There are some drop bar bikes that are set up really well and some that aren't. I'm hoping the ones that are set up really well predominate in this thread. I see some bikes posted in other forums that are really bad and it would be nice for folks to be able to find properly set up drop bar bikes in one place as a reference of sorts. VRCers seem to have the hang of setting up dirt drops. I know there are a few styles of offroad drop bars, and people have different preferences, but generally proper dirt drop bar setup fall in a pretty narrow range.
Enough people ask about this topic in this forum, and you see plenty of people using drops these days on new bikes, how about nice repository for properly set up bikes, vintage or otherwise, with drop bars. Let's include links to external resources like Shiggy's and Guitar Ted's, good photos of 'proper' setup, philosophy, anything that will help the newb when they decide to try drop bars offroad.
Personaly I was admiring how each bike so far has a little different variable to the cable routing......
Yeah, pretty much, but it is kind of hard to get a really good idea of setup with just a snap of the bars. That picture of the Ritchey with the saddle visible is nice because it shows the bar to saddle relationship.
It seems like a lot of folks when they first try to set up a drop bar bike wind up with the bars too low and with too long a stem. My first attemptin the early 90s was like that. I could barely reach the hoods and felt like my nose was on the stem bolt because the drops were so low.
The RM-2s felt instantly comfortable and familiar even after riding some 20+ yrs with the RM-3s. At first I was worried about the increased width of the RM-2s on tight trails, but that doesn't seem to be an issue. My RM-2s had been cut down an inch to accommodate barcons which helps a bit.
the ibis is so hot. it's my fave bike in this forum.
The guys at Ibis were sure doing some nice work in those days. This bike was from the time when it was still a three man operation - Scot, Wes Williams, and the painter Lawrence. Although Scot painted this one himself.
I second the petition for this as a sticky, but IF--why not edit your first post into a compendium of the collective wisdom regarding fit and drop bar mtbs, some links to the previous threads, and other such business?
I meant all of it
Sort of like the other stickies, this thread could be a crash course for drop bars. Grab the links to the other threads, maybe write a short primer (or pull one from the other other threads) explaining the reasoning behind offroad drop bar fit. Your second paragraph in the post above sound like a good intro.
Might be worth tossing in some other links from around the web. Then perhaps this thread CAN act as a consolidated drop bar thread and serve as a resource to people who google themselves to the VRC.
Sorry, flashback to a less militant time.
No idea on history of this bike+how it ended up w the current parts buildup. Got it from a friend in a trade.
But, it really rides nice, has an almost plush give to it , especially descending.....I was pleasantly surprised....Comfy climber also, very peppy(even when I'm not)
Timber Comp Model, Ser# 1B480
I have photo's of many little dirt drop related jewel's (and a few dirt clods) from the VRC coffers. Admittedly I have stolen a ton of dirt drop related photo's from this site during my personal quest to learn about and then apply the whole theory.......
I really dig researching old VRC threads...
With a little filtering, there really is a lot to learn here.......
Thanks,
T
Seek: Koski Trailmaster. Breezer Series 2 or 3. Cunningham Racer.
But if there already some original threads about this, would that make this thread a reproduction?
Yes, but that's why eric mentioned having MCS merge and sticky them. There are already threads that are just picture threads, and there is the one I started a few years ago asking for advice on setup, but there isn't one good consolidated thread on the generally accepted best practice of drop bar setup. I see a lot of posts where people set there bikes up with drops, but have them set up like a road bike. Then when they finally ride them offroad, they state they hate how the bike rode. Really good pictures, like some in this thread so far, and explanation like G-Teds might induce an 'oh, duh' moment.
I had ridden drop bar bikes like the Rock Combo and liked them, but the first time I tried to set one up myself I really didn't think about bar height and reach and wound up with it set up like a road bike and it sucked, so I gave up on the idea. Then I found this forum and it sparked my interest to try it again, properly, and I really like it. Now that is how my 29er is set up.
I was also spurred to try out a drop bar mtb build after reading threads here. I spent a while searching for the right stem, but finally decided to get a custom one made for my Monster Fat at Winter Cycles. I've been really happy with the Salsa Woodchipper bars. For what it's worth, here's the link and a couple pictures!
Still dunno what to do, maybe I'll go for 26x1.15 or 700x23. Also about the brake, I don't know if V-brake would fit with roadbike levers.
The only real issue is cable pull. With regular road brake levers, you'd need to either use cantis, or you could add "Travel Agents," to work with V-brakes (they have a little "gearing" system that increases the cable pull). http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=6361
I'm not sure what you're aiming for, but maybe compare how your bars are set up currently to how all the other bars in this thread so far are set up. Also maybe take a peek at some of the other links in this thread.
I'm not sure what you're aiming for, but maybe compare how your bars are set up currently to how all the other bars in this thread so far are set up. Also maybe take a peek at some of the other links in this thread.
....except for that Litespeed
Get yourselves some stems with rise, gentlemen!
And BP---that is super sweet. Still a big fan of the saddle-included fade.
That Litespeed is my ride, I come from a road background but have been racing off-road since 1987. It gets kinda hairy on drop-offs but it's awesome for downhills. Check out early pics of Tomac on his drop bar Yeti & you can see the road influence.
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Originally Posted by banks
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