Converting My Marin Fairfax to Drop Bars

[JT1988]

I have been commuting for 3 months (30 mile round trip) I am always overtaken by roadies.

If i convert my Fairfax to drop bars will this dramatically increase my speed and is it really worth it or am i looking for exuses for being overtaken?

A link to the bike http://www.bikemagic.com/review/reviewproduct/mps/RPN/46320/RER/4/v/2

Any advice on how to do it and if its worth it would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[HLaB]

IME (having converted a Sirrus Sports) you'll gain on speed but you'll lose on braking power. I use travel agents to improve the braking but in the end it isn't as good as a bike built for purpose. Only you will know what your commute like and if the trade off in brake efficiency to speed is worth it.

 

[very-near]

I've got a fairfax myself and had a Giant OCR1 before. The roadie was a much lighter animal to ride, and it was easier to carry a higher average speed. The downside was that I was terrified of hitting even the smallest potholes.

I've seen a Marin MTB with what looks like the same frame on it as the fairfax, so I'd say that there is a fair bit of weight in there for strength.

If you want a roadie, flog the fairfax and go buy a decent 2nd hand one in a couple of months when people lose the will to commute in shyte weather on theirs and are back in their cars.

 

[Garz]

If you want a roadie, flog the fairfax and go buy a decent 2nd hand one in a couple of months when people lose the will to commute in shyte weather on theirs and are back in their cars.

Sad but very true/good advice!

 

[ed_o_brain]

I wouldn't flog the fairfax. What tyres do you have on it?

You can still make improvements with the rider and the bike, whilst you save up for a second bike. On my MTB, I dropped, lowered and narrowed the bars and fitted bar ends. I can't get as low as on a dropped bar bike, but I can get quite aero and holding the front of the bar ends, almost like a tri position.

I changed the tyres (which were already slicks) for the light/fast/cheap Michelin Road XCs (£15 for the pair from Decathlon).

If the Fairfax is an MTB frame and a bit heavier, the advantage of this should be extra stiffness. The rest of the improvements are with the rider. If your sole interest is going faster, your investment in a road bike will pay far more dividends if at least you can hold the wheel of a road bike with a reasonable fit rider on board.

 

[marinyork]

I have a marin bike with a similar spec to the fairfax. The roadbike absolutely slaughters it. That's not to say the marin is crap, it's quite a bit faster to ride than some other MTBs, it's just what you have it for. My advice would be to get a road bike. It's quite a good training bike though, as it is so much more exhausting riding it.