Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
04-11-21, 06:55 PM
#7076
Birotate Charioteer
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.
Oh, that looks like a wicked fun ride.
04-11-21, 07:47 PM
#7077
Full Member
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04-12-21, 05:28 AM
#7078
Newbie
Looks great! Tell me about the brakes... I notice v-brake up front and cantilever out back? What sort of v-brake is that with such a wide range of pad adjustment? I've converted a steel 90's MTB to 700c and would love to be able to utilize the canti posts.
04-19-21, 03:03 PM
#7079
Junior Member
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.
04-19-21, 03:05 PM
#7080
Junior Member
04-25-21, 06:25 AM
#7081
Junior Member
Has anyone used a Soma Lauterwasser on a vintage MTB?
Is it advisable?
Is it advisable?
04-25-21, 01:02 PM
#7082
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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My experience with all cantis is, if you have machined sidewall rims, use good pads, and keep them tuned up religiously, they just work OK compared to disk.
04-25-21, 01:38 PM
#7083
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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I found the v-brakes on ebay: Litepro brand model V28 long reach v-brakes intended for BMX. I’ve seen these on ebay in several models with different reaches and colors. They are super light and seem like pretty decent quality for less than $30. They reach to the larger diameter 650b (27 inch) rim with room to spare. . .not sure if they would reach 700c rims (their quoted spec is 108 mm of reach). The only other alternative I know of for long reach v-brakes are Paul’s Motolites, which are expensive and have been out of stock for months since Covid started.
04-27-21, 04:07 PM
#7084
Full Member
Kona Lava Dome Race Light
Ok: not lugged, not a level top tube... but it is steel, and it is from 1996 (I think?)
Still not sure about the bars....
04-28-21, 08:00 PM
#7085
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: California
Posts: 211
Bikes: 2020 Lynskey GR300, 1987 Diamondback Ascent, 1991 Skykomish Marble Point, 1994 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, 1996 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1992 GT Karakoram
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04-28-21, 09:49 PM
#7086
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
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05-06-21, 04:23 PM
#7087
Junior Member
05-06-21, 06:01 PM
#7088
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 170
Bikes: Fuji Touring Series V 1985, Motobecane Grand Touring 1982, Specialized Stumpjumper 1993, Raleigh International 1972, Raleigh Grand Prix 1972, Kuwahara Count 1983, Trek Cirrus 1987, Shogun 2001 1983, Cannondale SM700 1990
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05-06-21, 06:47 PM
#7089
Full Member
Yeah these bars are growing on me---- with the ramps tilted nearly flat like this, and the long grip surface of the cheap-o imitation Tektro levers (almost like they are trying to feel like brifters), there are a lot of hand positions available, including a semi-aero forearms flat position that feels good. I built this bike to be kind of a rough-end-of-gravel-spectrum bike--- for Vermont cat IV roads and mild singletrack..
The tires feel (and sound) great--- very quiet on pavement, very light. I've had good luck with supple-sidewall tires before, but we'll see if the knobby tire version holds up over time...
This stem is a no-name stem from china that has ended up looking way more sleek than the price would indicate.... most riser stems that I've seen just look downright ugly to me, but this one is....sort of passable? I still long for the classic angles of a road bike stem, but this is starting to look OK to me...
Right now I'm bombing off curbs and disregarding huge potholes in Boston on this thing, and it's fun--- we'll see how it does on the dirt....
N
The tires feel (and sound) great--- very quiet on pavement, very light. I've had good luck with supple-sidewall tires before, but we'll see if the knobby tire version holds up over time...
This stem is a no-name stem from china that has ended up looking way more sleek than the price would indicate.... most riser stems that I've seen just look downright ugly to me, but this one is....sort of passable? I still long for the classic angles of a road bike stem, but this is starting to look OK to me...
Right now I'm bombing off curbs and disregarding huge potholes in Boston on this thing, and it's fun--- we'll see how it does on the dirt....
N
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05-10-21, 08:57 AM
#7090
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Montpelier, VT
Posts: 18
Bikes: '85 Trek 620, '88 Schwinn Cimarron, '88 Novara Ponderosa, '6#? Magni, '93 Stumpjumper w/Dirt Drops, 70's Raleigh Competition G.S., '80 Bill Vetter, '90's IF Deluxe
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Not that any build is ever truly finished, but I've finally got this one dialed in, and therefore I figured I'd share. This is my 2nd drop bar conversion, my first being a very similar vintage Stumpjumper FS that has now found a new home. I took what I learned from that one and applied it here. Running Woodchipper bars, old 8 speed 105 brifters, and a mix of other stuff including first gen. XTR cantilevers. The final piece is the Rene Herse humptulips, 26 x 2.3. I probably spent more on the tires than the rest of the build combined, but I can say with total conviction these tires are worth it. This bike rolls nicely on pavement, and with the knobs can tackle the gnarly "class 4" unmaintained roads that make Vermont gravel riding so much fun. Two fun notes about this current build - I acquired the fork and frame separately, the frame was equipped with a cheap heavy Suntour fork, and the fork came from the local coop. Clearly a separated at birth situation, with the steerer tube length just long enough to be a match. The saddle, a vintage Brooks that is surprisingly comfy, came off a 50's or 60's Diamant track bike. The one final piece of the puzzle is a less ugly stem/adapter.... Given the threaded fork, I'm considering a V-O quill with the removable face. Anything would look better than what I've currently cobbled together.
Last edited by gmvelo; 05-10-21 at 09:23 AM. Reason: caught a mistake
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05-10-21, 12:59 PM
#7091
bOsscO
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 746
Bikes: 2024 Spec Crux, 2015 Norco Search S1, 93 Mongoose IBOC COMP
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Looks great gmvelo it's hard to tell the colour of the frame/fork. Is it brown? Is it purple?
05-11-21, 03:00 PM
#7092
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Montpelier, VT
Posts: 18
Bikes: '85 Trek 620, '88 Schwinn Cimarron, '88 Novara Ponderosa, '6#? Magni, '93 Stumpjumper w/Dirt Drops, 70's Raleigh Competition G.S., '80 Bill Vetter, '90's IF Deluxe
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Looks great gmvelo it's hard to tell the colour of the frame/fork. Is it brown? Is it purple?
05-11-21, 06:44 PM
#7093
Full Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 303
Bikes: Raleigh Competition GS, Freschi Supreme, Miyata 1000, Trek 520, Marin Pine Mountain, Specialized RockCombo, Soma Smoothie, Surly Cross-Check
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Super sweat build BTW!
Update: Here's the 90mm VO Stem maxed out on my Marin Pine Mountain. From center top of the headset to the top of the bars, measures a hair over 16cm. Hope that helps.
Last edited by squarenoise; 05-11-21 at 09:37 PM. Reason: added info
05-13-21, 12:43 PM
#7094
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Port Dover Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,543
Bikes: 1965 Dilecta Le Blanc, 1956 Royal Nord, 1972 Raleigh Sports, 1972 CCM Turismo,1976 SuperCycle Excalibur, 2014 Salsa Vaya, 2017 Felt DD70, 2019 Giant Lafree and others
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The 1995 Norco Katmandu recently sold very quickly. Advertised on Kijiji for just over 24 hours and sold at asking. Sad to see it go but this makes three drop bar MTBs that I have sold in as many years. One was not even for sale but the buyer talked me into selling it. Starting to think it is a popular niche.
__________________
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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05-13-21, 03:16 PM
#7095
Junior Member
The 1995 Norco Katmandu recently sold very quickly. Advertised on Kijiji for just over 24 hours and sold at asking. Sad to see it go but this makes three drop bar MTBs that I have sold in as many years. One was not even for sale but the buyer talked me into selling it. Starting to think it is a popular niche.
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05-13-21, 06:35 PM
#7096
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Port Dover Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,543
Bikes: 1965 Dilecta Le Blanc, 1956 Royal Nord, 1972 Raleigh Sports, 1972 CCM Turismo,1976 SuperCycle Excalibur, 2014 Salsa Vaya, 2017 Felt DD70, 2019 Giant Lafree and others
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Made from a Raleigh Canada produced 1987 Renegade Ranger ATB my first drop bar conversion was done solely with vintage parts I had lying around. Its versatility and fun factor set the stage for subsequent builds. A later version had Planet Bike yellow fenders to really overload the colour palette!
__________________
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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05-15-21, 07:20 PM
#7097
Abuse Magnet
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,869
Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper
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05-15-21, 08:52 PM
#7098
Full Member
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05-16-21, 07:01 PM
#7099
Recovering Bikeaholic
NICE SCHTUMPY!!! Love the mix of parts... nice touch; that's what it's all about. And the color is beautiful. And the Rene Herse tires are the bee's knees. Made for VT dirt roads!!!
05-16-21, 07:05 PM
#7100
Recovering Bikeaholic
Love the first photo of the Renegade... Looks like it's ready to butt horns with the first gravel bike that dares cross its path