Should I fit Drops?

Colin.Watling

Hello,

I have been riding my bike for a couple of months to work and back and am really enjoying it! I currently have a Carrera Subway Zero single speed, am planning to continue to ride this through the summer and next winter then pick myself up a full-on road bike in the spring.

However in the meantime I am considering fitting some drops to the ss, obviously no gears so no problems there, will i need new brake levers? is it worth it? how much would it cost for basic stuff?

Any help greatly appreciated.

O and i do 17miles a day with some leisure rides as of an eve and weekend. so total around 100miles+ a week

Thanks

Wooliferkins

Are your current bars 25.4 or 31.8? If 25.4 you'll need a new stem as drops will be 26mm. Tektro do reasonable cheap levers

lost_in_thought

Not necessarily Wooliferkins - 25.4 drop bars are very easy to find. I have some on my Tifosi, for example.

And for the brake levers, depends on what you have now, you might be able to fit them onto the top section of the drops.

Best thing for the brakes, though, would be to buy a pair of hood brakes. Mind you, I only say that because the hoods are my favourite place to put my hands...

EDIT:

Oh and yes, yes you should.

Colin.Watling

Thanks, that i am unsure of will have a look tonight!

This is exactly why i have asked the question rather than going out and buying a set of bars straight away!

What are the main pros and cons for Drop Bars?

Clever Pun

Wooliferkins wrote:

Are your current bars 25.4 or 31.8? If 25.4 you'll need a new stem as drops will be 26mm. Tektro do reasonable cheap levers

if you're a tart and into branding and the like, those brake hoods are available at condor for £20 and have condor branding too, it's what I've got on my mills

lost_in_thought

Clever Pun wrote:

Wooliferkins wrote:

Are your current bars 25.4 or 31.8? If 25.4 you'll need a new stem as drops will be 26mm. Tektro do reasonable cheap levers

if you're a tart and into branding and the like, those brake hoods are available at condor for £20 and have condor branding too, it's what I've got on my mills

Condor Cycles in 'cheaper than another vendor' shocker! Someone call the Daily Star!

The pros of drops:

Multiple hand positions - (flats, corners, hoods, drops) allow for more comfort
Narrower, if you like filtering (I do)
Look nice

The cons of drops:

Erm... I suppose you might like to fit a shorter stem to get the reach sorted out, depends on your current set-up really, and how it fits you.

Also, although they're no less efficient, the brakes can take some getting used to if you use hood brakes and ride on the hoods. You'll have stronger fingers in no time!

UndercoverElephant

Another Con: You may start wearing Lycra. I'm told it's inevitable

Roastie

You'll also need to fit Travel Agents to get road brake levers to work with the v-brakes (different cable pull ratios - road levers don't pull enough cable).

Otherwise, you could use v-specific drop bar brake levers, like the Tektro RL 520 or (if you are feeling flush) the Cane Creek SCR-5V.

I personally like Tektro stuff, so I'd go that route. Plus, cheaper than buying new brake levers plus Travel Agents!

Edit: I just noticed the that Tektro link is out of stock. Planet-X have these (also at SJS and others as well I think) Dia Compe 287V. Nothing wrong with Dia Compe.

Colin.Watling

All good stuff well I fell i need to know the size of my current bars, get on the net and purchase some.

Yes i thoroughly enjoy filtering through traffic gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to be passing the cars!

Where is the best place to shop for some? ebay and the likes or wiggle etc? cheers again

roger_merriman

drops make sence when you have a lower faster postion, as to brakes i've shameless nicked the idea from else where and had interupters fitted. see here. this means i can brake if i'm on the tops or on the hoods or if i'm hooning along down in the drops. i use all three postions though i favour the hoods much like most do. though i do potter along on the tops quite a lot.

Roastie

roger merriman wrote:

drops make sence when you have a lower faster postion, as to brakes i've shameless nicked the idea from else where and had interupters fitted.

Those are a great idea - I really should get around to fitting some because I do tend to pootle on the tops a lot.

roger_merriman

hang on whoops! those are V brakes so a differnet pull to road brakes, i'm not at all sure you can get brake leavers that work well with them for drops.

not sure what pull mech disks have as you can get disks on road bikes.

lost_in_thought

roger merriman wrote:

hang on whoops! those are V brakes so a differnet pull to road brakes, i'm not at all sure you can get brake leavers that work well with them for drops.

not sure what pull mech disks have as you can get disks on road bikes.

It's been covered already by Roastie...

Roastie

roger merriman wrote:

hang on whoops! those are V brakes so a differnet pull to road brakes, i'm not at all sure you can get brake leavers that work well with them for drops.

not sure what pull mech disks have as you can get disks on road bikes.

See my post above. Covered.

Most mech discs use the same pull ratio as Vs. Road specific mech discs use the shorter road cable pull, or you could use a Travel Agent.

roger_merriman

Roastie wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

drops make sence when you have a lower faster postion, as to brakes i've shameless nicked the idea from else where and had interupters fitted.

Those are a great idea - I really should get around to fitting some because I do tend to pootle on the tops a lot.

i find i don't use them often but they are nice to have when not SCR or other sillyness and are flittering or just smelling the roses.

and woops didn't spot the pull had been covered!

Roastie

:?:

Bump!

How did you get on, Colin.

tailwindhome

lost_in_thought wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

Wooliferkins wrote:

Are your current bars 25.4 or 31.8? If 25.4 you'll need a new stem as drops will be 26mm. Tektro do reasonable cheap levers

if you're a tart and into branding and the like, those brake hoods are available at condor for £20 and have condor branding too, it's what I've got on my mills

Condor Cycles in 'cheaper than another vendor' shocker! Someone call the Daily Star!

He is more likely to recommend stock from his own shop though :roll:

lost_in_thought

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

Wooliferkins wrote:

Are your current bars 25.4 or 31.8? If 25.4 you'll need a new stem as drops will be 26mm. Tektro do reasonable cheap levers

if you're a tart and into branding and the like, those brake hoods are available at condor for £20 and have condor branding too, it's what I've got on my mills

Condor Cycles in 'cheaper than another vendor' shocker! Someone call the Daily Star!

He is more likely to recommend stock from his own shop though :roll:

What? Clever Pun owns Condor?

CP, you have some serious explaining to do...