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Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions

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Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions

Old 05-25-16, 07:43 AM
  #4951  
WalksOn2Wheels
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Originally Posted by BigSung
Is that a VO threadless stem adaptor? It looks like you get pretty decent rise with that one. I got the Profile Design threadless stem adaptor, but I think I prefer a bit more rise, and that VO might work out really well for me.
Yes, that is the VO stem adapter. It's 120mm from the min. insertion line to the top of the stem adapter. From what I saw in pictures, some stems are about 10 mm shorter in height where they attach to the steerer, so you might have a little bit of space left above the stem unless you put a spacer just below it. Kind of hard to explain. Do a google image search and you'll see what I'm talking about.

But yes, it's nice.
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Old 05-25-16, 12:21 PM
  #4952  
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It's not too vintage but to most modern riders it's vintage. Haha. Bianchi BUSS. Easton aluminum tubing...yummy! She tips in at 21 lbs without a single carbon part and the original chromoly fork. I just laced up the M950 XTR hubs to some Sun Ringle CR18 rims with Sapim race spokes and black alloy nips. Lost 1.5 lbs over the Surly 1x1 wheels that were on it. Both freewheels are seized on and sound like they're going to explode. Sucks because the hubs still spin like like a top and are relatively nice wheels. It's my favorite bike to ride and super comfy. Yes that's an old Rock Shox suspension seatpost but it helps with the stiff aluminum frame.
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Old 05-25-16, 05:47 PM
  #4953  
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Old 05-25-16, 05:58 PM
  #4954  
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A little project I have going. 1992 Stumpjumper Comp. I don't have any proper mtb drops right now but I do have some mustache bars so they will get the first try.

I don't have any hills to speak of, so the plan is to build this as a 1 x 8 with a 44t x 12-21 8 speed cassette. Cyclone RD and barcon for the shifting.

This is a pic from the CL ad. I found a chrome Tange fork at the LBS and I think I can fudge the rest. The single speed setup was a hair over 24 lbs with the suspension fork and 2" semi-knobby tires, so I'm hopeful that this will be a reasonably light weight rig in its final form.
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Old 05-25-16, 07:03 PM
  #4955  
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I'm nearing 6,000 miles on my Diamondback conversion, so I thought I'd take a nice picture of it in its current guise, but fell short, as usual.

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Old 05-25-16, 09:03 PM
  #4956  
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I love this bike. Every time you post a picture of it I smile.

Thanks

eom




Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver


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Old 05-26-16, 08:46 AM
  #4957  
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Thanks... this bike has served me longer than the rest and I have lost track of the miles we have travelled.

The Schwalbe Hurricanes I had been running for years needed to be retired, installed the NOS Continental Town and Country tyres and am well pleased at how versatile they are and what a nice ride they have.
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Old 05-26-16, 10:28 AM
  #4958  
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
Thanks... this bike has served me longer than the rest and I have lost track of the miles we have travelled.

The Schwalbe Hurricanes I had been running for years needed to be retired, installed the NOS Continental Town and Country tyres and am well pleased at how versatile they are and what a nice ride they have.
I've been using T&C's for a couple months now, and I really like them.
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Old 05-26-16, 12:42 PM
  #4959  
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About to get started with my conversion. Picked this up on CL for $25! Looks to be a ?mid-nineties? Specialized Rockhopper. Tires are in good shape, canti's need to be cleaned and re-padded but work well enough, front derailleur needs a tune (can't hit top gear), wheels are straight and true, and even though the seat isn't great it isn't awful.



My immediate plans are to set this up for 15 to 30 mile per day commute on 50/50 crushed limestone/road and the occasional fun ride through light trails. Off the bat I know I'm going to get drop bars, a stem adapter (I think but haven't measured), a high/short stem, Retrospec saddle, lightweight seatpost, pump and mount, break down kit, and lights.

It's currently set-up with grip shift which works, but will not transfer over to drops. I'm hoping someone here will know if these Microshift 3x7 brifters will work with the current equipment or will it require other work, I'm not afraid of putting in some money to get this working.

Also wondering what pedals/clips everyone seems to like. I'm not well-versed in road bike equipment, but clips or something on my long rides would be helpful I'm sure.
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Old 05-26-16, 04:48 PM
  #4960  
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^I like Shimano PD-m520 pedals if you want a plain spd. Good value at around $25. If you want to wear street shoes part of the time then go with one of the platform style with spd on one side. I will let someone else get specific as I don't have experience with that style. Welcome and good luck with your project.
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Old 05-28-16, 09:29 AM
  #4961  
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Finished up the bike yesterday, and going to take a shakedown ride later to see how it feels. The reach is a bit excessive but I'll keep it as is until I can find the right stem. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I'll be changing the bottle cage to a hot pink one soon. More pictures to come once it stops raining!




Edit: got around to taking some pictures after dialing in the brakes. Let me know what you think! And if anyone has a 90-110mm stem with 0 rise and 22.2 quill, send me a message as I can't seem to find one that isn't more money than I would like to spend on a stem.



Bontrager Race 7050 crankset with KMC Z410 gold chain and SPD M520 pedals


Suntour SE Scott Pedersen canti brakes with kool stop pads--these things bite hard!


I wish the headbadge sticker wasn't torn up, I like the crash dummy on a bike but can't find another sticker like it.


Deore LX hubs laced to WTB Dual Duty rims and DT Swiss spokes. My first time building wheels, happy with how they turned out! Purple nipples on either side of the valve stem and the seam.


Frontal shot. Will be replacing the saddle with something narrower, maybe a Flite Ti.


Cane Creek SCR-5 Levers


Had to get creative with the routing for the front canti

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Old 05-28-16, 04:11 PM
  #4962  
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Anyone know what the deal is with Midge bars? Did they stop making them in 25.4 clamp? I built up the Stumpjumper shown a few posts ago using mustache bars. I like it but I think Midges would be a big improvement. I only see them shown now in 31.8 though and I want to stick with a quill stem.
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Old 05-28-16, 06:23 PM
  #4963  
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Anyone know what the deal is with Midge bars? Did they stop making them in 25.4 clamp? I built up the Stumpjumper shown a few posts ago using mustache bars. I like it but I think Midges would be a big improvement. I only see them shown now in 31.8 though and I want to stick with a quill stem.
I bought a pair of 25.4 Midge's from PlanetX in the UK about 10 months ago to replace the WTB Dirt Drops on my drop-bar conversion. Must say I really like them. But, yeah, it seems the 25.4s are no longer available Best to keep an eye on eBay at this point, I guess.
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Old 05-28-16, 08:10 PM
  #4964  
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Every bike on this page is awesome, and in so many different ways. But I haven't seen this one before and it's super-cool. 21 pounds!

Originally Posted by Henry III
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Old 05-30-16, 09:30 PM
  #4965  
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I decided to pull my old race bike off the wall, it saw only one season so I figured it was time to roll again. The bike is a custom order 1991 GT Tequesta in the special order "Purple Haze" color scheme. I've built a few dirt drop conversions over the years but I never built up one on a 96'er platform. I've done some digging and I haven't seen any dirt drop 96'ers. I have no interest in returning the Purple Haze back to its original 26" set up. I have a new high flange XT front disc hub that I need to lace up to a WTB 29" hoop. Today I mounted my high rise Salsa stem to an On One Midge bar (my favorite drop bar) with DKG Shift Ease mounts with XT 7x3 pods, Tektro long pull levers with Odyssey steel braided lines. The crank and derailleurs with complete the XT group. It has all the makings of a really fun trail killer... I just need to finish up and get it in the dirt.
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Old 05-31-16, 04:07 PM
  #4966  
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My more or less finished 92 Stumpjumper Comp with Mustache bars. A decent placeholder until I can scrounge some 25.4 Midge Bars. I know someone else on the thread had an APB out for some, but if there's a sudden flurry of them, consider me in the queue, especially if they're black!

Pretty fun bike; wish it had the original fork, but this Tange one I found seems very capable. I wish they had put rack mounts on the stays but I guess they weren't envisioning this sort of build. I will most likely switch to road slicks, and add fenders. On to the pics:

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Old 05-31-16, 04:51 PM
  #4967  
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@vdub5641 awesome job on the build up. Stem does look a bit excessive. That is a great frame to drop bar.

One question, would you consider a chain tensioner in back to avoid chain slack when it wears out ?
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Old 05-31-16, 04:59 PM
  #4968  
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Originally Posted by due ruote
My more or less finished 92 Stumpjumper Comp with Mustache bars. A decent placeholder until I can scrounge some 25.4 Midge Bars. I know someone else on the thread had an APB out for some, but if there's a sudden flurry of them, consider me in the queue, especially if they're black!
Due ruote, could you share what stem you are using, and the dimensions? I'm trying to figure out what length and rise I need to get for my frame. Thanks!
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Old 05-31-16, 05:25 PM
  #4969  
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Originally Posted by smoothness
Due ruote, could you share what stem you are using, and the dimensions? I'm trying to figure out what length and rise I need to get for my frame. Thanks!
It's a Kalloy. I don't remember the dims but they are easy to find on the web. Search for Kalloy dirt drop stem and you should find it. They only come in 25.4 so I had to file the clamp for the 26.0 bars. There's a lot of metal there so I'm not concerned about it.
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Old 06-01-16, 09:51 AM
  #4970  
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@3speedslow thanks! Managed to find a stem yesterday with less reach and more rise but it's in bad shape, so I'll be refinishing it this weekend. I plan on getting a tensioner like the Surly Hurdy Gurdy once I start to stretch the chain out.
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Old 06-01-16, 01:31 PM
  #4971  
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Originally Posted by vdub6541
@3speedslow thanks! Managed to find a stem yesterday with less reach and more rise but it's in bad shape, so I'll be refinishing it this weekend. I plan on getting a tensioner like the Surly Hurdy Gurdy once I start to stretch the chain out.
Excellent, I have the Surly tensioner for when I SS one of my MTB frames. I like how they have the chain choice guard and the up/down tension choice too.

stem, back black or polished aluminum ?
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Old 06-01-16, 01:55 PM
  #4972  
vdub6541
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Originally Posted by 3speedslow
Excellent, I have the Surly tensioner for when I SS one of my MTB frames. I like how they have the chain choice guard and the up/down tension choice too.

stem, back black or polished aluminum ?
Black, and even has a cantilever stop so I can get rid of the cheap sunlite hanger! Win win. Got the stem and a RaceFace DeusXC crank for a total of $15!
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Old 06-03-16, 09:18 PM
  #4973  
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Not a MTB, but a hybrid. Diamond Back Lake Side, 1986? I spent all morning riding it around town and I like how it handles.
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Old 06-04-16, 10:20 PM
  #4974  
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Painted the Kalloy stem today. Waiting for the paint to cure before I put it on. Here's the drastic difference in the two stems.



If anyone is interested in the TBone, let me know, as I have no use for it anymore!
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Old 06-05-16, 04:03 AM
  #4975  
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Geometry question

This is For all the riders who set their bikes up with a lot of drop. Do you ride off road? If so, how does it handle? The prevailing wisdom is to set the drops to where your flat bar would be positioned. On some of the bikes I see here the drops look like they are lower than the top tube. That is OK on the road but off road it could present a problem.
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