flat bar to road handlebars

mjf1017
mjf1017 Posts: 48
edited May 2017 in Workshop
I've got an old boardman hybrid which has done sterling service as a commuting bike. However, I've never liked the flat handlebar and thought I might do a conversion to a road handlebar with some shimano shifters. Bearing in mind that the brakes are disc are there any issues with doing this kind of conversion?

Comments

  • super_davo
    super_davo Posts: 1,230
    I also have a Boardman hybrid and was looking at doing the same thing. The main reason I haven't is the brakes. I have hydraulics on mine and I'd need to change loads to make it all work, and to me it's not that nice a frameset to be worth throwing pots of money at it.
    But if you have cable disks it should be simple. Drop bars, shifters, possibly mechs if you're moving from SRAM to Shimano, look at the stem size - I'd have most of the parts in stock to do it tomorrow!
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    If they're hydraulic don't bother.

    Just sell your bike and buy another- buying shifters
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,816
    And cable discs will likely be MTB pull ratio not road so will be rubbish with road levers......
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    The Rookie wrote:
    And cable discs will likely be MTB pull ratio not road so will be rubbish with road levers......

    if they're hydraulic, then shifter/brake is going to cost a bomb.
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    yup .. I have also considered this with a boardman team hybrid .... the cost of doing it properly you are better off buying a new bike :|

    worse still, road hydraulics are not as nice as due to the length of throw even on a dedicated road setup .... the flat bar feels like an MTB when it brakes .... the sti hydraulics after using a flat bar feel a bit poo
  • mjf1017
    mjf1017 Posts: 48
    Mmmmm all good advice. Thank you.

    They are mechanical, but it wasn't an expensive bike new (£500) and has done a lot of miles. I might shoot for plan b, which was fitting a BBB trekking handlebar instead to give me a bit more comfort and hand choice (also I need to be realistic and work within my mechanical ability).

    Thanks all.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    You havent actually said what it is that you dislike about the flat bars?

    If its lack of positions and you want to be able to move around on long rides then have you tried bar ends? Cheap, simple and might do what you want.

    If its because the bars are too low, too close, too far away etc then perhaps look at a different stem which puts them in the correct place for your body.

    You might want to look at better grips for the current bars soo. Ergo grips can make a huge difference.

    Or is it just because you think drop bars are quicker?

    I had Specialized grips, these: https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/specialize ... w-ID_22444 and bar ends, these: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/tiog ... -prod35459 on my Boardman Hybrid and happily did century rides in complete comfort.

    Whatever bars you have, make sure your setup is right - stretching too far or having too much weight on your hands will never be comfortable whatever bars you have.
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    Flat bars are ok for shorter rides, but even after 7 miles get mild discomfort, compared to roadie and can do triple that without any discomfort.
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    Father Jack wrote:
    Flat bars are ok for shorter rides, but even after 7 miles get mild discomfort, compared to roadie and can do triple that without any discomfort.

    Then your setup is seriously wrong. If there is anything on your bike which is not comfortable after 7 miles then something clearly isnt right. If you set the bike up as per the roadie then it would be similarly comfortable. As I said, I regularly rode 100km Audaxes on my flat bar bike, I think my longest ride on it was about 135 miles - and ZERO discomfort whatsoever.

    Again, you dont say what kind of mild discomfort though? If you did then we might be able to offer advice on what to change.

    I switched to drop bars last year after my boardman hybrid was bent by a collision with a car. They werent as comfortable for a long while, but are about the same now after alot of tweaking and two bike fits. Obviously the setup of my hybrid was spot on for me. Setup is what gives good/bad comfort much more than which type of bars you have.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Bung some Spinacis or long bar ends on the flat bars and you should be good to go. I've done 90 miles on my MTB and the position on the bar ends felt pretty similar to being on the hoods. (if a little wider)

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