Fitting drop bars t...
 

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Fitting drop bars to a hybrid bike

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I have a Cannondale bad boy and I want to add gravel bars to it. Iv checked all the geometry and it’s not far off a CAADX so I’m going ahead with it.
Once Iv fitted the drop bars I know I will have to change the gearing at the front but wondered if the rear mech and front mech will need changing - there 8 speed Shimano Acera - does anyone know if there are any drop bar shifters and brakes that would work with these?
Thanks


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 12:18 pm
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+1 on the Microshift drop bar shifters with Shimano compatibity.

You do have the buy the correct model - other ones are Shimano ROAD compatible.


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 12:40 pm
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Surly corner bars or Chinese equivalent?


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 12:50 pm
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I did this with great results but I changed the rear mech for a cheap 9sp one, it was a small sum.


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 12:56 pm
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Brilliant. These are the ones I’m looking at on Wiggle.
microSHIFT R8 3x8 Speed Dual Control Lever Set
It says they are Shimano Road Compatible so would those work with the rear mech being Acera?


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 2:06 pm
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Shimano gear mechs are universal 9 speed and below - a road shifter will work an MTB mech and vice versa - it was only with 10 speed and above they changed the cable pull/actuation ratios


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 2:12 pm
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Perfect - il keep the 8 speed for now as it’s just had a new cassette - the microshift are on offer which works out pretty cheap so il get them 🙂


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 2:42 pm
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Brakes will be a different pull, though.


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 2:44 pm
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Sorry what do you mean by a different pull?


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 2:52 pm
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Brake levers for flat bars and drop bars pull different amounts of cable to actuate the caliper. You need to buy specific long or short pull calipers to match the lever. You can sometimes get mismatched brakes and levers to work, but it'll generally be sub-optimal - e g. soft, mushy braking or the levers pulling right back to the bars. Hence the distinction between e.g. BB7 road and MTB versions, or TRP Spyre (road) vs Spyke (MTB).


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 3:33 pm
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Actually, some flat bar brake levers are compatible with short pull calipers. Given your bike is a hybrid that might be the case, that it shipped with roadie brakes. You'll need to check the model.


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 3:41 pm
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Ahh ok - how can you tell. The brakes I have on it are Cannondale and the bikes a Cannondale Big Boy 4 Fatty. Brakes are pro max 310


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 3:54 pm
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Trying to find this info is proving difficult.

https://www.microshift.com/models/sb-r483/

Iv checked the model and it take Short, Standard.


 
Posted : 20/04/2023 5:13 pm

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