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A while ago I converted my bike to have drop bars (one one midge), and after a while of riding them I decide it wasn't for me. It seemed uncomfortable and I went back to flat bars.
Now I'm thinking about trying it out again on a different bike. Maybe last time I didn't quite have the set up correct.....
there seems to be a massive selection of different drop bars, and I'm wondering if there's much of a difference?
Any recommendations?
Cheers
what bike, what purpose, what shifters & brakes will make (some/ massive) difference??
Frame is 90's steel Reynolds 531 racer
Currently has 7 speed cassette and double crankset
Down tube shifters
So basically it's a nice old school racer
It's very hilly where I live so I want to convert it to something more appropriate , I.e possible 3 x 9 , more of a touring gear ratio, using drop bars with STi shifters
That help?
Get some compact ones so you're not so low (at least to start) and don't have to reach so far. I've got these, pretty comfy and cheap:
[url= http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HBPX7075CL/planet-x-road-bar-strada-compact-lite-7050 ]PX Strada compact[/url]
or these which are similar but even cheaper (probably slightly heavier)
[url= http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HBPX6061SD/planet-x-road-bar-strada-shallow-drop ]PX Strada shallow drop[/url]
Edit - Midge arent propper drop bars!
i like compacts, i also like anatomical bars. I don't like classic curve.
ritchey logics are a great anatomical, or those planet x ^ compacts.
If you go too short on a compact you might mess with the reach to the hoods, and need a new stem - so buy bars first.
I have a similar bike from the sound of it, 1995 Pearsons 531, about 6/7 years ago, put 3T Ergosum's on it, nice mid range bars.
For the gearing, you haven't said what you cassette is, but if riding as a road bike, even in the hillyest parts of the UK, you should be able to get a way with a 2x compact up front, and something with a 27T at the back. Triples are an overkill for road bikes.
If you ride with a club, talk to the old timers about what gearing they used in the 70's and 80's even for really steep stuff it was standard 53/39 up front and a max of 23T at the back. Hard guys back then.
Jimc101....what mechs do you use? I read somewhere the mtb mechs aren't compatable with STi ??
What shifters you use? You stick with down tube shifters?
When you say '2x compact' do you just mean a double crankset?
9 speed Campag Daytona (Ergo shifters), not upgraded much of the drivetrain since 2000, originally it had Campag Avanti 8 speed, missed out of DT shifters (thankfully), moved to W'Yorks a couple of years back, so hilly locally, use a 53/39 front and 13-27 back, no probs on the Strines, Holme Moss etc.
2xcompact = double compact / 50-34
the old school geometry of road bikes of that era will have relatively high head tubes - hence why they used to have quite deep drops to get to a low position. They also tend to have long positions
because of that I would recommend shallow drops or wing rather than ergo because a long reach and bent hands can result in aching wrists and shoulders
So what bars do folk recommend if I want a shallow drop and not a big reach (ie I want the bars closer to me so I'm not stretching)
I'd have thought the main limiting factor will be if you've got a quill stem. In which case you are pretty much limited to a 26.0 bar, which are in short supply these days. Deda still make some nice ones. No one can comment about best drop or reach without seeing you on the bike and knowing some history.
Midge arent propper drop bars!
They are off-road drops - for which use they work very well.
ollie151, the Planet X bars linked to above are a shallow drop and a small reach. They're a very nice shape as well, I have them on one of my bikes and like them a lot.
I've got Pro PLT on all my bikes, apart from the ones that have got Salsa Cowbells...
I have some PLTs in the shed, I think in a 44 flavour, at a good price, if that's any good?
Daleftw....I'd possibly be interested . Could you email me photos...revilo_home39@hotmail.com
how much you asking?
Sam..good advice. Yeah I have a quill stem. I guess I could just use the bars the bike came with, or I could use one of those stem adapters and get a oversized clamp-on stem (although this detracts from the aesthetics of an old style look I want)
I'd be tempted to get a set of Randoneur style handlebars, these have some upsweep from the central clamp area, with slightly flared drops(not as extreme as the Midges) and some variants also sweep back from the clamp area too.
Bonus is they have a classic look and fit quill stems.
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/grand-cru-rando-handlebar.htmlhttp://www.sjscycles.co.uk/nitto-b135aa-alloy-drop-randonneur-handlebars-254-mm-clamp-45-cm-silver-prod22291/
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