Picked this up at a co-op for my commuter. I’ve had it for a year and HATE drop bars and downtube shifters, what should I do for relatively cheap (<$200)?
by Expensive_Guess_276
Picked this up at a co-op for my commuter. I’ve had it for a year and HATE drop bars and downtube shifters, what should I do for relatively cheap (<$200)?
by Expensive_Guess_276
10 Comments
Also I’ve messed around with stem and seat height a bunch, still hate the drop bars for commuting
I’m a fan of flat bar road bikes for around town. You’ve already got downtube shifters so all you’d need would be a flat bar, some short-pull brake levers, some grips, and new brake cables. I’d be the co-op would have the levers and bar for cheap, maybe all of it.
I mean thimbles are pretty cheap on eBay if you don’t care about aesthetics or being second (or third) hand, and a flat bar should have you about right, though I can’t say that it won’t affect the rider position in way that may affect comfort. Also might have to get new cable housings/cables…if ya don’t have cutters already
I’d buy a flat bar with some rise that fits that stem. The clamp is probably 25.4, but could also be 26.
Then I’d get some flat bar road bike brake levers like Shimano Claris.
For shifters I’d look at Shimano Altus SL-M310. I’m not sure if there’s a 2x version for the front, but you can still use the 3x shifter and use one less gear.
You’ll need downtube cable stops to replace the downtube shifters, as long as the bosses are square underneath the shifters. If not, this plan might not work.
Alternatively you could buy a donor bike for the parts (like an old 3×7 MTB), but will probably still need the cable stops.
The bike coop probably also has a lot of these parts.
ditch that stem for an origin8 22.2 quill-31.8 clamp positive rise. then you can do flat bars easier. I’d leave the downtube shifters, or you can get cheap suntour friction thumb shifters.
Downtime housing stops https://a.co/d/01KVuEKH
Either stem shifters such as the Shimano L422, or thumb shifters.
And a PBJ bar. https://sklarbikes.com/products/pbj-handlebar-riser-bar-for-alt-cyclists?variant=45983443026162
That’s about right on the price, I think.
I forgot bar tape and maybe fresh cables and cable housing.
Thumb shifters, brake levers, and a alt bar of your choosing with some new cables outta do it
Different bike
Honestly… probably get a different bike. This bike’s geometry was made for drop bars and no flat or alt bar in the world is going to feel right on that. It’ll always be short and twitchy.
Maybe this is not a welcome thought, but $200 or less would get you a used flat bar hybrid with trigger shifters.
I’ve actually had three of those (used) over the years and they are remarkable bikes, so underrated and undervalued.