Changing drops to flat bars on a road bike.

[Geoff Crowther]

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.

Cheers Doctor. I'm beginning to understand all this now and yes I did source 9 speed triple shifters. Thanks for both your replies.

 

[Cyclist33]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-tiagra-r440-9-spd-flat-bar-road-shifter/rp-prod30139

try these.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-tiagra-r440-9-spd-flat-bar-road-shifter/rp-prod30139

try these.

Thanks for that

 

[andrew_s]

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?

Drop bars put your hands (on the lever hoods) in front of the stem clamp, flat bars put your hands level with the stem clamp. Frames designed for drop bars are a bit shorter than those designed for flat bars so that you have a similar reach to the controls. If you just swap the bars and controls you'll end up with a shorter, more upright riding position, so many people put on a longer stem to get closer to the original position.

 

[Cyclist33]

Drop bars put your hands (on the lever hoods) in front of the stem clamp, flat bars put your hands level with the stem clamp. Frames designed for drop bars are a bit shorter than those designed for flat bars so that you have a similar reach to the controls. If you just swap the bars and controls you'll end up with a shorter, more upright riding position, so many people put on a longer stem to get closer to the original position.

looking at my road bike which has a 100 mm stem, even allowing for a flar bar frame to be an inch longer id still need something like a 180 mm stem to achieve the same reach.

my conclusion would be that people getting flat bar bikes dont want to be stretched out to the same extent as someone on the hoods on a drop bar bike. they want to ride as if on the tops. consequently if what you say is true, getting a longer stem would actually stretch them more if the frame is also longer.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

my conclusion would be that people getting flat bar bikes dont want to be stretched out to the same extent as someone on the hoods on a drop bar bike. they want to ride as if on the tops. consequently if what you say is true, getting a longer stem would actually stretch them more if the frame is also longer.

Discussing this with Chrissie I think you're right. Although she likes the light feel of the road bike, she doesn't like the "stretched out" position.
In summary I think we're happy to go down this road, leaving the stem as is to begin with, being prepared to change that, if necessary.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Ok, I have most of the info I need now. My only remaining question is, can I disconnect the brake cables from the STIs and connect them to the new flat bar brake levers? Bear in mind the cables are virtually new. Can't quite see how they connect into the STIs.

 

[Bodhbh]

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.

I just checked my eBay account. I was jammy - the seller only posted the product code (SL-440) not the make. I guess that'd skip past alot of keyword searches. (sorry that doesn't help you much)

Yes what TheDoctor says, don't get hung up whether it's Sora or Tiagra, you just need whatever will shift 9x3. I got an old model of Tiagra.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Ok, I have most of the info I need now. My only remaining question is, can I disconnect the brake cables from the STIs and connect them to the new flat bar brake levers? Bear in mind the cables are virtually new. Can't quite see how they connect into the STIs.

I think the flat bar levers will use a different cable. The STI cable has a linear blob on the end and flat-bar levers have a transverse cylinder on the end. Can anyone confirm whether the "road" flat bar levers use a different cable anchor?

 

[Geoff Crowther]

I think the flat bar levers will use a different cable. The STI cable has a linear blob on the end and flat-bar levers have a transverse cylinder on the end. Can anyone confirm whether the "road" flat bar levers use a different cable anchor?

Thanks again for your input.
Anyone out there know the answer to this please?

 

[gavintc]

My wife had a similar issue with Sora. She then tried a friend's bike fitted with Campag. It was not a particularly cheap change, but she needed a new back wheel from a small accident anyway. So we fitted Veloce and she has not looked back. The reach is less and reportedly more comfortable.

 

[jefmcg]

Just to throw a spanner in the works: would the simpler solution of adding in line brakes help?

(ice cream is optional)

 

[Yellow Saddle]

OK, I checked, you need the MTB style cable for the Tiagra and Sora flat bar brake levers. Interestingly enough, the Tiagra one (at least, didn't check on Sora) has a setting which makes it usable for both V-brakes and caliper brakes. Here' the dealer manual.

Changing the cable is a three minute job and I'm sure it will be supplied with the lever as well.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Just to throw a spanner in the works: would the simpler solution of adding in line brakes help?

(ice cream is optional)

Thanks for the suggestion but sorry, no, for reasons given in the original post.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

OK, I checked, you need the MTB style cable for the Tiagra and Sora flat bar brake levers. Interestingly enough, the Tiagra one (at least, didn't check on Sora) has a setting which makes it usable for both V-brakes and caliper brakes. Here' the dealer manual.

Changing the cable is a three minute job and I'm sure it will be supplied with the lever as well.

Cheers. You're a star. Thanks for taking the trouble to find out for me.
I'll check whether or not they're supplied with the levers. If not I'm sure it'll be straightforward to get some.
Thanks again!