Converting drop to straight bars?

[andyfromotley]

Hi guys,

I have a 5 year old Allez triple (8 speed cassette). Sora shifters, tigra front and rear mech.

Due to new road bike courtesy of C2W i was wondering if i could convert the Allez into a flat barred bike with trigger shifts?

If so, what would i need, which model would you recommend and how much? (Also could i do it myself or is it lbs job?)

Many thanks

Andy x x x x

 

[HLaB]

I think the main issue is caliper brakes only needing half the amount of pull that flat bar levers need. I've converted my sirrus the other way and used a 'problem solver' to partly overcome the issue but other than that if you've got the parts its not too difficult.

 

[eldudino]

I'm considering going the other way by swapping from flat bar to drops to try and speed myself up, any reason you're going drops>flat?

 

[hubgearfreak]

The main issue is calliper brakes only needing half the about of pull that flat bar levers need.

really, or is that just v-brake and disc brake specific flat bar levers that you're on about?

 

[HLaB]

really, or is that just v-brake and disc brake specific flat bar levers that you're on about?

I don't know about disc brake levers but its an issue between sti levers and v brakes. V brake levers are fine with V brakes (oddly enough) but sti levers pull about 1/2 the cable needed for v brakes.

If I've got it right v brake levers would pull twice the amount of cable needed for caliper brake but that might not be a bad thing

 

[Yellow Fang]

I don't think it should be difficult. I went the other way with my Ridgeback Genesis. It was either the gear shifters or the brake levers which you had to be careful were the right sort. Best thing might be to check the online specifications of various fast commuters and see what they use.

 

[Joe24]

I don't know about disc brake levers but its an issue between sti levers and v brakes. V brake levers are fine with V brakes (oddly enough) but sti levers pull about 1/2 the cable needed for v brakes.

If I've got it right v brake levers would pull twice the amount of cable needed for caliper brake but that might not be a bad thing

If that is right, why would it be a bad thing? It would just mean you dont need to put the lever as much wouldnt it? Or just set the pads up away from the rims and it should be alright.
I just put some brake levers from an old BMX that had V brakes and put the on my fixed that i just changed to flat bars, and they work fine.

 

[HLaB]

If that is right, why would it be a bad thing? It would just mean you dont need to put the lever as much wouldnt it? Or just set the pads up away from the rims and it should be alright.
I just put some brake levers from an old BMX that had V brakes and put the on my fixed that i just changed to flat bars, and they work fine.

That's what I said

If I've got it right v brake levers would pull twice the amount of cable needed for caliper brake but that might not be a bad thing

It might be an issue that if you grab the front brake in a panic, it stops you too fast and you're more likely to go over the handlebars .

 

[Joe24]

That's what I said


It might be an issue that if you grab the front brake in a panic, it stops you too fast and you're more likely to go over the handlebars .

Rubbish.
Just set the pads further away from the rim if your that incapable

 

[HLaB]

Rubbish.
Just set the pads further away from the rim if your that incapable

It might be rubbish, that's why I ended my comment with a confused smiley I've no real experience of drops to flat process, the OP would be better with a more experienced view, my experience is limited to the flat to drop conversion

 

[Joe24]

It might be rubbish, that's why I ended my comment with a confused smiley I've no real experience of drops to flat process, the OP would be better with a more experienced view, my experience is limited to the flat to drop conversion

Its a good job your putting your experience on this post then!!!

 

[HLaB]

Its a good job your putting your experience on this post then!!!

Yip it is, it just goes to show the actual conversion aint to hard if I can manage it

 

[Joe24]

Yip it is, it just goes to show the actual conversion aint to hard if I can manage it

Yes, just need a drop to flat conversion post now

 

[John the Monkey]

If that is right, why would it be a bad thing? It would just mean you dont need to put the lever as much wouldnt it? Or just set the pads up away from the rims and it should be alright.
I just put some brake levers from an old BMX that had V brakes and put the on my fixed that i just changed to flat bars, and they work fine.

V-brake/Disc brake levers pull twice the cable, half as hard.

They'll grab quickly, but they won't grab a great deal, which means you'll need to exert a fair amount of force to get the things to actually work with conventional brakes. Not good for a heavy rider & bike, or in the wet.

Both Tektro and Shimano do make a brake lever that can be set up for use with either V brakes/discs or canti brakes (canti brakes having cable pull characteristics slightly more akin to other types). I think there may be flat bar levers designed to work with road type caliper brakes (don't Mezzo bikes use dual pivots controlled from a flat bar lever?)

Here's one designed specifically for road calipers;
http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/publish..._handlebar0/product.-code-BL-R550.-type-.html ,

 

[John the Monkey]

Sheldon Reference;

Conventional brake levers used with direct-pull cantilevers will usually not pull enough cable to stop in wet conditions without bottoming out against the handlebars. In dry conditions, they either won't work, or will grab too suddenly.

Direct-pull brake levers used with any other type of brakes will feel nice and solid when you squeeze them, but due to their lower mechanical advantage you'll need to squeeze twice as hard to stop as you should, so unless you are a lightweight rider with gorilla-like paws, this combination isn't safe either.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-direct.html