Drop Handle Bars on MTB

Drop Handle Bars on MTB - Why?

As you can see from the below picture my mountain bike MTB has been adapted for a life less extreme. So why would I want to fit drop handle bars. . . .

My aim is not to build a fast bike, but a comfortable bike and in that pursuit it lead me to try out drop handle bars. Some say drop handle bars are comfortable. . . not true me thinks. I used Ritchey Comp Road Logic Drop Handlebars and Tektro RL520 Aero V Brake Levers.

Drop Handle Bars on MTB - Fitting

Drop handle bars are not meant to go on an MTB, and as such there are hurdles that need jumping.

Stem - If you have an oversize stem (where the bar diameter is 31.8mm) then you are in luck you can buy some over sized drop bars and that battle will be won. If however you have standard sized MTB handle bars, the standard sized road bars will not fir in them. So it is new stem o'clock.

Brake Levers - Most MTBs have v brakes or disk brakes. These need a lot of cable pull to make them work. Standard drop levers will not pull enoufgh cable to operate a v brake, or an MTB cable disk brake. So you need to either swap you v brakes for cantilever brakes. Or get some V brake specific drop levers such as the Tektro RL520 levers.

Gear Shifters - Here is were it gets ugly. Most MTB gear shifters will not fit on a drop road bar. I am afraid you will have to file down the interiro of the clamp to make it fit, and whether this will work depends on how much spare metal there is in the clamp. Hardly any in my case. One thing you mat try is using you old stem and a cropped bar to mount you control on, pic below, courtesy of mtbr.com.

 

Bar Angle - This is down to preference I guess, but I found it hard to reach a happy medium. Flat tops = uncomfortable ramps. Comfy ramps = sloped tops. All pretty uncomfortable.

 

Above I have gone for comfy ramps. But that makes the top uncomfy. 

Drop Handle Bars on MTB - Comfort

So are they actually more comfortable. No. Not in my case.

More Aerodynamic - Yes

More Efficient Use of Leg Energy - Yes
More Hand Positions (All bar one uncomfortable) - Yes

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Origin 8 Drop Bar End Review

Origin 8 Drop Bar End Review

Origin 8 Drop Bar End - Applications

The origin 8 drop bar end enables the owner of a mountain bike or hybrid bike to enjoy the multiple riding positions offered by drop / aero bars without the need for a steering and braking system overhaul.

The clamps on the drop bar end are 22.2mm meaning they will fit on a standard mtb or hybrid bar.

Origin 8 Drop Bar End - Alternatives

The use of "proper" drop bars on an MTB will mean the that controls (brake and gear levers) will have to be swapped or bodged in order to fit. A MTB bar is 22.2mm, whilst a drop bar is 23.8mm, so you will have to file down the interior of the brake levers and gear levers to achieve a good fit.

 As you can see from the above picture it is possible to use MTB levers in the drop position but you will need long fingers to reach them safely.

 Origin 8 Drop Bar End - Costs

These  Origin 8 Drop Bar Ends cost £25 from SJS cycling (and £6 for grip tape). So they are not really a cheap option even if you choose to use you MTB controls as pictured above. By way of comparison a set of proper drop handle bars costs £12, but you will need levers with wider clamps. Tektro RL520 V levers are the cheapest I can find (SJS cycles) at £18.

 

So provided you have a corectly sized stem (31.8mm oversize), and are willing to partially destroy you gear levers (file down interior to enlarge from 22.2 to 23.8mm) then I would go for a proper set of drops. The origin 8 drop bar ends may be convenient, but you will have to buy proper drop levers, so you may as well may a good job of the upgrade. If the origin 8 drop bar ends were a bit cheaper, then maybe this would be different.

 Origin 8 Drop Bar End - Other Considerations

Many associate the use of drop handle bars with racing zoom zoom zoom. But I am building a bike for comfort. The brief period I have used these origin 8 drop bar end for has made me realize that drop bars are really comfy. As you can see I have them mounted rather high up! On Thorn Mt Tura Forks.

So after this experiment I have decide to get some proper drop bars on mtb and associated brake levers, and do the job properly. I would urge you to do the same, it will not costs that much extra. If you revert to straight bars you could always shim your gear levers.

Update: One thing to consider is that drop bars are a lot narrower than MTB bars. So with these you get to keep the width, and still get the drop "experience".

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Origin 8 Drop Bar End
Reviewed by Kermit Green on Oct 12 2012
Rating: 5.0

Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brake Review

Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brake Review - Why?

I wore through a rear rim a few months back, and had a rim blow out  when tire pops out from cracked rim where the beading becomes disengaged.

Now when I apply the brakes and hear the grinding noises, I cycle on country lanes mostly and can not avoid getting muddy rims, I wonder how long before it happens again.

By using a disk brake I am transferring  the wear to the disk, rather than the rim. £10 replacement vs £60 replacement.

So why, long term costs. It does not stop the bike any quicker.

Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brake Review - Fitting

I have a lot going on on the rear stay of my bike. Mudguards, Pannier Rack and now a disk brake caliper. As you can see from the above picture I have bent the mudguard stay to fit around the caliper. A trickier problem was fitting the pannier rack. . . . .

I used a piece of builders banding strap doubled over, any piece of bent metal would surface so long as it has holes in the right place. Obviously this is not as secure as a direct attachment to the rear stays, but it not too bad. I carried 10 kg in the pannier on the bracketed side since fitting with no dramas.

The disk brakes are fairly easy to set up. I have never fitted a disk brake before it took me 3 goes, loosening a readjusting until they were just right.

Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brake Review - Money Money Money

Prices range from around £15 to £25. I bought mine off eBay with no packaging for £10. I have read good reviews of this product.

 Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brake Review - Performance

 The performance of these disk brakes is about the same as a v brake. They are no better, but they a so silent. No rubbing noises even when braking. So if you are thinking of changing for the sake of performance then don't bother.

 Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brake Review - Conclusion

I want to prolong the life of my rims, and I didn't want to have to buy new levers. These Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brakes have proved to meet these requirement at low cost. I will update in a few months or when the pads wear out.

Update: 22/12/12

Be VERY careful when lubricating you chain, and rear mech etc. If you have used spray lubes in the past I would recommneded switching to bottled lubs, to avoid getting lube on the disk rotor or pads. Otherwise your disk brakes will lose power when braking.

Note to Clarks: The return spring on the brake arm could do with being a bit stronger.


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Clarks CMD-8 Mechanical Disc Brake
Reviewed by Kermit Green on Nov 27 2012
Rating: 2.5

Turn off Loud Beeps on IBM Lenovo T60

 Turn off Loud Beeps on IBM Lenovo T60 - Guide with Pictures

1 - Interrupt T60 Start Up with Blue Button

2 -  Press F1 to Enter BIOS

 

3 - Select "Config" Option in list using keys. Press Enter.

 4 - Sel4ct "Alarm"

5 - Disable  Unwanted Alarms (Loud Beeps)

Turn off Loud Beeps on IBM Lenovo T60 - Why?

If you want to survive to a ripe old age, then random loud noises will not help. In fact if you were shaving with a cut throat razor, and your T60 low battery alarm goes off, then you may accidentally kill your self.

Turn off Loud Beeps on IBM Lenovo T60 - Where?

In the bios. Press blue button when you see the lenovo  logo soon after switch on. The press F1.

Enter config, top of the list (press enter) key down to alarms . . .  disable or enable which ever alarms you find annoying.

Live long and prosper.

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Grand Western Canal Breach and Repair

Grand Western Canal Breach - Deatails

On the 21st of November 2012 the northern embankment of the Grand Western Canal near Halberton in Devon collapsed due to overt topping after heavy rain. Approximately a 20 meter section of the 10 - 15 meter high embankment wash completely washed away. Emergency works were carried out by Southwest Highways amongst others to dam the canal to prevent its draining over its entire length.

Grand Western Canal Emergency Works

Grand Western Canal Breach Point from Towpath

Grand Western Canal Breach Point from Adjacent Field

 Update: 01/07/2013

Southwest Highways have been awarded a £3 million contract to fix the breach. What a lot of money.

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SD to 44 pin IDE Adaptor - Here there be dragons.

SD to 44 pin IDE Adaptor - Here there be dragons.

My aging IBM T40 thinlpad has been a good old sport for the last 3 years, but the battery life is becoming an issue, so upon another impending rteinstall of the OS I thought I would try and put a SD to 44 pin IDE Adaptor in it, witha high speed SD card.




It is a nice idea to be able to upgrade an aging laptop for £7. But in my case this was a wasted £7! I have tried this adapter (KTC chip) witha 4GB Sandisk Ultra (Class 6) and a 8GB Kingston (Class) No Joy.

So would I recommend this product. No. Buy a secound hand IBM T60 and get a proper SSD, more expensive by far. But Infinatlt better value . . .

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IDE 44 to SD on Amazon - Reviews with Instructions

I did try a CR to IDE 44 adaptor  a few years back, and that didn'y work either! What am I doing wrong . . .

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