Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
05-12-17, 01:22 PM
#5601
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Ross drop bar
Just signed up specifically for this thread. I got a lot of good ideas here for fixing up this bike. It's a 25" Ross Mt. St. Helens. 21.1mm stem, original blue anodized Weinman rims, Suntour downtube shifters and VT-Luxe rear derailleur. 48/36 chainrings with 14-30 six speed freewheel. Rides great, completed a 200k on it a few weeks back.
Last edited by schrader; 05-13-17 at 05:27 AM. Reason: Typo
05-12-17, 02:05 PM
#5602
Senior Member
It`s been interrupted by too many events but at last I`ve put together my old Raleigh to make a tourer for the English lanes. Started out as a Raleigh Blueridge from about 1990. It`s not too heavy, having a Reynolds 531 frame which I had powder coated in almost Gios blue. Most of the parts came from bits collected over the years, but I opted for new brakes!
I`ll need to find some spd boots to allow different pedals but this will do for a start. This thread has been a great help in sorting out the options. Hope you like it, Julian
I`ll need to find some spd boots to allow different pedals but this will do for a start. This thread has been a great help in sorting out the options. Hope you like it, Julian
05-12-17, 06:00 PM
#5604
Jack of all trades
05-20-17, 04:23 PM
#5605
Hogosha Sekai
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My '92 GT Tequesta, changes include: GT flip flop stem traded from a BF member, Shimano 6500 drivetrain, v-brakes with pull adjusters, XTR wheelset with semi slicks, inline rack with two wald baskets, Scott Drop in bars, specialized saddle, and a kickstand.
05-20-17, 04:31 PM
#5606
Senior Member
Just signed up specifically for this thread. I got a lot of good ideas here for fixing up this bike. It's a 25" Ross Mt. St. Helens. 21.1mm stem, original blue anodized Weinman rims, Suntour downtube shifters and VT-Luxe rear derailleur. 48/36 chainrings with 14-30 six speed freewheel. Rides great, completed a 200k on it a few weeks back.
Awesome looking conversion!
05-20-17, 04:35 PM
#5607
Senior Member
What made you decide to use the drop in bars? Great build by the way. How you been doing?
05-20-17, 04:45 PM
#5608
Hogosha Sekai
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I put slicks on it quite a while back so I've been road riding it and not at all off road, so the idea was quite natural, but then a pair of 3x9 6500 brifters popped up for a song.. I already had the long cage 6500 RD and a triple 6600(I think) FD, as well as the 6500 triple cranks (from the BoC ages ago) so I ordered a pair of pull adjusters and voila... a slow street bike was born. Life is great here, busy busy busy but great. How are you doing Law?
05-20-17, 04:56 PM
#5609
Senior Member
finally settled down after the chaos, life's loses. Plenty of family time with the Wife and 12 yr old son. Still allows good riding time and wrenching on projects. I think it is time to start culling the herd. Looking into possible multiple day touring if I can.
Great to read you are still around!
Now back to thread topic, my starting rebuild of the faithful High Plains.
Great to read you are still around!
Now back to thread topic, my starting rebuild of the faithful High Plains.
05-20-17, 11:34 PM
#5610
Junior Member
Just finished my convertion, now its time to ride the bike to see how it feels. With 28mm 1.1 slicks, low position on the drop bar, 48/36/26 to 12-28 back, so far its almost like a road bike, but heavier. As for the parts, the only problem was finding a stem for 21.1mm steerer, coudnt find any 21.1 adaptors for sale in Europe.
05-21-17, 02:41 PM
#5611
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Hi!
I'm building a 1991 Trek 830 Antelope with dropbars.
I'm looking for a nice pair of rubbers, anyone knows which is the maximum tyres clearance of this bike?
I was thinking about a 2"35 tyre, but maybe i will buy a 2"20, like the schwalbe big ben.
I'm building a 1991 Trek 830 Antelope with dropbars.
I'm looking for a nice pair of rubbers, anyone knows which is the maximum tyres clearance of this bike?
I was thinking about a 2"35 tyre, but maybe i will buy a 2"20, like the schwalbe big ben.
05-21-17, 02:59 PM
#5612
Senior Member
Just finished my convertion, now its time to ride the bike to see how it feels. With 28mm 1.1 slicks, low position on the drop bar, 48/36/26 to 12-28 back, so far its almost like a road bike, but heavier. As for the parts, the only problem was finding a stem for 21.1mm steerer, coudnt find any 21.1 adaptors for sale in Europe.
05-21-17, 05:15 PM
#5613
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My '93 lugged Trek 930 with its new cockpit. Touring or gravel, it works great.
Soma Brevet bars, Sunlite stem, Cane Creek brake levers, Rivendell/IRD bar end shifters, Brooks microfiber tape and Cambium C15 saddle, Velo Orange bottle cages and braided housing, Sugino XD600 triple crankset, early 90s Deore XT headset, early 90s Mavic MTB rims/Deore XT hubs, early 90s Deore XT RD and FD, Paul cantilever brakes, Fairweather touring tires, Dajia stainless rear rack, Crane Suzue bell, Nitto S83 seatpost, Ostrich S-2 saddlebag.
Soma Brevet bars, Sunlite stem, Cane Creek brake levers, Rivendell/IRD bar end shifters, Brooks microfiber tape and Cambium C15 saddle, Velo Orange bottle cages and braided housing, Sugino XD600 triple crankset, early 90s Deore XT headset, early 90s Mavic MTB rims/Deore XT hubs, early 90s Deore XT RD and FD, Paul cantilever brakes, Fairweather touring tires, Dajia stainless rear rack, Crane Suzue bell, Nitto S83 seatpost, Ostrich S-2 saddlebag.
Last edited by TenGrainBread; 05-21-17 at 05:36 PM.
05-21-17, 06:50 PM
#5615
Senior Member
Wow, I love it! I need to expedite my saddle recovering and rethink the grip to brown.
05-21-17, 07:09 PM
#5616
Senior Member
Agreeing with the others! That is quite an impressive parts list. Have you formed an opinion about the C15 saddle?
05-21-17, 08:26 PM
#5617
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These Ross bikes, especially 25" frames are perfect for drops. They basically already look like road frames with the parallel top tube and regular fork crown. The 25" size allows you to add drops without a riser stem.
05-21-17, 08:44 PM
#5618
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It's an Ostrich S-2. Not cheap but if you are willing to wait a few weeks for shipping from Japan there are a few Japanese bike shops that sell it online for much cheaper than US/Euro retailers.
It's great. I already run a C17 on my city bike. Very comfortable out of the box and has shown little if any wear over the last year. I wanted to try the narrow version on this because my position is a little lower on this bike than the city bike.
It's great. I already run a C17 on my city bike. Very comfortable out of the box and has shown little if any wear over the last year. I wanted to try the narrow version on this because my position is a little lower on this bike than the city bike.
05-21-17, 08:45 PM
#5619
Senior Member
^^ rare to find the MTBs with standard size tubes. Great for you. I used to ride the standard Rando bar but like wider now for more control. Have a Nitto Noodle to try on my touring Voyageur. Looks comfortable at least.
Larger sized MTB have horizontal TT so yes, they look like rugged road bikes. Yours looks like a road bike.
Larger sized MTB have horizontal TT so yes, they look like rugged road bikes. Yours looks like a road bike.
05-21-17, 11:28 PM
#5620
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Does a Jones bar count? It has kind of an aero position. Probably not. Oh well, posting a picture anyways. The bike is also converted to 700c, with alexrims cross wheels and 35c Clement USH tires. It is kind of a gravel grinder/grocery getter/cruiser/commuter. It is my first ever mountain bike, a 1989 Fisher Paragon.
05-22-17, 01:53 AM
#5621
Junior Member
Luckily I found a nice 21.1 quill stem from a LBS.
05-22-17, 04:21 AM
#5622
Senior Member
Sorry to heat. I stumbled across them on accident. BMX bikes used the 21.1 standard. I'm an early MTB fanboy and they are not at all uncommon on those bikes.
05-22-17, 04:22 AM
#5623
Senior Member
Does a Jones bar count? It has kind of an aero position. Probably not. Oh well, posting a picture anyways. The bike is also converted to 700c, with alexrims cross wheels and 35c Clement USH tires. It is kind of a gravel grinder/grocery getter/cruiser/commuter. It is my first ever mountain bike, a 1989 Fisher Paragon.
05-22-17, 07:07 AM
#5624
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And here is a shot of the bike converted to 700c, but a couple bars ago, for a full perspective.
05-22-17, 08:02 AM
#5625
Full Member
Man, this thread is fun!
Golden Boy, I did the friction stem shifter deal to my Millennia. Love it that way. (ps Have you done the glacial drumlin trail?)
Velognome, I think you're on to something. This thread proves these kinds of builds are distinctly great looking and easily recognizable. And the price of entry is the least costly and sturdiest of bicycle design. Quality machines for two twenties? Readily available. A solid aftermarket to revive the ride? Done.
For viewing, this thread is one long enjoyable ride for the eyes. Inspiring as well. Before you know it, you have one of these machines and you're out on the road thinking this ride feel is what those interwebs people were talking about. You're grinning. Yeah, I get it.
Golden Boy, I did the friction stem shifter deal to my Millennia. Love it that way. (ps Have you done the glacial drumlin trail?)
Velognome, I think you're on to something. This thread proves these kinds of builds are distinctly great looking and easily recognizable. And the price of entry is the least costly and sturdiest of bicycle design. Quality machines for two twenties? Readily available. A solid aftermarket to revive the ride? Done.
For viewing, this thread is one long enjoyable ride for the eyes. Inspiring as well. Before you know it, you have one of these machines and you're out on the road thinking this ride feel is what those interwebs people were talking about. You're grinning. Yeah, I get it.