Convert from drop to flat bar? Waste of money?

[veloduffer]

I recently purchased a Specialized Tricross cyclocrosser to use as a utility bike with racks (it has eyelets). It is spec'd with Tiagra STI and triple, plus it has in-line brake levers on the flat section of the drop bar.

I was thinking of converting it to a bullhorn or flat bar with friction thumbshifters. Anyone else do a conversion and wish they had not? Am I just wasting my money and just use what I got? I respect the opinions of my forum brethen to tell me if I'm being silly.

[xjoex]

Its fun, you should do it, you should switch out to V-Brakes and use mountain levers. Flat or city bars are great for commuting etc.

-Joe

[Fishbike]

Not quite a conversion but last year I bought a nice condition Litespeed Tuscany and built it with a flat bar, 10-speed trigger shifters, some misc parts from the bin and some new 105 stuff. It has 28 mm tires with some nice used Neuvation wheels.

It is a lot of fun and works and looks great, but truth be told I really don't ride it that much. It is fun for variety's sake, but only for short cruises, usually after I have done a proper ride on a road bike. For hauling stuff (which I don't do very often) I have a drop bar bike with 32 mm tires and a rack. The reality is flat bars are not that appealing for long rides when there are a few drop bars in the stable.

I always think that it would be the perfect bike to take on long weekends when serious riding is not part of the plan, but that hasn't happened yet.

[DRZRM]

My fixed Johnny Cycles is set up with a front brake and flat bars, and I love it. True I would not go out all day on it, but with a weighted bag filled with computers/papers/books and an 8 mile commute each way it is perfect. I'll sometimes throw in an extra loop and go 20 one way and I still like the flats. It a nice change from the road and cx bikes.

[Aaron O]

I probably wouldn't unless I was absolutely in love with the frame. I'd be more likely to sell it and buy something more like what I want...conversions can be pricey and you won't get that cash back out when you resell it.

[Fixed]

If it makes you ride it ,it is not a waste
Cheers

[Earl Gray]

Since you are not using road calibers, the conversion could be done very much on the cheap.

I love riding my flatbar MTB's on the road and it inspired me to convert an old Airborne to a flat bar bike.

It looks cool but I honestly don't use it much. The reason I really like my flatbar bikes has little to do with the bars. It's the Fat Ass tires that I really like.

If I were doing another conversion, the firt thing I woudl do is simply cut some drop bars off directly under the brifter and give that a go.

Whatever you do, have fun with it.

[veloduffer]

Originally Posted by Aaron O

I probably wouldn't unless I was absolutely in love with the frame. I'd be more likely to sell it and buy something more like what I want...conversions can be pricey and you won't get that cash back out when you resell it.

I forgot to mention that I have several road and cross bikes, plus a mtb. This bike would be for townie and rail trail type stuff - that is rides less than 20 miles. Since it is a cross bike, I would only need shifters, bar and brake levers.

True about the resale, but I got this on Craig's for $550 and it's in very good shape.

[Mike748]

I like having a flat bar road bike. Especially if it fits bigger tires.

[cnighbor1]

If you don't use the drop part of the drop bars than flat is a good option
the biggest disavantage is less hand postions when riding. OK for say 2 to 3 hours than you start looking for more postions which are hard to find and don't last for long. Before you go back to previous postions

[gdw]

Go for it. Flat bars are great for town riding and comfortable for all day adventures especially if you add bar-ends.

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by gdw

Go for it. Flat bars are great for town riding and comfortable for all day adventures especially if you add bar-ends.

for what you describe, ergon grips with included bar end on a flat bar....perfect

[Ken Robb]

you might like some of the Rivendell bars like their Albatross, Moustache, etc. because they can allow an upright riding position but still offer multiple places to grip the bars. I have tried a couple of them with success. Albatross bars can be held on the ends like a wheelbarrow or on the flat part near the stem.
Moustache bars can also be grasped like a wheelbarrow, near the stem, or I can really stretch out long and low (for me) when I grab the bars way forward where they curve.

[eddief]

looked cool, but with flat bars and bar ends, I was never really very comfortable on my usual long club rides. never tried other cooler cruiser bars as i mostly don't do cool cruising.

[false_Aest]

This is the bike Giant, Cannondale, SpecialEd and Trek should make more of... at every price point above $450.