Drop bar conversion - is it worth the time/effort/money

[Jimbo Xiii]

Afternoon all,
I've been thinking about converting by pretty generic Dawes Mojave hybrid from a flat(ish) bar to drops.
Here's my plan, any feedback on if it is a) possible b) worth it and c) if I could do it or would need to pay someone would be greatly appreciated.
So my bike, the afore mentioned Dawes Mojave, here's the technical specs:
http://www.dawescycles.com/p-191-mojave-gents.aspx
I've had it for about 18 months or so and I've grown quite attached to it. I have actually also got a Boardman Road bikes as well (via C2W) which I love to ride but it isn't as practical though. As I'm currently in the process of moving into a two bed flat with my partner after living in a house share, I've got to downsize meaning one bike needs to go. My heart says keep the Boardman but my head says keep the Dawes.
Enough pre-amble, lets get to the meat of my question. I love riding on drop bars, it just seems right for some reason. I was thinking I could swap the Mojave over to a set of drops, but the main problem is finding shifter for the Mojave group set. I was thinking I could use non-index friction shifters on the bar ends. Then it's just the breaks to worry about. I think I would have to change the headset as well.

In terms of ability, I'm pretty handy with a spanner and would like the satisfaction of doing this myself, but I'm not sure if I'd really screw something up.
So, what do we think, is it worth the effort?

 

[e-rider]

generally speaking, flat bar bikes are designed with much longer top tubes than drop bar bikes - you might find it too long once you fit the drops

as a side note, I live in a very small 2 bed house with my wife and 2 kids, and I have 3 bikes (my wife and kids all have a bike each too). That sounds like a poor excuse to get rid of a bike!!! You could easily find a way to keep it - how about wall mountings?

 

[Jimbo Xiii]

generally speaking, flat bar bikes are designed with much longer top tubes than drop bar bikes - you might find it too long once you fit the drops

as a side note, I live in a very small 2 bed house with my wife and 2 kids, and I have 3 bikes. That sounds like a poor excuse to get rid of a bike!!! You could easily find a way to keep it - how about wall mountings?

I had wondered if that might be the case..

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I was thinking I could swap the Mojave over to a set of drops, but the main problem is finding shifter for the Mojave group set. I was thinking I could use non-index friction shifters on the bar ends. Then it's just the breaks to worry about. I think I would have to change the headset as well.

In terms of ability, I'm pretty handy with a spanner and would like the satisfaction of doing this myself, but I'm not sure if I'd really screw something up.
So, what do we think, is it worth the effort?

Whether it is worth the effort only you can decide I think. Since you are happy with bar end shifters, the brakes can easily be dealt with by a set of these levers. Unless you want to change the stem you obviously have the get bars with the same diameter (probably 25.4mm) at the clamp. Am not sure why you have to change the headset.

 

[HLaB]

It can be done (the conversion) btbh the bike doesn't look the best suited for it; the geometry would be all wrong. In terms of the gears; you could use sti's and problem solver travel agents but although an improvement on sti to v'brake alone, they still won't offer perfect braking. The headset you wouldn't need to change I think if you get stardard 26mm diameter drops, thats what I used on my conversion of the spesh sirrus to drops although I had an aheadset stem.

 

[Jimbo Xiii]

Whether it is worth the effort only you can decide I think. Since you are happy with bar end shifters, the brakes can easily be dealt with by a set of these levers. Unless you want to change the stem you obviously have the get bars with the same diameter (probably 25.4mm) at the clamp. Am not sure why you have to change the headset.

By headset, I believe I meant stem.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

By headset, I believe I meant stem.

You would only need to change the stem if you want to. It looks like 25.4mm at the clamp which is common with numerous drop bars, although oversized (31.8mm) and Italian (26mm) are also common.