My riding has fallen off a ton lately, and one thing that usually gets me going again is something new. It works even better when I do some sort of work myself.

So, the plan is to do some new work to my beloved Langster. I want to make it a flatbar, or possibly one of the curved bars. I don't want the full on cruiser look, but just something more for tooling around town with the family. I want to make it a bit more laid back basically.

I plan to pull the bars, stem, cables and whatnot all as a group so it can be changed back later with not a bunch of effort. Just looking for any ideas/ advice on:

*Bars--basic flat? Something more fun? :blush2: bar ends? :confused:

*Brakes--what levers to keep the same brakes? I know most mountain levers won't work with the calipers. Gotta have these as I may go just single speed instead of fixed with the family.

*As a possible, but not likely, I considered a brake with more room to maybe use some smaller cross tires I have in the garage.

*Stem--same length? same rise? I assume I will have to change to match bar diameter.

I am a bit of a hood rider normally or the flats because my tiny hands can't reach the brakes from the drops very well. My back also isn't that great.

Here is the bike from last I messed with it (not last I rode it :) ):
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=82828

It's a pretty easy conversion.. Here is my old Soma Rush.. These are chopped road bars and Velo-Orange wrap...The brake lever is a cross lever

risers, chopped to length, like this:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc275/brooklynmachineworks/April%20Bars/DSC07475.jpg

Haha!

That is quite a pic!

Dave, that looks pretty nice. Wonder if I can find some cheap basic bars online to chop like that? I love the velo orage wrap I have already. That was something else I was considering, wrap or grips.

I know I asked before, but using the cross levers, do you put anything to hold the cable in the lever, or does the end of the cable work?

*Brakes--what levers to keep the same brakes? I know most mountain levers won't work with the calipers. Gotta have these as I may go just single speed instead of fixed with the family.



Actually, most do work well with road calipers. V-brake levers have more cable pull, but they work fine. Same goes for cross levers.

That is quite a pic!

Dave, that looks pretty nice. Wonder if I can find some cheap basic bars online to chop like that? I love the velo orage wrap I have already. That was something else I was considering, wrap or grips.

I know I asked before, but using the cross levers, do you put anything to hold the cable in the lever, or does the end of the cable work?


The cross levers just use a regular cable end...no problem

risers, chopped to length, like this:

AWESOME.

risers, chopped to length, like this:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc275/brooklynmachineworks/April%20Bars/DSC07475.jpg
Love the natural finish and fork, but why is it there so much space between tire and crown?

FWIW, forget the ""flat bars", they don't allow your hand to find a comfortable position. I would go with Hickey's way or try low-rise riser bars (aka: Mtn Bike bars). The riser bars will give your hands better positions over the flat bars. Chopped and flipped bars look cooler. Comfort versus style???

Love the natural finish and fork, but why is it there so much space between tire and crown?


just a guess..

1. It's a MTN 29er frame and the fork is suspension corrected

or

2. The fork is set up that way so the guy can do bar spins...try turning your front wheel all the way around. I'll bet the wheel hits the down tube. By extending the fork, the wheel will clear the down tube when doing groovy tricks....

FWIW, forget the ""flat bars", they don't allow your hand to find a comfortable position. I would go with Hickey's way or try low-rise riser bars (aka: Mtn Bike bars). The riser bars will give your hands better positions over the flat bars. Chopped and flipped bars look cooler. Comfort versus style???
I dig the idea of flipped and chopped like Hickey's, or perhaps something with some curve to it (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB401A06-Salsa+Moto+Ace+Flat+Bar.aspx) or this one (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB409A00-Surly+1X1+Torsion+Bar+Cromo.aspx)? I assumed I would need a longer stem with a curved bar. I also considered something like the H-bar. (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB310A00-Titec+Jones+H-Bar+254+Handlebar.aspx)

I have a langster seattle. I kept the stem and switched to flat bars. Cut them to about 19". Works great with the 100mm stock stem. I foyu arte interested int he flat sweep bar that came stock let me know, I'll make you a good deal.

I have a langster seattle. I kept the stem and switched to flat bars. Cut them to about 19". Works great with the 100mm stock stem. I foyu arte interested int he flat sweep bar that came stock let me know, I'll make you a good deal.
that would probably be a bit narrow for what I want, but I'll take a look at the one at the shop to double check

Actually, most do work well with road calipers. V-brake levers have more cable pull, but they work fine. Same goes for cross levers.

Yeah, what he said. They'll work just fine - just quicker.

I have a langster seattle. I kept the stem and switched to flat bars. Cut them to about 19". Works great with the 100mm stock stem. I foyu arte interested int he flat sweep bar that came stock let me know, I'll make you a good deal.
I just looked on the Specialized website and realized I was thinking about the NewYork when I said they would be too narrow. Those bars on the Seattle might actually do the trick. Shoot me a PM about it.