the bin. Needed an inline cable adjuster for the FD, which was a fallback, but the frame was designed back in friction days of yore. BB and crank came from my brother's old trek 1000 that we'd previously upgraded to a rival drivetrain. CL supplied two 2.0x27.5 tires for $20. Topped it off with a comfy Brooks pro, and took it for a ride.
The lighting was ordered from Germany (and was reasonably priced for how well it works). It was easier for an electron illiterate guy like me to install than I would have thought. Although it's not the $$$ top of the line, it's perfectly adequate for path riding. I really like the fact that you just get on and go. For more tricky night riding, I supplement the package with a magic shine light in the low mode on my helmet. For just running out for dinner or to the party store it's just fine as is. It is re-assuring knowing you're not going to be completely SOL in terms of lighting, as is the constant worry with batteries.
Unfortunately, the parts bin BB and headset aren't quite up to the task, but still perfectly workable until it gets really cold out and then they can be replaced.
Anyhow, long story short... I now have a pair of drop bar MTB bikes (the Croll for loose gravel and ATB trails, this for more suburban duties including during the long nights).
12-02-17, 04:42 PM
#5809
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12-02-17, 06:30 PM
#5810
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https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/busch-mueller-lumotec-iq-cyo-premium-t-senso-plus-140907
Rear
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/busch-mueller-secula-plus-dynamo-backlight-137601
Shipping adds a bit, but the net cost was still less than the more "boutique" US sources for the same product.
12-03-17, 09:13 AM
#5811
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Found some Suntour Accushift barcons for my Kuwahara. The indexed shifting works pretty well with the Shimano Uniglide cassette and XT RD. That was a nice surprise. I thought I would have to go friction mode only.
12-03-17, 09:59 AM
#5812
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@Chrome Molly +1^^^ 
Fun to see it built!
Turned out great.
That front light price is very good.
I'm adding a dyno to the Della Santa this winter and this light is now in the running.
Probably going with a SP dyno though. My wife's has been bulletproof.
12-04-17, 04:25 PM
#5813
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Fattening the Goose ~ 26+
Found a sweet deal on 26x2.8 WTB Ranger TCS/ Tough fast tires. $29.99 each closeout at sierratradingpost.com (regularly $73.99 ea.) for my '94 Mongoose Rockadile. Decided to fatten the goose a bit, over the 2.1" Duro Rocky Wolf meats. Rolls really nicely on the trail, somewhat lighter than the Duros even with being wider, and the added diameter is noticibly helpful on the rocks and ruts. I love the gumwall-retro chunkiness of the Duros, but the float of the Rangers wins out overall. I'll put the Duros on another set of rims for when the right mood/conditions strike me.
12-04-17, 05:09 PM
#5814
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Nice photoset of a Trek 970 conversion up at The Radavist
Jake?s Pacific Northwest Do-All Trek 970 ? Morgan Taylor | The Radavist
Jake?s Pacific Northwest Do-All Trek 970 ? Morgan Taylor | The Radavist
12-04-17, 05:17 PM
#5815
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Nice photoset of a Trek 970 conversion up at The Radavist
Jake?s Pacific Northwest Do-All Trek 970 ? Morgan Taylor | The Radavist
Jake?s Pacific Northwest Do-All Trek 970 ? Morgan Taylor | The Radavist
12-04-17, 05:49 PM
#5816
High Plains Luddite
Wow. This thread is awesome lately...not that it ever wasn't, but there have been some dry spells. Thanks for posting all these great-looking bikes lately.
12-06-17, 10:44 AM
#5819
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Midge bars are on my latest project. 1994? GT Corrado
The top tube is ~23" vs a ~18" CTC seat tube. Not ideal.
Might need a stem riser to make this work. Are there any threadless riser options that don't look terrible?
The top tube is ~23" vs a ~18" CTC seat tube. Not ideal.
Might need a stem riser to make this work. Are there any threadless riser options that don't look terrible?
Last edited by 9volt; 12-06-17 at 10:48 AM.
12-06-17, 01:21 PM
#5820
Thrifty Bill
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On stems, head to a co-op with your bike. At least at the co-op I volunteer at, we have boxes of stems. Your current stem doesn't have much angle to it. You should be able to find one much steeper.
23 inch TT on a 18 inch frame? Thats a challenge! One reason I go a little older on MTB conversions is the top tubes aren't that crazy.
23 inch TT on a 18 inch frame? Thats a challenge! One reason I go a little older on MTB conversions is the top tubes aren't that crazy.
12-06-17, 03:29 PM
#5821
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It kind of depends on what you mean by terrible. There are plenty of 17*, 30*, and 40* riser stems. From my personal experience, I always just go with what fits me nowadays. I've built up far too many bikes that didn't quite fit right, and I never end up riding them much at all.
12-06-17, 04:48 PM
#5822
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[QUOTE=9volt;20036559]Midge bars are on my latest project. 1994? GT Corrado
The top tube is ~23" vs a ~18" CTC seat tube. Not ideal.
Might need a stem riser to make this work. Are there any threadless riser options that don't look terrible?
This is the tallest I found.
https://www.xxcycle.com/stem-alu-hum...254-mm,,en.php
The top tube is ~23" vs a ~18" CTC seat tube. Not ideal.
Might need a stem riser to make this work. Are there any threadless riser options that don't look terrible?
This is the tallest I found.
https://www.xxcycle.com/stem-alu-hum...254-mm,,en.php
12-06-17, 06:42 PM
#5825
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[QUOTE=eom;20037480]
LD stems are a love or hate option. I happen to love them. This is the Cigne stem from Velo Orange.
https://velo-orange.com/collections/...cts/cigne-stem
Midge bars are on my latest project. 1994? GT Corrado
The top tube is ~23" vs a ~18" CTC seat tube. Not ideal.
Might need a stem riser to make this work. Are there any threadless riser options that don't look terrible?
This is the tallest I found.
https://www.xxcycle.com/stem-alu-hum...254-mm,,en.php
The top tube is ~23" vs a ~18" CTC seat tube. Not ideal.
Might need a stem riser to make this work. Are there any threadless riser options that don't look terrible?
This is the tallest I found.
https://www.xxcycle.com/stem-alu-hum...254-mm,,en.php
https://velo-orange.com/collections/...cts/cigne-stem
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