Changing drops to flat bars on a road bike.

[Geoff Crowther]

So, my OH Chrissie's had her Cube Axial women's fit road bike since September and she's hardly ridden it. She came back today from a short ride most upset. She can't get on with the brakes having very small hands, resulting in inadequate leverage and a complete fear of going down hills. I've already added spacers to bring the levers back as far as I can and adjusted the bars and head set to try to help but she's just not happy. She's never ridden a road bike before this but is happy on her flat bar tourer. She does, however, like the ride the road bike gives and appreciates its lightness.
I know you CAN fit flat bars but my question is, how complex is it to change from the existing brifters to the type of brake levers and gear changers I'm familiar with on my mtb and tourer? I've changed bars before but only when retaining existing levers. Is it a.expensive and b.difficult or easy?
Any constructive advice would be appreciated. She's just confirmed that she actually doesn't want to sell the bike.
BTW neither of us like the idea of those additional brake levers on the front of the bars cos she feels her hands would be too close together for comfort (and I agree) and, in addition, she doesn't find the gear changes easy anyway so flat bars definitely seems the way to go.
Cheers
PS It's a Shimano Sora groupset, 9 speed cassette, triple chainrings.

 

[adamhearn]

Not looked at it that way (friend wanted to swap flat for drops) but the cost is probably going to be fairly high.

From memory the cheapest it was going to be for him was £250 but depends a lot on the level of kit you want to select and whether it's on offer, etc. Brakes/gear levels, cables, bars, bar grips, possibly a stem, possibly brake callipers, possibly front/rear mechs.

It isn't a difficult job mind you.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Bars, levers and grips I can understand but would I really need to change calipers and mechs? At that rate it'd be cheaper to cut our losses, sell the bike and buy a flat bar roadie. Don't really want to do that.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Since you have road brake calipers on there, you will have to match the flat-bar shifters and levers with road style equipment, not MTB style. The brake levers for road calipers and MTB V-brake are not compatible. The gear shifters are compatible for 9-speed.

You can use flat-bar equipment from Shimano or SRAM. I don't know if Shimano makes a Sora-level flat-bar shifter/brake lever, defninitely 105 and up though. Just search online for the said shifters/levers. You will also have to buy a bar and grips and perhaps even a stem, depending on what you can source. Stems have various diameters, so if you want to preserve the current stem, measure it (or post a photo, some people here have built-in vernier eyes) and then go shop. It can be a DIY job but you have to understand stem torque and cable replacement.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Since you have road brake calipers on there, you will have to match the flat-bar shifters and levers with road style equipment, not MTB style. The brake levers for road calipers and MTB V-brake are not compatible. The gear shifters are compatible for 9-speed.

You can use flat-bar equipment from Shimano or SRAM. I don't know if Shimano makes a Sora-level flat-bar shifter/brake lever, defninitely 105 and up though. Just search online for the said shifters/levers. You will also have to buy a bar and grips and perhaps even a stem, depending on what you can source. Stems have various diameters, so if you want to preserve the current stem, measure it (or post a photo, some people here have built-in vernier eyes) and then go shop. It can be a DIY job but you have to understand stem torque and cable replacement.

Thanks for that Yellow Saddle. I understand torque and have more than one torque wrench but I've never replaced cables before. Can it be difficult I wonder?

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Am I right in thinking these will do the job?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products...B8_fp88QCFYcSwwodbE4Ayg&gclsrc=aw.ds#features

And these for the brakes?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...odMUwA2Q&gclsrc=aw.ds#bazaarvoice_reviews_tab

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Thanks for that Yellow Saddle. I understand torque and have more than one torque wrench but I've never replaced cables before. Can it be difficult I wonder?

Cables are common sense really, one of the eaiser things to get mostly right and then the fun can begin, the usual places on the internet have rafts of good advice for the fine tuning. One thing to be mindful of is making sure the cable pull of the shifter matches the derailleur.

 

[Bodhbh]

PS It's a Shimano Sora groupset, 9 speed cassette, triple chainrings.

Trying to think this thru....

You'll need:

Flat bar brake leavers for calipers/cantis (easy, I got some Deore ones for 12quid, there's definately higher end ones too, but I wasn't bothered).
Flat bar shifters (there's definately 9x3-speed Tiagra ones about i'm sure will work - I've recently got some and the shifting is *perfect*. 25 quid for the pair off eBay, but I think I was lucky)
The obvious stuff - new bars, very likely a longer stem, grips.

I *think* that's it. The new shifters will be compatabily with your existing mechs and drivetrain - that's the point of them. I can't see you need to spend much more than about 70-80quid if you use cheap bars/stem/grips, although a bit more is more likely.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Cables are common sense really, one of the eaiser things to get mostly right and then the fun can begin, the usual places on the internet have rafts of good advice for the fine tuning. One thing to be mindful of is making sure the cable pull of the shifter matches the derailleur.

Cheers.
When you refer to "the cable pull" am I right in thinking you mean, in this instance, 9 speed cassette, from triple?
I found these, which are Sora, 9 speed triple.
http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product...ear Shifters&gclid=CPH8gtPw88QCFYgewwodnBsAng
Which, since they are badged Shimano Sora should be right?

 

[Bodhbh]

Am I right in thinking these will do the job?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products...B8_fp88QCFYcSwwodbE4Ayg&gclsrc=aw.ds#features

And these for the brakes?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...odMUwA2Q&gclsrc=aw.ds#bazaarvoice_reviews_tab

The shifters are for double chainring. You need some nine speed shifters for a triple.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

The shifters are for double chainring. You need some nine speed shifters for a triple.

Yes, I realised that and have since found triple ones. Do you reckon Tiagra would work with Sora? Those Sora ones I found are £60 and I'm intrigued you found Tiagras for £25.

 

[TheDoctor]

The link is for a triple shifter, no?
As far as I can see, they'd do it. The brake levers you linked to are fine. Flat bars, new grips and (probably) some bar ends and you're good to go. EBay the Sora STIs and that'll cut the cost too.
Worth looking at gripshifters too, but that means losing the indexing at the front, which may be a step too far.

 

[TheDoctor]

And it's 9 speed you need, the actual model is irrelevant. Old Tiagra was 9 speed.
New Tiagra is 10 speed and won't work on your 9 speed cassette.

 

[Cyclist33]

dont see why you'd need a different stem, i mean the stock one is 31.8 mm for handlebars of that diameter which most flat bars are in the centre, so that's all fine. length of stem wise, why change?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Yes, I realised that and have since found triple ones. Do you reckon Tiagra would work with Sora? Those Sora ones I found are £60 and I'm intrigued you found Tiagras for £25.

They should do, I priced up switching my drops to flats for approx £100 all in including new mechs, I didn't bother in the end and have since learned to love the drops again. Years ago I converted an old Peugeot downtube friction shifter to.clickshift flat bar and it was a monster of a commuter, It is one of only a few bikes I've sold on that I regretted doing so with hindsight.