M Rose

Hello,
I have a 2021 Trek Verve 2 Disk that I would like to convert to drop bars. I’m mostly needing information on what brifters (if any) will work with my hydraulic disk brakes and 3x8 gear train. I am wanting to only replace the bars at this point in time, and not get into changing brakes, gear sets/cranks, or anything else. Also I’m trying to stay away from the cable actuated hydraulic setups.

Like I mentioned I would prefer a brifter for my application, but if there is another shifter I should look into by all means point me in the right direction. I have seen the “bar end” shifters and I’m not a huge fan. And while I’m not a fan of bar end shifters I realize I might need to go this route.


So far my Verve is 100% stock with only Bontrager accessories bolted on. I do plan on changing out the stock suspension seat post with a PNW Costal Dropper Suspension Seat Post some time in the near future.



Stock Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes
Front Derailleur- Shimano Tourney TY710
Rear Derailleur- Shimano Altus M310
Crank-Forged alloy, 48/38/28, chainguard, 170mm length
Casette-Shimano HG31, 11-32, 8 speed

I’m looking at the Bontrager GR Elite Road Handlebar in either 420mm or 440m, or something similar to those specs. I will also be keeping the original stem quill for right now, unless there is a stem quill adapter that I can use to change out my stem with.

DorkDisk

Hydraulic brifting (shraking?) begins at Tiagra 10sp, RS405 for "old" 10sp, and 4700 for "new" 10 sp.

8sp Claris shifters are good if you wanna go cable brakes.

travbikeman

Check out this post just as an idea:

https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bi...ting-idea.html

M Rose

I’ve seen those, they don’t offer enough drop.

M Rose

I can’t find a listing for the Tiagra 3x shifter… all I find is 2x, I use all three chain rings on the front, and all of the cassettes on the back… so ditching the front chain ring and replacing with a 2x isn’t going to happen, swapping to a 10 or 11 speed cassette ain’t happenin either.

DorkDisk

There are no triple hydraulic STI shifters.

csport

Then what DorkDisc said, 3x8 Claris shifters and some good cable actuated brakes like Juin Tech R1.

M Rose

how about just hydraulic brake levers and go with bar end shifters… or will they not be compatible with the derailleur/cassette and chain ring combinations? The only problem I have with Bar End shifters is I’m afraid I would bump them with my knees while I’m sprinting up hills.

To keep my hydraulic disk brakes and go with drop bars what is my best solution? Like I said in my OP, I use my whole spread of gearing, and I do a lot of very steep decents 104’ decent in 300’ of distance. So loosing my breaking power coming down this trail would be very bad. I max at at 50 mph on this decent.

Mow going up the same trail, I have to use my 28-32 low gearing to struggle to the top with just my body weight, add in Paniers and trunk pack with my EDC gear, I have a heck of a time and might want to drop gearing even lower…

I find myself mostly in the middle chain ring and the middle to lower part of the rear cassette. So going to a 2x9 might be beneficial to me or even more spread with a 2x10 or 2x11, I don’t know, because I haven’t ever messed with changing stock gearing, and this gets expensive. I do know that the large chain ring gets very little use compared to the middle on small chain ring.

csport

Only you can define what is best for you

As you said, it should be possible to upgrade to 10 or 11 speed, but you will loose the triple and you will need to upgrade all the drivetrain.

There are bar end shifters for 3x8. Not sure if Shimano still makes them (Ultegra BS64), but there is Microshift: https://www.microshift.com/models/bs-t08/
There are also TRP Hylex brakes/levers: https://trpcycling.com/product/hylex-rs/ Not sure how good they are.

I run 3x9 (48/36/22, 11-30 cassette) with Shimano shifters and Juin Tech R1 brakes. They are cable actuated hydraulic brakes. They are also available as Yokozuna Motoko.

DorkDisk

Just to clarify, you most probably would have to swap the calipers out as well. Drop bar conversions are not handlebar swaps.

And then it seems like you have post mount, which no road bike caliper comes in anymore. So, with Shimano you would need a 10sp brifter and then connect them to MTB calipers.

M Rose

Thanks guys for the help. The Verve is up for sale because I can’t make it fit my needs. I guess I’m back to riding gas..

edit:
wife says I can’t go back to gas…she also says that the bike has to be made to work for me without compromise.

So what does this mean? If I have to adapt hoses and or fittings to make my hydraulic brakes work with the current calipers, then that’s what I have to do.

It looks like I have to compromise with bar end shifters to make this all work. Not ideal, but I guess I can live with it for a few years… I can’t live with the flat bar for another month.

I have already added Egro Grips, and upside down bar ends to try and help, but it’s just not working for me. Which this is very strange to me because I alway rode a rigid MTN bike back in the 80’s through early 2000 without issue. But this is before my back injury, multiple shoulder injuries, and chronic knee pain. Which is the whole reason I am trying to get back into cycling in the first place

csport

OK, I have just recalled having heard about a stem mount conversion kit made by Giant: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/global/showcase/conduct
Maybe this will work for you with Clais 3x8?
I have no hands on experience with it myself.

M Rose

that looks like it would work… unfortunately they are sold out at the moment… but it gives me a place to start looking

DorkDisk

The calipers have to be compatible with the levers, since you have Tektro you need Tektro drop bar hydraulic levers-which do not exist. Maybe the TRP Hylex one works?

The Giant system (which comes with its own calipers) has been superceded by cable actuated calipers (which this one is also, but with shorter cable runs) and hydraulic STI levers. If the Giant system intrigued you, just get Claris 3x8 and TRP HY/RD brakes; it's essentially the same thing but with longer cable runs.

But, doing a drop bar conversion on a Verve is not something I would do. I'd rather sell it and buy something else. You are very vague about your issues and there is no guarantee that a drop bar conversion will solve anything.

M Rose

The Verve’s stem quill while adjustable doesn’t adjust to where the height and the reach are correct, if I get the reach correct, the bars are 2” too tall, if I put the adjustment to where the bars are the correct height I can’t reach the bars anymore. Drop bars will allow me to get to that sweet spot…

I don’t have the budget to buy another bike, even if I sold the Verve.

i just thought of another option. My old Cafe Racer had 7/8” clubman bars that offered 4” drop, 6.5” sweep, and overall length of 28”. This would achieve exactly what I’m trying to do while allowing me to retain all my factory brakes, gears, shifters, and levers… I’m off to the MC store to purchase a 48” flat bar to through into my bender…

thank you guys for helping me to get my mind to think out of the box.

hokiefyd 

Yes -- it sounds like you might be able to benefit from either a different bar (with a different shape and sweep) or a different length stem. That should be a much less costly endeavor than a conversion to drop bars, which use a whole different "ecosystem" of parts.

Flatforkcrown

You’ll probably need a much shorter stem to make drop bars work also. You’ll have an extra 75-100cm reach to the hoods or in the drops if you keep the same stem.

M Rose

Well thank you all for your help. I just spent $2000 converting the Verve to drop bars. Shimano 105 components, 2x11 gear train, new crank, new wheels, new tires, new seat post, new seat, new pedals, new chain, new frame…


I’ll update when the new bike gets here.