My vote is and always will be basket and comfortable handle bars. People love to do a gravel conversion i have yet to ride one that is half decent.
aerodeck on
I hate drops . Too much reach to be comfortable
labrish on
If you have to ask you shouldn’t be putting drops on it.
Diligent-Advance9371 on
Whatever works for YOU. Go ahead and try them if you like. Changing stems and bars is not hard. Well wrapping bar tape a bit of a pain. Feels like I change one on one of my 18 bikes weekly. Probably more like 3 to 4 weeks apart. Back to the drops. When I was 20 years younger, I liked them for speed and climbing. Got way down over the top of the stem. Not anymore. Now I find narrow flatbars, mounted a bit too high for most people’s taste, with bar ends to work best for a septuagenarian.
tofu-juice on
These comments seem to hate drops, I like them, as well as other bars. But it’s all preference, and what you’re doing.
Flat short rides? Upright position is good, probably preferable.
Long hilly rides? You’ll probably benefit from a more forward position, maybe drops.
Also personally I’ve found if a bike is a little small on me I really like an aggressive position with drops. If the frames a little big on me, upright and flat or even swept bars to make the reach much more comfortable. Experiment with different stems and bars!
I’d probably pick a shorter reach, and possibly flared bar like the Ritchey corralitos.
airdecades on
I did on my 790 and it wasn’t that comfortable imo
Lil-Kobe-bike on
This hike looks like a good candidate for drops because the stem is so long. Get a shorter stem and I think drop bars might be pretty comfortable. Remember drops will put you further out in front compared to a flat bar
Federal-Reading-7131 on
No, flatter stem, shorter a bit make it look like a streetfighter.
AugNat on
The 90s multitracks are great with drop bars. You may need to dial in the stem length and angle but it really is a fun ride.
thepob on
i have that frame too! I ran drops for a bit (and loved it!) but have been enjoying my flat bar life more recently. that being said, right what feels right?
SentenceEmotional815 on
Shorter stem and compact drop bar.. definitely!
Softpretzelsandrose on
Check out surly corner bars if you’re curious. Accepts all the flat bar controls but you can give the drop position a try
metalpossum on
A stem that’s at least 50mm shorter. Don’t slam it either, it’s not a crime to have your drop bars set up taller.
TruckCAN-Bus on
BMX bars, or whatever comfortable gets mor riding miles and joy from you
…My next N+1, based around a Miyata 610, is getting dirt-drops.
ricoxg1 on
The people who are complaining about drops on a converted vintage mtb frame probably got a frame size to large for a gravel conversion. That being said, make sure that frame fits your size when you convert to drops due to the extended reach. If you want to keep your reach short, I would increase the steer tube length and stack higher spacers. Get a short reach drop bars (Ritchrt Beacon Comp for example).
Have fun! I am going through this journey right now with a 96’ Klien pulse comp.
eddierhys on
Hey, I have this same frame. I upgraded the drivetrain and threw some wider flat bars on it, but mainly because I already have 2 drop bar bikes and don’t feel the need for more. If you’re wanting a drop bar bike I think this one would be an excellent candidate. I think it has great geometry for drop bars and I love how light the frame is. It would make a pretty sweet gravel bike, super responsive and agile
ibeforeexceptexcept on
I got the surly corner bar knock off from Amazon, for a mtb restomod. They didn’t fit for me there. Went with sweeps. But I really like them a lot on my hybrid commuter. Cheep, and work with the components you have if you want to give it a try.
* Work out what gears/ratios you want in the front and rear first. That’ll tell you what brifters (brake shifter combo), cassette/cranks and derailleurs you gotta get. I’d stick with what you have and get brifters to suit.
* Start CHEAP, dont buy anything new. you gotta see if it fits first. just get some random bars and brifters (that work) and ride around on it for a while. which is related to:
* Use your bike coop if youve got one. I got these bars already wrapped and with cables and brifters for like $15. I’m not gonna settle on them, but I just wanna just see if it fits me, or I’ll go more upright.
delicate10drills on
“Tell me what to do” in posts like this is sad.
Sell the bike, buy a beige Camry, get a neck tattoo of a plate of General Tso’s Chicken, grow a mullet, and sing Ben Folds Five songs at the top of your lungs every time you’re in the grocery store like a teenager experiencing their first adventure without an authority figure present.
Flip a coin.
ReallySmallWeenus on
Drops rule on bikes sized for drops. This looks closer than most, but still long.
OpenWorldMaps on
Just go with a surly corner bar and be done. If you don’t like it then just put the bars back on.
krackd21 on
im interested to know what is to be done with the stem riser? stick with the stock quill?
Slight_Competition_1 on
Cafe cruiser, get yourself some MTB flat bars for a solid ride around town, even on some gravel.
If you’re taking it for some distance, you’d benefit from different grip positions that drops would give you.
27 Comments
What do want to do with it?
Why drops?
My vote is and always will be basket and comfortable handle bars. People love to do a gravel conversion i have yet to ride one that is half decent.
I hate drops . Too much reach to be comfortable
If you have to ask you shouldn’t be putting drops on it.
Whatever works for YOU. Go ahead and try them if you like. Changing stems and bars is not hard. Well wrapping bar tape a bit of a pain. Feels like I change one on one of my 18 bikes weekly. Probably more like 3 to 4 weeks apart. Back to the drops. When I was 20 years younger, I liked them for speed and climbing. Got way down over the top of the stem. Not anymore. Now I find narrow flatbars, mounted a bit too high for most people’s taste, with bar ends to work best for a septuagenarian.
These comments seem to hate drops, I like them, as well as other bars. But it’s all preference, and what you’re doing.
Flat short rides? Upright position is good, probably preferable.
Long hilly rides? You’ll probably benefit from a more forward position, maybe drops.
Also personally I’ve found if a bike is a little small on me I really like an aggressive position with drops. If the frames a little big on me, upright and flat or even swept bars to make the reach much more comfortable. Experiment with different stems and bars!
IMO go for the drops. IIRC these 1990 models have the same geometry as the 520 touring that year, so drop bars would fit fairly well with the geometry. Here’s the specs. http://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBrochure1990.htm#geometry
I’d probably pick a shorter reach, and possibly flared bar like the Ritchey corralitos.
I did on my 790 and it wasn’t that comfortable imo
This hike looks like a good candidate for drops because the stem is so long. Get a shorter stem and I think drop bars might be pretty comfortable. Remember drops will put you further out in front compared to a flat bar
No, flatter stem, shorter a bit make it look like a streetfighter.
The 90s multitracks are great with drop bars. You may need to dial in the stem length and angle but it really is a fun ride.
i have that frame too! I ran drops for a bit (and loved it!) but have been enjoying my flat bar life more recently. that being said, right what feels right?
Shorter stem and compact drop bar.. definitely!
Check out surly corner bars if you’re curious. Accepts all the flat bar controls but you can give the drop position a try
A stem that’s at least 50mm shorter. Don’t slam it either, it’s not a crime to have your drop bars set up taller.
BMX bars, or whatever comfortable gets mor riding miles and joy from you
…My next N+1, based around a Miyata 610, is getting dirt-drops.
The people who are complaining about drops on a converted vintage mtb frame probably got a frame size to large for a gravel conversion. That being said, make sure that frame fits your size when you convert to drops due to the extended reach. If you want to keep your reach short, I would increase the steer tube length and stack higher spacers. Get a short reach drop bars (Ritchrt Beacon Comp for example).
Have fun! I am going through this journey right now with a 96’ Klien pulse comp.
Hey, I have this same frame. I upgraded the drivetrain and threw some wider flat bars on it, but mainly because I already have 2 drop bar bikes and don’t feel the need for more. If you’re wanting a drop bar bike I think this one would be an excellent candidate. I think it has great geometry for drop bars and I love how light the frame is. It would make a pretty sweet gravel bike, super responsive and agile
I got the surly corner bar knock off from Amazon, for a mtb restomod. They didn’t fit for me there. Went with sweeps. But I really like them a lot on my hybrid commuter. Cheep, and work with the components you have if you want to give it a try.
I fully support drops on these frames. Great monstercross platform, just do some research on geometry and what works for your body proportions best. Might I [also](https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/s/PzmlnlYuS9) [suggest](https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/s/mfXwdvHEQW)
I’m partway through this one
https://preview.redd.it/ttyjp2ancbif1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f10d43f074dbb72d9b1ea7cfb5278006b16189f
Recs:
* Work out what gears/ratios you want in the front and rear first. That’ll tell you what brifters (brake shifter combo), cassette/cranks and derailleurs you gotta get. I’d stick with what you have and get brifters to suit.
* Start CHEAP, dont buy anything new. you gotta see if it fits first. just get some random bars and brifters (that work) and ride around on it for a while. which is related to:
* Use your bike coop if youve got one. I got these bars already wrapped and with cables and brifters for like $15. I’m not gonna settle on them, but I just wanna just see if it fits me, or I’ll go more upright.
“Tell me what to do” in posts like this is sad.
Sell the bike, buy a beige Camry, get a neck tattoo of a plate of General Tso’s Chicken, grow a mullet, and sing Ben Folds Five songs at the top of your lungs every time you’re in the grocery store like a teenager experiencing their first adventure without an authority figure present.
Flip a coin.
Drops rule on bikes sized for drops. This looks closer than most, but still long.
Just go with a surly corner bar and be done. If you don’t like it then just put the bars back on.
im interested to know what is to be done with the stem riser? stick with the stock quill?
Cafe cruiser, get yourself some MTB flat bars for a solid ride around town, even on some gravel.
If you’re taking it for some distance, you’d benefit from different grip positions that drops would give you.
Will look great either way 👍🏻