straight bar conversion?

[cirian75]

Tempted to flat bar convert my Giant Defy disc 2.

any here got experience of it?

I know I'll need a slightly longer stem and the correct shifters, mines Tiagra 2016 4700 and they do 2016 4700 Tiagra trigger shifters.

any advice.

[richardxjr]

You'll miss the aero

But yes to shifters and Shimano mtb hydro brakes are not expensive. BR-M785 with trekking levers for about £100 or BR-M395s for half that.

Old Defy's tt was 20mm shorter than the Rapid (flat bar version of it) iirc.

[cirian75]

I measured my stem on Saturday

It's 100mm, so a 110/120mm stem will be needed, thinking 600mm bars plus bar end's

[richardxjr]

I have Ergon GP2 grips, Large, with the stubby built in bar ends. Not dissimilar to riding on the hoods. My bar is 560mm or 600mm inc grips.

I have been known to fit clip on aero bars for long road rides, for an even more 'special' look

[TwistingMyMelon]

Shifters will get a good price on ebay I reckon

Why you swapping?

[cirian75]

to make it a bit more city friendly (to many idiots pull out all the time) and to go hydro on the brakes.

the TRP spyres are ok, but every time I take the Cube 29er out, the hydros on that are in another league

[richardxjr]

That's mainly why I changed my London Road, for cheap Hydros. The constant fettling of BB7s drove me insane.

[cirian75]

richardxjr said:

That's mainly why I changed my London Road, for cheap Hydros. The constant fettling of BB7s drove me insane.

pics?

[cirian75]

my parts list is

120mm stem to replace the 100mm with the drops.

560 to 600mm bars

grips with bars ends, or grips plus bar ends

quality gear change cable kit and snipping tool.

Shimano 4700 trigger shifters

x1 set of hydro brakes.

[richardxjr]

Sure. Mine's a mixed surface bike (hybrid) with fat tyres but I have done some long enough road rides with flat bars too, including 3 Alps trips where it really excels imho.


Before - day touring mode



After - bare



After - just guards



After - bikepacking (this was Torino Nice Rally in Sept. Mixed surface)

[scrwright]

I recently went the other way on my London Road, couldn't use drops due to a dodgy neck which has improved enough to use drops now. Unsure which I prefer at the mo, still getting used to the integrated shifters but braking with hydro disks from the hoods gives plenty of stopping power. Do wish I tried narrower straight bars and dropping the stem a bit before going to drops though.

[richardxjr]

As said above I do miss the aero. I've not got a dedicated road bike anymore so might well go back to drops. But Shimano hydro for drop bars is still a bit pricey.

I'll probably end up buying or building another bike of course

[cirian75]

ah, the bike has an Over Drive steerer tube, reading up that could be an issue for the stem.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Just get a od2 stem? http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Contact-OD2-Stem_748...

[cirian75]

there's OD and OD2

had a look, giant sell OD mark 1 stems

[richardxjr]

Even better, OD takes std 1.1/8" stems, OD2 (used more on MTBs) is less std 1.1/4"

[cirian75]

1st parts bought, stem 110mm and ergo grips, bar is paid for and awaiting delivery

All Giant OEM parts to keep it consistent