I have a second build for this summer in addition to the Cannondale project:





Not sure if I am going to do a single speed drop bar build or with bar end shifters... hmm...

nice project, I would go with the SS drop bar option

I'd go for the classic "lever on the downtube" option. That way you still have some choice of gears whilst avoiding cable clutter near the bars.

Could not help myself, I had to start building ... I have some Ritchey stuff lying around that can fit. The Atax stem switched with a suitable (?) Nitto stem.

how not to do it


and for gods sake don't hang a bunch of modern stuff on it

A shorter, higher rise stem may help with position.

"how not to do it" - I dont not understand that one...



The bike is slightly too small for me. When I put the elbow on the seat tip I get three fingers between the fingertip and the handlebars. But will wait and decide till after the testrides if I need a different stem or not.

Here is the result so fare after today's build. Now I am only waiting for a NOS set of Ultegra bar end shifters beeing shippet from UK. Norway is like Sahara when it comes to bike parts...

very nice! Love it!

kudos for putting gear in it. You might need a shorter stem, tho

Cyclocross styleee, I like it

That looks very groovy!

I'm never sure about these sort of builds and so far have chickened out of committing a frame to one.

Is the point to have the drop section of the bars at the same level as they would be with flat bars, and then all controls in easy reach? (ie raised stem, flared bar and command shifters.)

Or is it to achieve a super aggressive cool as road racer position?

Or do people just end up cruising these things by riding the brake hoods with the drops used infrequently?

Seems people usually make a go of it with what they have (then get perturbed when others offer advice on positioning).

I'd say for a capable off-road drop set up, one should aim to get the hand positions at the hoods and in the drops at about equivalent to what they would be with a flat bar. Otherwise you're pretty far over the front. If it is a "drop bar mtb" for riding on the road, perhaps that doesn't matter so much. But generally, a shorter, higher stem is a better bet for converting most mtb frames for use in a dirt drop set up. YMMV.

great build, but I don't like the black spokes...

The above is correct. But don't tell that to yeti-man/digilux, he'll get upset about it.