yet another drop bar - flat bar conversion question

Wily-Quixote

Hello,
I'm after advice form those who might know.

I have a 2006 cannondale with Ultegra 10 speed brakes/shifters. I'm interested in converting it to a flat bar setup and my preference is some kind off TT bar (a shape such as this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/e ... prod150109). doesn't have to be this exact shape but am trying to mimic my current position on the hoods.

Would these two items fit and work well:

Shifters - obviously to plug into the bar ends:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/e ... cat=direct

Brakes - less obviously I would wish to mount them so they are on the underside of the forward protrusion of the bar - that is with the lever arms pointing forwards. I am not sure what to do wiht the brae cables - hoping for an elegant solution but I am probably dreaming here.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/e ... lsrc=aw.ds

My logic for this conversion is that after hip and back injuries I can no longer sustain a position on the drops to brake and would prefer to have good leverage in my favoured riding position - currently on the hoods.

I could keep the STI shifters that are probably getting towards the end of their lives and mount them facing reversed and under the bars but thuis is a far from elegant solution.

I almost never ride on the flats so would prefer to have the brakes in my natural riding position. I am not interested in an MTB style flat bar - nothing to do with aesthetics - I don't find the position comfortable for long distances wihtout bar ends.... defeating the purposes of having my brakes/shifters where I want them.

Is this a viable option?

My other option is bar end brakes such as this (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/e ... prod122921) and flat bar shifters such as these:

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shi ... Kgodk9wKnw

a less than elegant solution but cables might be tidier and i always privelage braking over shifting - given that i (clearly) don't race anymore

The Rookie

The way you hold the bars you'd need the brake levers with the lever pointing backwards, this would then be similar to the finger position on flat bars (or dropped bars with road brakes) in the same way the bar end brakes work (which seems a better solution).

Personally I'd either go with bar end brakes and use flat bar shifters accepting you'll have to move your hands to shift,OR use both flat bar and mount them on the straight section like they would be on flat bars and only use the bullhorn when at speed.

Wily-Quixote

The Rookie wrote:

The way you hold the bars you'd need the brake levers with the lever pointing backwards,

yep, that was my initial idea - this would mean that the cables exit towards the rear of the bike but I am unsure how this might work from there... the cables would be in the way if I didn't run them under bar tape but that would be awkward also.

The Rookie wrote:

Personally I'd either go with bar end brakes and use flat bar shifters accepting you'll have to move your hands to shift

yep, I'm leaning that way - privileging braking is my focus.

cheers,

wily

The Rookie

The cables would point forward not back!

I think the best option is actually normal road levers mounted at, or just back from (allowing room for a finger and thumb wrap), the tips.