Convert Mountain Bike To Drop Bars for Touring/Monster Cross/Gravel Bike

Подписаться 491 тыс.

Просмотров 1,1 млн

50% 1

I show how to install dropbar handlebars and integrated brake shifter levers (brifters) on a mountain bike (with 26" wheels) to build a touring/monster cross/gravel bike. I also change from V-brakes to cantilever brakes for compatibility to the road brakes. And also swap out the mountain front derailleur to a triple road front derailleur. The bike I used for the conversion is a 1998 Cannondale Birkenstock M400. And yeah, I know the wheels need to be trued.
I switched from v-brakes to cantilever brakes because cantilever brakes have the same cable pull ratio as road levers. V-brakes require nearly double the amount of cable pull to operate properly and won't work correctly with standard road levers.
I did not use Mini V-Brakes as they only work with tires up to about 38mm wide. I could have used a Travel Agent, but they are known to fray the cable with it goes through the pulley. I chose cantilevers. I'd like to point out that manufacturers like Trek and Surly use cantilevers on some of their current bikes. Check out Surly's Long Haul Trucker.
Shimano SIS rear derailleurs all have the same cable pull ratio. There is no difference between a road rear derailleur and a mountain bike rear derailleur as far as cable pull ratio (note: 10 speed mountain changed). But Shimano road and mountain front derailleurs have a different cable pull ratio. Since I was switching from mountain shifters to road shifters, I had to change the front derailleur, but not the rear one. See this video on how indexed shifting works: • How Indexed Shifting W...
▶ SUBSCRIBE & HIT THE 🔔 bit.ly/SubRJThe...
👍 And please give my video a thumbs up 👍
▶FACEBOOK.com/RJTheBikeGuy
/ rjthebikeguy
▶TOOLS
www.rjthebikegu...
▶SHIRTS
bit.ly/RJBikeGu...
▶WEBPAGE
www.RJTheBikeGu...

Опубликовано:

1 окт 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 1,1 тыс.

@RJTheBikeGuy 5 лет назад

For more bike repair videos hit the subscribe button 🛑 and click the notification bell 🛎 so you never miss another video ► bit.ly/SubRJTheBikeGuy

@bananasstuff3344 5 лет назад

Could you give me a link to the cantilevers?

@RJTheBikeGuy 5 лет назад

@@bananasstuff3344 I don't remember where I got them. I don't see them on Amazon. I think they were Avid Shortys. Tektro makes some decent cantilever brakes also.

@pranitnakhwa4068 5 лет назад

It turned out great. Could you please tell me how much would it cost me? I have a similar mountain bike which I would love to convert into drop bars. Kindly revert back, thanks :)

@dukelamode1993 4 года назад

35:25 he is wearing white socks, mad respect.

@oliverfarkas1012 4 года назад

@@RJTheBikeGuy can i use road shifters with mechanical disc barkes?

@paulrawlins5868 3 года назад

Really clear, well detailed process. No flashy cuts or distracting music. Really appreciate how you go through every step

@Jack-bf6hv 3 года назад

You missed the cut of the cables

@bikemotobrasilefutebol5944 3 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rUeWYXxeAKY.html passeio serra do mar

@Prxpagandalf Год назад

😁👍🏻

@noodlenugget1487 7 лет назад

I think RJ just does projects like this because he hates cables and has to cut everyone he sees...

@JasonKale 7 лет назад

I hate seeing people just cutting and wasting cables shody in my opinion.

@matthewfrance3173 6 лет назад

Agreed. If cables are frayed or too short for a rebuild, the rear cable can always be re-used on the front derailleur, but not if you cut it in the middle. Wasteful.

@jackfederski7646 6 лет назад

Old cable housings can get grimy. Quite often you can fix cruddy or slow shifting by replacing shift cables and housings, so for old bikes it makes sense, in my opinion, to get rid of old housings. When I say old, my "road" bike is a 1989 Bianchi cyclocross, also converted for drop-bars.

@charlesandrewmoore8699 6 лет назад

It's worth noting that MTB brake levers need different ends than road brifters, anyway.

@edwinrust4041 5 лет назад

Actually, replacing cables is a super easy way to improve shifting and braking, especially after a few years... Cables stretch and get grimey, even inside housing....

@johnflesher7347 4 года назад

Thanks for the video. Nice work My 2 cents: 1. These mountain-to-gravel conversions make for a very versatile machine. 2. If you can manage, a longer steerer tube is essential for aesthetic and fit. Several spacers will be needed. Also, Mtn geometry usually means a shorter stem is needed for drop bars. The extreme stem rise on this machine is undesirable both for looks and fit. It’s worth the extra $ to get a new fork for these rigs. 3. Full length cable housing works well for gravel. 4. Shimano mtn rear derailleurs (Deore, XT, XTR) WILL work with Shimano STI (“brifters”). If you are still using a larger rear cassette, the longer cage will be helpful. If changing to a “road cassette” like 11-25, I would consider changing to a road derailleur such as 105 (for about $40). Thanks again for a great video

@mohenriksen321 2 года назад

almost all the shimano road stuff nowadays is incompatible with its mtb components, with differing pullrates and throw leading to expensive mistakes

@janwarrington 5 лет назад

I learnt a lot from this video despite already being ok with bike mechanics and have converted an mtb to drops - Love the way it handles, so much fun ! The only improvement I could wish for is that you film taking the bikes out after a feature and give us your thoughts on how they ride etc. Best wishes AJ and thank you for your easy to follow informative presentations

@sladynamo 4 года назад

31:55 Dude is working in the shop in his socks. Thinkin' you needed a pair of real Birkenstocks to go with that sweet yellow Cannondale.

@bikemotobrasilefutebol5944 3 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rUeWYXxeAKY.html passeio serra do mar

@767bob 7 лет назад

RJ, nice job! I did the same to my 1992 Trek 950 in 1997, first with a Moustache bar then in 2003 with a road drop bar. The drop bar worked out the best. These old mtb's are great commuter, touring and trail bikes. Plenty of room for fenders with tires that are 1.75" wide. May not be a speedster but it will cover the miles with no issues. What I see other people do with their mtb/drop bar conversions is go with skinny tires, too long stems and way too low bar height and then complain about numb hands, stain backs and necks. Stay with the wider tires, shorten the stem and raise the stack height is the way to go. Surly makes a great fork replacement for 26" wheels for their LHT. Excellent fork to attached racks for touring and to increase the steering tube height. A lot easier on the back and neck! Cheers.......

@markmarlatt1105 6 лет назад

Bob Torres I'm looking at a bike for this! Wondering how well it rides and any other recommendations?

@51249ca 5 лет назад

what size steer tube to do you have on that Trek 950. Am wanting to do this to a 1992 Rocky Mountain Blizzard, but it only has a 1" steer tube (although should work with an aheadset adapter).

@MrTaxiRob 5 лет назад

One thing I've found about these conversions is that the longer top tube of any MTB frame relative to its height can give some funny riding positions and/or handling characteristics when simply swapping in drop bars. With first gen MTBs, you're basically getting a touring frame with 26" wheels, so it's just a matter of stepping down a frame size and setting the handlebars relatively high to compensate. With later MTBs like the Cannondale in the video, you might also want to run a zero offset seatpost and shorter stem to close the distance from your saddle to the bar, especially if you intend to spend any time riding the hoods; but you're still left with a higher BB shell than a typical road bike, so your torso is also going to be pitched forward just a bit more when you reach optimal leg extension.

@edwinrust4041 5 лет назад

Good advice! I personally like long top tubes on my mountain bikes... And drops don't like long, low top tubes... I've converted a few bikes with short top tubes and they work great! The trick I like is to position the tops of the hoods about where my normal grips would be...

@SetigoAndram 4 года назад

Taxi Rob, I am doing one conversion, and riding years the steel bike with 26 1.2 tires provided me 20mm less hight, and easy mount on bike. Now with more 30mm due to 700c wheels, it has loosed that feeling of easy mounting dismounting. About the handlebars, they can be put upper or closer. About that 30mm gain, 21C tires would compensate more the difference, than 28c tires, but we always have to compromise things on our options. Anyway, on 26 to 700 conversion, is the lack of drop on bottom axle than can impact more on ruining it, I feel.

@rakdumafo 3 года назад

How do you know this? Is there anything to get information about that? I recently bought a Raleigh MTB and wanted to change it to drop bars too, but I'm not very familiar with bike geometry. dont want to get a tendinitis :D

@stevemillerster 7 лет назад

I always enjoy your videos, I received a notification this morning that there was a new RJ video- I exclaimed "Yes!" And my wife said, "another RJ video?" She knows how much I enjoy watching these videos 😜

@nikos9742 7 лет назад

same here my girlfriend know that voice

@rowanpiths1121 7 лет назад

Steven Miller ok

@Tailslol 6 лет назад

heh i remember 95s bikes they had thumb levers shiftier and Cantilevers brakes. even on the cheapest mountain bike... wait was the bikes of this time better than actual bikes...?

@bikemotobrasilefutebol5944 3 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rUeWYXxeAKY.html passeio serra do mar

@mitchmelton9145 7 лет назад

All the road bikers are looking at that stem and cringing

@RJTheBikeGuy 7 лет назад

This isn't a road bike.

@HaloTupolev 6 лет назад

Even if it *is* a road bike, MTB geometry often calls for weird stems when used with drop bars. I've got an early 80s Stumpy that I converted to drop bars, which I've used Compass tires to set up as a sort of road-worthy gravel bike. I've fit it with a 90-degree quill from an old touring bike, but when I'm on the rivet, my back is nearly flat.

@joasburgers4676 5 лет назад

@Robert Trageser i am a roadie myself, and it is so true XD

@robertadair6182 5 лет назад

Yep.

@bananasstuff3344 5 лет назад

@Yard Sale Dale yes agreed. Absolutely!

@WillEyedOney 7 лет назад

I'd like to see RJ take this baby for a spin. :)

@DJEvil1st 3 года назад

Honestly it need to happen every video.

@Nazzz65 6 лет назад

Hello RJ, Thank you for this demo! I aim to convert a my first mountain bike to drop bars over the winter. You have shown me many things to consider. Best Regards, Tim

@my3jeeps 5 лет назад

Did you end up doing this? It would make this job a lot easier if they had converters for the shifters and brakes instead of having to change out the derailleur and go to a lesser brake.

@carstenhm 4 года назад

A lesser brake?

@jacksonhall5725 2 года назад

@@carstenhm Cantilever brakes are typically much worse-performing than v-brakes. I am doing a similar conversion and I went with friction shifters so I could use long-pull road levers and V-brakes.

@glennoc8585 6 лет назад

That cannondale was a sweet bike and not cheap back in the day. A young kid can pick one up cheap and when i was a kid you would be really getting nothing in comparison on the used bike market.

@alanc6752 7 лет назад

Looks pretty awesome. Doing the conversion to drop bars is straightforward if you have all the parts but filming it as you go and then editing it all together as a video is a big job!

@tomalcolm 7 лет назад

I love this! I did this mod with my Sirrus 700c hybrid. Now a drop bar commuter/touring bike with cantis and dura ace bar end shifters. Super duper. Do it!

@atexnik 3 года назад

What is your crankset? Not every road FD work with MTB crankset, especially the 10/11 speeds ones. You were just lucky it worked for you without further modifications.

@sebastiantoma3369 5 лет назад

i have done a similar thing last year, and i used regular V-Brakes with Tektro RL540 linear pull brakes. nice ones. worked fine with disc brakes (hayes mx5), on a single speed mutant with 120mm travel fork and dropbars :))

@gearhead2017 7 лет назад

rj you make bikes that are dumpster bound and useful again,awesome inspiration!

@mandrade5611 6 лет назад

vapnmtnbikr this Cannondale was far from being a dumpster bike.

@matthewfrance3173 6 лет назад

How does changing from flat bars to drop bars change this, or any, bike from dumpster bound to useful? It was useful before the bars were changed.

@kyleegeep 6 лет назад

M some bikes like these get dumped by people who say they just don't want it and can't be bothered to sell it

@therealjeff8086 6 лет назад

This bike would sell for $200 around here in the original state. Which is actually a little ridiculous, but true.

@cotara95 7 лет назад

this steep stem looks weird on complete bike with drop bars in my opinion but as always great video :)

@1zanglang 7 лет назад

cotara95 On cyclocross bikes it is quite common to use high rise stems. And RJ mentioned it is a conversion to cyclocross bike, so nothig weird here.

@cotara95 7 лет назад

I know but for me it will look much better with flat stem for example like this bike : www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ellen-noble-focus-mares-2016-nationals-img_7471-cxmagazine-ay_1.jpg but of course it can be less comfortable and in terms of bike fit it can be worse so it depends I just said that for me it's weird

@cotara95 7 лет назад

i don't think that using high aise stems on cyclocross bikes is common look on all of those bikes : www.google.pl/search?q=cyclocross+bike&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwii-v3Lpr3TAhUjQpoKHTR9CSoQ_AUICCgB&biw=1440&bih=770 and if you can find one with the high rise stem show me

@1zanglang 7 лет назад

cotara95 Almost all cyclocross bikes shown in your link have positive rise stems, even if the rise is very short. I am not sure, I am not professional cyclist, but flat stems are used more on road bikes, probably for better aerodynamics. In cyclocross, positive rise could improve control, and aerodynamics are not paramount. RJ said that this bike would be used also for touring, which explains all. Also, commuter bikes use this kind of combination of road handlebars and high rise and ofte adjustable stems. My modified Merida T2 is just like that. Regards.

@adrienpickard7767 7 лет назад

a flat stem (or a long stem) would probably throw off the geometry when moving from a flat bar to a drop bar. A shorter riser stem puts the hoods a little closer to the body, improving the reach distance so that it more closer resembles the flat bar position. You still have the drops to get more aero. I think this looks great! Monstercross!

@TheTriangle444 2 года назад

first 30 seconds and we're cutting cables.. brutal 💀💀

@rbmrobin 4 года назад

Super clear and useful, thanks for that. Question : have you considered changing the wheels to 29" and would it have been possible?

@RJTheBikeGuy 4 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C7lR3R0pOZ8.html

@joebob3719 7 лет назад

Pro-tip for anybody considering doing this to your old MTB: RJ didn't have to mention this because his bike is already rigid, but if you are going to replace a suspension fork, make sure your rigid fork is "suspension corrected". In order for suspension to work your frame is designed to have space between to the down tube and the front wheel for suspension travel. A normal fork is right on top of the wheel, lowering the down-tube on a sus frame a whole inch if not more. While it can work, the handling of the bike is going to feel funny and skiddish, and increase the risk of pedal strike with the lowered BB. A suspension corrected fork will raise the frame to it's proper height and geometry, and allow the bike to look and ride as intended.

@VinCoxRides 7 лет назад

joebob3719 actually using a fork which is not suspension corrected will alter MTB geometry to be much more like a cyclo-cross bike. I have done this a few times and it works well. It steepens the otherwise too slack angles, effectively shortens the top tube (measured horizontally), and slightly lowers the BB height.

@joebob3719 7 лет назад

That's an excellent point, but CX handling isn't exactly desired for touring nor is it helpful when there is weight on a rack over the front wheel.

@VinCoxRides 7 лет назад

CX geometry was on the bike I rode 18,000 miles around the world.

@joebob3719 7 лет назад

Vin Cox Congratulations fam, that's really cool. However, this might come as a shocker, but, in fact, not everybody is you. Every rider has a different set of needs and what worked for you over thousands of miles could break the back of someone completely different after mile 90. A CX worked for you and that's great, but it doesn't mean that is what someone else wants, especially if they are explicitly expecting a touring geometry out of this conversion. Something which, I'm sure you'll agree, is very different than road, mtb, or CX geometries.

@joebob3719 7 лет назад

The question I should ask is, did you use a front rack?

@PJSinohin 5 лет назад

Thanks for this vid. This is how i learned that i need those 45 degree stem for my mtb to gravel bike with drop bars.

@bikemotobrasilefutebol5944 3 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rUeWYXxeAKY.html passeio serra do mar

@MegaFoxey1 7 лет назад

Very nice conversion of this classic cannondale, might look to do one myself 😉

@bikemotobrasilefutebol5944 3 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rUeWYXxeAKY.html passeio serra do mar

@ekw77 7 лет назад

Great video as always RJ! I did a similar project with a 1995 Trek 830 MTB frame. I would add to your video and commentary that if one is thinking about a touring bike instead of a cross bike that bar end shifters are a great option. I even got Tektro drop bar brake levers that do long pull so I can use my beloved Avid SD7 v-brakes. Just some food for thought for people not interested in STI or cantis that there are other possibilites out there in this regard. I've set my bike up with full racks, 2" Continental Travel Contact tires, and fenders front and back. It's my daily commuter and is about to take me on a six day trek from Pittsburgh to DC on the GAP. I built u the bike to replace a stolen Surly LHT and I've completely fallen in love with it over the last few years I've had it.

@davidobrien8438 7 лет назад

Pre-STI cyclocross bikes used bar-end shifters. Never seen one with down-tube shifters. You still occasionally see bar-end shifters on the race course.

@Roadstar1602 3 года назад

This looks like way more work than I had anticipated. I had to buy a bike with straight bars this spring because there simply was no selection available. I never liked those sort of bars, and figured I could switch them out later. But it looks so complicated and expensive.

@sitoudien9816 3 года назад

Try the Surly corner bar conversion. Reuse all your MTB components. It's not a cheap bar, but you save even more.

@casgian3272 4 года назад

These are always by far the most informative and simplistic bicycle repair videos

@johngreene6783 5 лет назад

RJ - Great video. What kind of bars are those? I really like the angle of the bars below the levers. That type seems to be hard to find at my local bike shops

@bikelifesam7599 7 лет назад

Great video but the stem looks weird in my opinion👍🏽

@Baflolz 5 лет назад

Hello RJ, a long time viewer of your awesome videos here, i want to thank you for inspiring me to convert my old scott sawtooth atb/mtb into an awesome dropbar all around bike. Here is a pic of it. imgur.com/nNQuiM0

@RJTheBikeGuy 5 лет назад

Cool!

@tommybdutton 7 лет назад

RJ, your hard on my marriage, the wife gets upset whit me because I'm always looking the rebuild bikes like you! Lol thank you, love your channel

@jay-cg8ri 4 года назад

That thing is sick. Maybe I'm just having crazy 1:30 am thoughts but I HAVE to do this.

@phinneasbutt 7 лет назад

Damn, now I regret selling my old MTB. Never really thought of doing that.

@bikemotobrasilefutebol5944 3 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rUeWYXxeAKY.html passeio serra do mar

@pdbike43 7 лет назад

Another great teaching video, RJ! I love the mix and matching. And stretching imagination that challenges status quo provokes interesting dialog amongst the viewers. A great learning experience. for me any many others. We owe you big time. Thanks! RJ, would this work as well with a suspension fork that has a locking mechanism?

@ericshovein4584 3 года назад

Thanks for posting this. I wish I saw it earlier. I put Claris shifters on my bike and was trying mtb derailleurs. I ended up adding a Jtek7 to make it compatible with my 22/32/42 crank. Seems like I should've just gotten the Shimano Claris derailleur, that said it's really hard to find a Claris triple clamp on front derailleur. Most seem to be braze on.

@NeverSrrndr 7 лет назад

Hi RJ, Great idea!! I have a Cannondale 29'er Trail SL 5 disc that I'ma gonna do that too.. I've been using it as a commuter and have noticed it is much more comfortable ridewise than the old steel road bike. I think those big tires are just so absorbant during the ride. Soaking it up. And the 29 inch round things help, no doubt, as well. And the fact that it has mechanical disc makes for an intriguing monster/cyclocross hybrid beastie any intrepid commuter would proud of when battling the other vehicular transportational modes.. ;) I actually have the opportunity to go off road to cut a longer section out on the way home. So this could be an excellent way to do it. Thinking about some knobbled down slicker type tires as well. I feel inspired after watching this.. Thanks mucho, Yohann, Of the Cycling Yohann's.

@nitishsrivastava1496 6 лет назад

Hey, I have 29er very similar to yours. I have been thinking of this idea as well. Were you able to work on it?

@RandyDarkshade2 7 лет назад

I think cutting good cables is a tad wasteful (I hate waste lol) but I guess if you have new at hand it doesn't matter. I have not ever seen this done to a mountain bike, I have seen racing bikes converted to straight bars, but never a mountain bike converted to drop bars. I'm not sure about the steep stem, I'd have proffered one slightly less steep, but I guess it comes down to your own personal riding preference.

@el_micha 4 года назад

Nice conversion of this classic cannondale! One thing though : as a cannondale enthusiast I keep seeing the cables set up the wrong way. The cable coming from the right hand shifter should go around the steerer tube into the left cable stop. The other one vice-versa. Otherwise the cables constantly bruise the frame and their bend isn´t as smooth/desirable. Cables cross under the bottom tube then - in an X fashion - to end in correct orientation at the bottom bracket. Friction of crossing cables is neglectable. It also looks smooth as a design detail. My 2 cents. Keep up the good work!

@ToastbrotRaver 4 года назад

since you're a cannondale enthusiast and I have trouble finding the correct info online, do these 90s caad2 cannondales have cassette hubs as standard? I'm planning to convert an m400 to 1X to make it into a kind of an urban mtb and I'm not sure if the stock hub uses a cassette. I'd be really glad if you could help

@el_micha 4 года назад

@@ToastbrotRaver the oldest ones I worked on were 1995s and they definitely came with cassette hubs. For anything before I cant say myself. Be sure to check out vintagecannondale.com for details. They got old catalogs listing the spec of all models in the last pages...

@el_micha 4 года назад

U can also tell the production date of ur frame from its serial number (usually under the bottom bracket / remove the cable guide). vintagecannondale.com tells u how

@ToastbrotRaver 4 года назад

@@el_micha thanks a lot, I think it's a 1996, judging by the color in the catalogue. do you happen to know if a 10 speed cassette would fit the stock hub?

@el_micha 4 года назад

@@ToastbrotRaver Chances are u got 8 speed in the rear. If so then a 10-speed cassette fits on the hub. If u got 7-speed it won´t work. I´d highly recommend using 9-speed if ur not totally crazy for 10-speed or u got it already. Cheaper, easier to adjust and service + does the same, bcs ur smallest gear won´t get smaller and the biggest won´t get bigger with 10-speed... Further read here: www.sheldonbrown.com/k10.shtml Sheldon Brown is the mighty godfather of bike mechanics !

@jonboy602 7 лет назад

Does a road front der work with a mtb chainset? I thought the different chain line stopped clean shifting.

@RJTheBikeGuy 7 лет назад

Works fine. You want a triple so it can get the full reach. Another issue is that road FDs are typically made for larger chain rings that mountain FDs. So that will effect shifting some.

@Mainsail1975au 7 лет назад

Are you going to do a ride test video?

@RJTheBikeGuy 7 лет назад

Nope.

@JQPOINT 7 лет назад

Thank you! You are an excellent teacher. You work with the precision of a good surgeon!

@1zanglang 7 лет назад

Great work. I did the same conversion on my Merida T2. I did put an 105 groupset, Easton 46cm compact shallow handlebars, and BB7 road disc brakes.

@cospinan 7 лет назад

1zanglang hi could you load some pictures?

@1zanglang 7 лет назад

Cesar ospina Well, I will try...

@1zanglang 7 лет назад

I would try.

@RC_Farm 6 лет назад

I followed your directions and did a conversion with an old Easton Reflex frame I had and it works most excellent. A great ride on gravel and it saved me a ton of money compared to buying a new gravel bike. Thanks for the idea.

@takeshihonji3211 6 лет назад

I am Japanese, so please allow me to have difficulties commenting on your clip.I thought that this video could not be recommended to a bicycle custom beginner before this movie began for 30 seconds.At the beginning of the movie you are cutting a wire that has not been unfixed.It is an act that can injure you and damage the bicycle and reusable parts.The concepts and results of your videos are fun. I hope that the videos on bicycles are taken care of beginners and children's safety.

@1simo93521 7 лет назад

Thanks for all you do RJ I've learned so much, I couldn't even change a tyre when I first started watching!

@TaywuhsaurusRex 5 лет назад

I recently got my hands on a very similar Cannondale frame, 1997 red M300SE. I plan on doing this exact thing to it, and I love how helpful your videos always are. I hope you recover from your crash soon so we can start getting more content like this!

@sennemarquenie 7 лет назад

Are you sure you need the Claris front derailleur? I installed an SLX front derailleur with Sora shifters and i worked perfect.

@karamarie6781 6 лет назад

You are unbelievably awesome. Thank you for sharing your knowledge especially to those of us who are just starting out on our bike mechanic journey! 💕💕

@mango9087 5 лет назад

Planning on doing something like this on my old man's Trek 800. Keeping it cheap with friction shifters and plain break levers, probably looking at $75-100 in parts total. Anyone have tips/things to keep in mind? This will be my biggest project yet, but regardless the stakes are fairly low

@LOLWTF222 7 лет назад

Diet Mountain Dew?! you must have guests over or something.

@RJTheBikeGuy 7 лет назад

That belongs to Mrs. Bike Guy.

@ekw77 7 лет назад

The Mrs. has good taste. :)

@raymachado4481 4 года назад

He’s not running out of Pepsi soon!

@luisj.velasquez3885 5 лет назад

I loved this conversion. On the next couple weeks I'm trying to do something like this, but it's kinda hard to get a cheap road bars set with the leavers and stuff. What would you recommend me to do?

@RJTheBikeGuy 5 лет назад

Watch ebay. Or craigslist. I buy that stuff used.

@tongwiang 2 года назад

This is what I think it works and can be riden smoothly but people just don't like it. I am doing this some time in the future for sure. Because It costs less money to upgrade than to buy a brand new one. Thank you. You made it look easy.

@hulyefasz7043 7 лет назад

It looks badass, great work!

@obirato 5 лет назад

Very nice video. Lot of learning. Really interesting if you don't want to spend a lot in a new CX/Gravel new bike, but curious/fancy to taste something similar now that is such a huge trend. I agree with those that consider the bike beautiful as it was, but it is not so ugly now, and I assume this video was more about testing and learning than finding a nice and esthetic setup.

@tiojaime9126 7 лет назад

Look's awesome!!😀

@hellosunshine1090 4 года назад

Nicely done ! Here's my Hyper Explorer Hardtail 29er 1x9 review, including Gravel Bike Upgrades: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-07AUPD-vWtc.html Shout-out to Kevin & KevCentral - for inspiring this Upgrade Project ! - David in Texas

@georgelavin511 7 лет назад

in my opinion.......looks horrible.....sorry, is just what I think

@ooDirtyMickoo 7 лет назад

yeah, but how does it work? dont be so vain

@brucec43 7 лет назад

Aren't you the dandy? Who cares what a freaking bicycle looks like. It's a converted bike, not a Porsche.

@recycled3654 7 лет назад

Some getting used to but they are really pretty comfortable once you've fitted the stem and post to fit your particular body type. I would certainly suggest getting a frame a size larger that your normal MTB size so you don't feel too cramped in.

@pacscorner 6 лет назад

Or you can buy a longer stem and call it a day..

@robertmartian 6 лет назад

yeah, it looks very unbalanced and not a good ride. the one thing i noticed first was how awkward the stem to bar to break levers measurements were. beyond the overall product, the process with all the detailed info was great. thanks r.j.! love your vids!

@jakubkucera382 4 года назад

Hello RJ! I would like to do a similar conversion. I have 90s Diamondback MTB and would like to put some drop bars on it. The thing I still don't understand is how to make front derailleur work. The rear shouldn't be a problem because from what i've read my old 8sp Deore LX should work with 8sp Claris shifters. But the FD on MTB and road bikes have different pull ratio. You've installed a road derailleur but I see that the cords on your bike are led on the bottom of the frame. Is there any way how to make my a old 3 speed crankset FD work with Claris shifters? I haven't bought the shifters yet and I wouldn't mind to go for 2x8 but don't know which derailleur to get because the cords are coming down the seat tube. Thank you for any advice.

@RJTheBikeGuy 4 года назад

You would need a road triple front derailleur. And you would need a top pull bottom pull converter.

@serega1302 7 лет назад

Doe's anyone tryed to ride converted MTB to road bike? This video is just "how to", but absolutely not practical. Frame geometry so different MTB vs road bike. Top tube much longer (for medium MTB it about 565mm to 580mm for medium road bike about 530mm to 555mm). Small size MTB (which look like an answer) also have different geometry. By riding converted MTB will be guaranteed back pain, arms and so on. How do I know? Because I did it while ago (my most stupid idea).

@adrienpickard7767 7 лет назад

I did it, too. The reach was so long, I had to give up on it.

@1zanglang 7 лет назад

I did, I used a Cannondale Trail Five 29er 2013 frame, which was size L, and I put a Suntour Swing Shock fork on it. The frame size which fits me on my Merida T2 bike is 47cm, which means S. At the time I didn't take into consideration the length of the top tube and the huge difference between road and MTB geometry, but only the seat tube height. And when I rode the newly built Cannondale, I realized I barely reach the bars. Riding on drops was a torture, and I had shoulders and neck ache, and my wrists became numb after only one hour ride. Then I learned my lesson, I bought that Merida and transferred all the components between these two frames, except the forks, and sold the Cannondale.

@cup_and_cone 7 лет назад

You're right. You can convert road bikes to flat bars pretty easy, but not mountain bikes to drop bars. Flat bar road bike frames are very similar geometry to standard drop bar road bikes, but MTB frames are very different - they have very high stack and longer reach. You need the shortest negative rise stem you can find and compact bars to get into a similar riding position.

@1zanglang 7 лет назад

thechosendude Yes, I have an OnOff Stoic overhead stem, left from that Cannondale "experiment" of mine...

@simonbailey2151 7 лет назад

Yes, and there are ways round the geometry issues you correctly mention. Zero-offset post and a shorter higher rise stem are two of the best, plus avoiding an MTB with a super long top tube in the first place. WRT practicality, I would strongly disagree. With an old(ish) MTB converted to drops you have a go-anywhere, do-anything set up for gravel, trails, commuting, light touring with racks, heck throw on a pair of skinny tyres and you could probably hang with a group ride. YMMV.

@Tailslol 6 лет назад

heh i remember 95s bikes they had thumb levers shiftier and Cantilevers brakes. even on the cheapest mountain bike... wait was the bikes of this time better than actual bikes...?

@1980sLegoFan 9 дней назад

This is really awesome. I'd like to do the same conversion with my 1998 Cannondale model H300. It already has 21 speeds (triple front x 7 rear) so figure I just need to install drop bars and cantilever brakes. Do you think it's worth the time and money? I would like to get some more years out of this bike and enjoy some rough terrain.

@ReadBoutGarvey 3 года назад

Currently have a Cannondale just like this disassembled and am shopping around for parts - thanks for the helpful video!

@Dziku888 28 дней назад

I don't know why, but up to 10 speed, left brifter works perfectly with mountain front derailleur. I'm using deore FD with Tiagra 10 speed brifter.

@mikeyvester 7 лет назад

Great video, really helps me on my current project. I am assembling a Marinoni Sportivo Ti with all it's expensive Italian components. Ever do a Campagnolo Super Record EPS install? It is pretty complicated but I have confidence I will get the job done. Your conversion did turn out great. You are an inspiration.

@mikieson 7 лет назад

not sure why changing out handlebars makes a bike something totally different? I have a flatbar road bike I would tour,cross,or gravel on any day..not a fan of drop bars..

@RicardoCooper 8 месяцев назад

I think the chain may be too long 17:38 BTW, I use solder on the tips of my break and gear cables to prevent them from fraying.

@danfuerthgillis4483 6 лет назад

RJ at 15:17 looks like the B Screw needs to be looked at as that Derailleur is Horizontal!!.The chain from one pulley is almost touching the other pulley chain bottom.

@davidobrien8438 7 лет назад

mini-V brakes will work with larger than 38mm tires. I use the shortest of them all (Tektro 926AL 80mm) on the front of my cyclocross bike with 41mm Surly KNARD knobby tires and the straddle wire does not hit or rub on the tire. The more typical Tektro RX5 85mm would have even more clearance for the straddle wire. As would the TRP CX9 / Tektro RX6 at 90mm. Given the tires are about 50mm (1.95"), I believe mini-V's would have worked on this build.

@recyclespinning9839 4 года назад

I wonder if the vintage trek 970 USA Tru Temper mountain bike I have would make a good conversion .? I am looking for touring and gravel bike. I priced a Jamis renegade 520 Reynolds bike that is like 1200 , but has discs and carbon fork. . wonder which would ride better for touring/ gravel type riding?? PS. Is it a requirement for drop bar conversion to be done wearing socks no shoes? Also looking at this video makes one realize bikes simple but you have to have everything adjusted for safety , one brake cable slips and no brakes... >>>>>🚲🚦

@jongt69 Год назад

Everything functions properly ru-vid.comUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Nothing was damaged in the box aside from a decal on the fork. The decal was missing a piece of a corner but I ended up peeling them off anyways. Assembly is easy BUT make sure you tune up the derailleurs. Both the front and rear need adjusting. I'd advise going to a bike shop but I opted out and put in 10+ hours with the help of RU-vid. Ended up fraying a shifter cable but all in all I learned from the experience. The Brakes work well but the front caliper needs adjusting or at least mine did because the rotor was rubbing against the pads. Make sure you swap out the seat, grips, and pedals. For the short run you'll be fine though. I've read that this bike isn't built yet for hard trails but I just need it for the city. PA has some of the worst roads and being in a mountain this was a great choice. Worth the investment!

@TheOriginalStevenH 6 лет назад

That was really interesting. I like how you processed the cables and changed from V-brake to cantilever It looks nice. I think v-brakes give you more stopping power though. I'm thinking I want to do this for my bike as well and put on some cross tires

@RyanAggabao 3 года назад

I kept my V-brakes in my MTB to gravel roady conversion as well. Had to hunt down the Travel Agent brake adaptors off eBay. Also hunted down a Jtek Shiftmate 7 for the front derailleur , unlike RJ in the video.

@rhettstuart4720 3 года назад

Due to bike's top tube angle, a short, STRAIGHT handlebar stem would've made far more sense. Also the bottom of the drop bar should be parallel to the ground, as should the bottom tip of the brake lever be level with the bottom of the drop bar. A new "long horn" racing saddle (think Selle Italia) and a short travel lockout suspension fork (Marzoochi or Rockshox, ideally) woudve perfected the ride forgiveness of the frame geometry. Add two sturdy bottle cages and a filled tool kit bag behind the saddle, and this bike would be viable contender in any cyclocross race...

@alexanderlawson1649 2 года назад

Lovely bike. I had a Cannondale frame just like that, real nice purple color, I gave it to a friend 15 years back, wish I hadnt. I just bought an old Specialized Aluminum MTB 2nd hand, those old 26 inch wheel mtbs are great for just about anything that can be done on two wheels.

@darkcrimsontidings9875 3 года назад

Greetings Sir, I am very curious about the headtube of your bike in the episode : Convert Mountain Bike To Drop Bars for Touring/Monster Cross/Gravel Bike .... I want to know if that is the standard size headtube??? I ask this question because you are using a non threaded fork on a what I assume is a standard headtube ..... I have a more than a decade old MTB & I want to convert it to a gravel bike but the fork is busted & I dont have any replacement for it .... In the bike that you are converting is it possible to use a non threaded fork which is only used in a OverSized head tube to be used in standard headtube???? And what size of bicycle headset did you used to install the fork??? Im sorry if my question seems stupid .... I am new in this bicycle world & I would like to use my old MTB & atleast breath new life to it ..... By the way I live here in the philippines ..... :)

@SebaStian-zx5ux 2 года назад

Hi RJ. I'm building second bike thanks to your video. This time a gravel bike. Can I use v-break and shimano sora r3000 road shifters (the new ones) or the pull will be too small? Thx.

@goedelite Год назад

I converted my mountain bike to a city bike. I live in flat country; so I don't need the shifting. Off with the derailers (Fr. derailleurs)! Off with the flat handlebar! I replaced it with a swallow and I added a stem extension. Now, I can sit upright instead of leaning forward in a crouch! Removing the derailer did create a problem because the bike does not have a rear wheel that can be mounted a bit fore or aft; only up or down. The chain length required was a half-link off. Half-link changes are not possible. I have had to add a chain tensioner to take up the slack. There was no way to use the derailer to tension the chain, because its sideways motion could not be eliminated. Also, I had to add to the brake-cable lengths for the new handlebar. . I don't think mountain bike designers want to make it easy to convert to a more comfortable bicycle style. Why did I buy a mountain bike in the first place? Because I found one for $98. retail. More comfortable bikes were twice the price at the least, and they do not have a front suspension. I now have a comfortable bike with a front suspension and, with a springy seat my rear is also suspended. It's taken a bit of work, but it was not expensive to do. I now have the bike I want.

@petedoherty8297 2 года назад

Hi RJ Just watched the above video with interest as I’ve just converted my mtb tandem to road spec with 700c wheels, calliper brakes and Sti shifters. The only problem I have is getting the front derailleur mech to move to the outer big chainring. The existing front mech is a Shimano mtb component which I now understand will not work owing to the difference in cable pull. What I can’t understand however is how a road mech would work since the bottom bracket on a mtb set up is longer and the cable pull ratio on sti levers wouldn’t be as great as trigger levers so surely they wouldn’t move the mech over as much as the they would.

@stevenr5149 8 месяцев назад

one suggestion for anyone with a drop bar mtb. These drops are narrow and very low. You are losing all the leverage of a wider MTB bar. The are also too low for extended time in the drop position. Gravel specific bars have much wider flared out and more shallow drops. They give you back the wide leverage on the drops for more responsive front-end handling when you need it with that mtb front geo. A ritchey Becon or salsa cowchipper are good examples of gravel bar optionsl

@richsantos4579 7 лет назад

Another great video. I posted a series of videos on my channel about a year ago with the struggles and successes building up an early 90s Giant ATX 770 steel frame/fork into a drop-bar tourer. You do a great job of making things concise. I had problems with a cyclocross 2x FD on the desired 3x mtb bb width. That Claris FD is a beast! Great video that should open up a lot of possibilities for viewers!

@dstroud666 Год назад

Hi. Was the v brake change necessary or just desired? Thinking the drop bar levers May have different cable pull ratios that necessitated the change. If not, aren’t the original v brakes more powerful?

@frankc6430 7 лет назад

Is there a advantage to change the mt bar to a road bike drop bar? to make the mt bike be used as a cruiser?...or just raise the original mt bike bar just higher to be more comfortable for longer rides?... I got a 1989 GT Timberline and thinking if I should invest on the change... I don`t know much about bike conversions any suggestions?...thank you.

@michelecanci1515 4 года назад

Great result, you're my guru now for this type of rebuilds. I hope I would do the same with mine mtb. Thank you so much

@thomasfonager6986 2 года назад

I just did roughly the same to my citybike and it feels totally different. One thing though.. you need to drop the handlebars dien much lower. Even lieer than on the mountainbike setup. Dropbars are meant to improve the aerodynamics and when mounted as high as you have, removes that aspect of your otherwise killer bike 😉 It makes it look like a granny bike on steroids. I'm not trying to offend anyone but your handlebars are higher than your seat!

@RyanMarcyesOutdoors 7 лет назад

Very Cool!! Going to do this to my 1989 TREK 830!!! Thanks!!! Remember to Live-Life-Loud!!!

@ekhospin 5 лет назад

Right now I have an equal project, converting a 3x8 mtb into a monstercross, I was looking for information on derailleur and shifters. It is a project in which I do not want to invest a lot of money, so I think I will use the same mtb shifters by putting them near the stem, and I will use old brake levers on mechanical disc brakes, a bit awkward but it will work I think ...

@Эрл_Грей 3 года назад

Gravel bikes are a complete waste of money. A hard tail mtb can do the same job, but much better. Specially old ones with coil forks, that lock more rigidly which is very helpful when you riding out of the saddle to climb steep uphill paths.

@hangkasturi528 4 года назад

I prefer straight handle for good control...you gave good idea change moutain bike to gravel bike..tq

@ricardoscreminrizzatti7737 6 лет назад

Your video was amazing! Can you tell me what's the model of Shimano Front Derailleur that you use in this bike? How much space have between the chain and derailleur when the chain is on the small ring? Thank's.

@detroitboy65 2 года назад

Where do you get the idea that there is a difference between road and MTB front derailleurs? At least old school models like the ones here? There is no difference in spacing from road to MTB triples. The only choices are bottom vs top swing but the derailleurs must move the same amount in either choice and no matter road vs MTB. The only real difference between old-school road and MTB FDs is the MTB models have more space in the chain path to accommodate more gears in the rear. With a 7-speed rear this bike is pretty much like an old-school road bike so maybe not a problem.

@jige8191 2 года назад

I am currently building the same bike using a genuine Decathlon rockrider of the middle of the 90's. It's made with crmo steel. I will fit the same rsx levers with the stx groupset.

@se7ensnakes 5 лет назад

I just did this! And I was looking for a video to see how other people have done it but found none. Now all of a sudden this video pop-up, and I am mad that I did not find this video sooner...

@K3NnY_G 7 лет назад

so jealous; I ride a newer but same size GT mountain bike I'm slowly converting to road use; I've always thought of doing this; I don't see my result being so stellar however.

@Cholakornstudios 3 года назад

Someone please help me. I try to use vintage road bike brake level(Rising up cable housing) with V brake. when i use it the Brake has no tension it's very weak. If i use modern road bike brake level with V brake. Would it be possible to do that?

@chris1275cc 3 года назад

No, normal road leavers do not pull enough cable (even modern ones). You have 4 options. 1, Convert to cantilever brakes like RJ in the vid. (Good quality cantilevers are great but expensive(ish). The cheap ones suck big time and they are a pain to set up) 2, Swap your normal V brakes for "MINI/BMX" V brakes (Results vary with this option but it is probably the cheapest and cleanest looking way to keep your existing leavers, BUT if you have fat tyres forget it) 3, Get some "V brake travel converters" a company called Problem Solvers used to make some called "Travel Agents" and they worked great but they no longer make them, but there are some Chinese copies available that get good reviews. (They look butt-ugly though) 4, Get some special V brake drop bar leavers. Your only options for that are DIA COMPE EVO-V (expensive), Cane Creek Drop V (less expensive but not cheap), Tektro RL520 Aero V (cheap, very similar look and feel to the cane creek ones but slightly lower quality).

@kamillisowski2931 4 года назад

I think If you do custom bike like that one , on back should be cassette let's say around 10-42t and front single chainring about 32-36t It's bike to terrain not flat roads

@davidhassett7482 7 лет назад

G'day RJ The Bike Guy, you are right to replace the gear and brake cables as they do fail and there is nothing better than fresh cables to feel confident when riding. I'm a little confused about putting the front brake on the left lever.

@snoopy10411 3 года назад

Not quite sure why you would want to ruin that lovely retro Cannondale with lame looking drop bars? Seems like a bike ruined to me. Maybe we could have a video detailing how to install a riser bar and a decent suspension fork on a classic road bike next?

@billyclaveria2131 2 года назад

Hi may I know please what is the size of the front cantilever hanger, I just order, new stem and non Threadless steerer conversion and I realized I need this one please...greetings from 🇵🇭

@Prefer2Hibrn8 6 лет назад

ok, I am quite partial to yellow but man that looks sweeeet as! I love how the wrap on the bars matches the chunky tyres :D

@SOmeoldgeezer71 6 лет назад

Headset work looked dangerous. Shouldnt the clamp bolt be clamping the steering tube top rim directly and the stem clamp would then be free moving before securing it?