OK, if you do, you will have bad luck for seven years.
airdecades on
Unless you flip the stem the bars are gonna look super awkward, but then it’s going to be a really aggressive set up. Decision, decisions
mediumclay on
It long.
49thDipper on
Willie, are you going over to the dark side?
No spandex though, right? RIGHT ?
Are you thinking of a CUES setup? The compatibility is pretty cool.
40ozCurls on
Will prob cost more than that bike is worth to convert.
Super_Yak9867 on
i think it looks v nice as it is. what r ur bars
happinessisbunk on
Drop bars are uncomfortable on mountain bikes. Sweptback bars are comfortable
420Bikin on
There’s like a handful of these style bikes you can run drop bars on that doesn’t feel incredibly long. My sized down trek800 is the only 26rr I have that looks and feels okay with drop bars. An even then it has a short stem.
Horror-Raisin-877 on
It’ll be too f-ing awesome and squids will be forever trying to half-wheel you. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing 🙂
Choice_Student4910 on
Meh, get dropbars if you’re curious but just know having them changes your ride position pretty significantly and it’s not a cheap swap.
It’ll be fine if you use a 50mm Technomic stem. But, you’ll ride through puddles of cat piss on every ride.
Meowriano on
ALT BAR FOR 80’s or 90’s MTB BUILDS IS THE ONLY WAY.
nosirrahp on
The real question is how aggressive are you willing to be. If you do it and you find yourself constantly leaning up and riding with no handlebars I would say keeping the risers is nice. Also it just looks so comfy already.
After_Classroom7809 on
Went thru this converting my 930 to touring.
What I found: Needed a tall, short stem to get the reach right. Considered brifters but they complicate things by being short throw. For V-brakes with them you need shorties, which make fat tires and fenders a tight squeeze.
I compromised with long throw levers and stem shifters.
Diligent-Advance9371 on
Won’t do it. The best part of this hobby is trying different components and general bike setups. Spend more time doing that than riding. Have several of my 19 bikes that have been in 12 different configurations. That is the fun way to find what works best for you. Sometimes you find a doubtful setup is really the best for you.
Knikkz on
What about something like a Surly corner bar instead? Easier swap, don’t have to fully commit, still get some feeling of riding drops.
cfzko on
I don’t understand why people want to be less comfortable. Actually I do, because sometimes I just wonder what if and I have a multi tool
basbell4 on
Get ‘em up high and wide!
FaxxMaxxer on
Some MicroNew 3×7 brifters for $40, compact Ritchey bars for $40, and a roll of bar tape for $15 and you’ve got yourself a relatively nice feeling dropbar bike for less than $100 in parts.
Whether you buy new or used I think that’s hard to beat, and all with an American made TrueTemper frame to boot.
You already have the stem adapter. Try to throw on some drops and some friction bar end shifters. Lots of drop brake/hoods for cheap available.
egosumlex on
Eh, I have never been happy with such conversions in the long run. The handling and fit has always been worse for me. Why do you wanna do it?
street_stomper on
Just do it.
And if you don’t like it, try other bars.
Messing about with bikes is one of life’s truest pleasures.
PNW_Bearded_cyclist on
Just get the Surly Corner bar and save yourself some money. You get drop bar feel and can keep the same brake levers.
GreenToMe95 on
Just N+1 a drop bar bike this one already looks rad.
PartyShitty on
Did it. Went back to straight bars after a 2 hour ride. It’s a stretch
mobtownie11 on
I have a slightly older 990 set up with drops and she rips
PublicVoid420 on
FYI: in that era, the 930 was Trek’s only bicycle built outside the USA.
Apart-Ad-8626 on
don’t do it. the geometry isn’t meant for it
drewbaccaAWD on
Best way to convince you that it’s not worth the hassle is to just let you do it. Enjoy the build and then you’ll most likely understand why many of us switch back. I think it makes a better flat bar bike, but I love an excuse to build something up and experiment, so I say go for it.
Instead buy modern lightweight wheelset for like 250
Gen-Y-ine-86 on
Get a shorter frame.
konishiwoi on
If that’s your usual frame size then don’t. If you really want to try drops on a 90s MTB I suggest you size down once or twice. Reach will be mad long otherwise, you’ll impede your hip and break your back.
Size down, expose that seatpost like it was meant to be, don’t go too small on the stem and maybe get a tall one to compensate for the deep stack
theneild on
I think it would look best with an albatross bar
LoquaciousAF on
Do it. It is super fun, it totally sucks, and you’re not gonna know that till you do it yourself, so do it.
MathCrank on
Do it
shquidwaters on
I always come back to flat bars with rise stems on these bikes. Much like the standard oem parts. The narrow grip helps deliver power and the slight rise keeps it comfortable. Works well with the bikes strengths.
Wider bars detract from the road bike esq power delivery and kill efficiency imo, anything to upright sucks the arse out of your front wheel grip.
Drop bars I have little experience with, but back when I was running a flat stem with low rise bas I found leaning forward and down was very uncomfortable. I would ride no hands quite often to recover from pain. And I’m only 31!
Or maybe I just need to get better at cockpit tuning 😉😉
46 Comments
OK, if you do, you will have bad luck for seven years.
Unless you flip the stem the bars are gonna look super awkward, but then it’s going to be a really aggressive set up. Decision, decisions
It long.
Willie, are you going over to the dark side?
No spandex though, right? RIGHT ?
Are you thinking of a CUES setup? The compatibility is pretty cool.
Will prob cost more than that bike is worth to convert.
i think it looks v nice as it is. what r ur bars
Drop bars are uncomfortable on mountain bikes. Sweptback bars are comfortable
There’s like a handful of these style bikes you can run drop bars on that doesn’t feel incredibly long. My sized down trek800 is the only 26rr I have that looks and feels okay with drop bars. An even then it has a short stem.
It’ll be too f-ing awesome and squids will be forever trying to half-wheel you. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing 🙂
Meh, get dropbars if you’re curious but just know having them changes your ride position pretty significantly and it’s not a cheap swap.
Try some Innerbarends first.
do it for john tomac.
Hell yeah!
https://preview.redd.it/aotvh44y49kf1.png?width=1300&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa53d7e9d96e8a7321c9aee355561dc2f3c017d5
It’ll be fine if you use a 50mm Technomic stem. But, you’ll ride through puddles of cat piss on every ride.
ALT BAR FOR 80’s or 90’s MTB BUILDS IS THE ONLY WAY.
The real question is how aggressive are you willing to be. If you do it and you find yourself constantly leaning up and riding with no handlebars I would say keeping the risers is nice. Also it just looks so comfy already.
Went thru this converting my 930 to touring.
What I found: Needed a tall, short stem to get the reach right. Considered brifters but they complicate things by being short throw. For V-brakes with them you need shorties, which make fat tires and fenders a tight squeeze.
I compromised with long throw levers and stem shifters.
Won’t do it. The best part of this hobby is trying different components and general bike setups. Spend more time doing that than riding. Have several of my 19 bikes that have been in 12 different configurations. That is the fun way to find what works best for you. Sometimes you find a doubtful setup is really the best for you.
What about something like a Surly corner bar instead? Easier swap, don’t have to fully commit, still get some feeling of riding drops.
I don’t understand why people want to be less comfortable. Actually I do, because sometimes I just wonder what if and I have a multi tool
Get ‘em up high and wide!
Some MicroNew 3×7 brifters for $40, compact Ritchey bars for $40, and a roll of bar tape for $15 and you’ve got yourself a relatively nice feeling dropbar bike for less than $100 in parts.
Whether you buy new or used I think that’s hard to beat, and all with an American made TrueTemper frame to boot.
no
What decade of life are you currently in?
https://preview.redd.it/s26i7vas99kf1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea6cc7ec70fc1b8b2c1de843ce41ef4b14084ae8
Would recommend
You already have the stem adapter. Try to throw on some drops and some friction bar end shifters. Lots of drop brake/hoods for cheap available.
Eh, I have never been happy with such conversions in the long run. The handling and fit has always been worse for me. Why do you wanna do it?
Just do it.
And if you don’t like it, try other bars.
Messing about with bikes is one of life’s truest pleasures.
Just get the Surly Corner bar and save yourself some money. You get drop bar feel and can keep the same brake levers.
Just N+1 a drop bar bike this one already looks rad.
Did it. Went back to straight bars after a 2 hour ride. It’s a stretch
I have a slightly older 990 set up with drops and she rips
FYI: in that era, the 930 was Trek’s only bicycle built outside the USA.
don’t do it. the geometry isn’t meant for it
Best way to convince you that it’s not worth the hassle is to just let you do it. Enjoy the build and then you’ll most likely understand why many of us switch back. I think it makes a better flat bar bike, but I love an excuse to build something up and experiment, so I say go for it.
Do it
Corner bars
https://preview.redd.it/7j33mc0vw9kf1.png?width=2174&format=png&auto=webp&s=b0f18928a0792643541bd2a7b61fe4e7be80fd10
IMO, upright is best with our frames.
Don’t do it
Instead buy modern lightweight wheelset for like 250
Get a shorter frame.
If that’s your usual frame size then don’t. If you really want to try drops on a 90s MTB I suggest you size down once or twice. Reach will be mad long otherwise, you’ll impede your hip and break your back.
Size down, expose that seatpost like it was meant to be, don’t go too small on the stem and maybe get a tall one to compensate for the deep stack
I think it would look best with an albatross bar
Do it. It is super fun, it totally sucks, and you’re not gonna know that till you do it yourself, so do it.
Do it
I always come back to flat bars with rise stems on these bikes. Much like the standard oem parts. The narrow grip helps deliver power and the slight rise keeps it comfortable. Works well with the bikes strengths.
Wider bars detract from the road bike esq power delivery and kill efficiency imo, anything to upright sucks the arse out of your front wheel grip.
Drop bars I have little experience with, but back when I was running a flat stem with low rise bas I found leaning forward and down was very uncomfortable. I would ride no hands quite often to recover from pain. And I’m only 31!
Or maybe I just need to get better at cockpit tuning 😉😉