Quantcast

MTB to Road bike Conversion

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
For the last couple months I have been able to ride everyday. Even though I try to get to the dirt as much as I can, most days I'm riding on the road. I have an old full squish 94 StumpJumper FSR that I put street tires on, but on longer rides its not great. I did 60 miles last Saturday and the hand and crotch numbness has me looking into making the bike more road worthy.

I have a couple questions....

1. Will 700c wheels make much of a difference in speed and comfort? My main MTB is a 29er and I can really tell the difference in wheel size.
2. Are drop bars more comfortable than flat bars on long rides?

I also have an old 84 Schwinn Le tour, but it needs alot of work to get back on the road. For sure new wheels and brakes...

Maybe I'm better off starting with a bike that isn't full suspension, but buying a road bike wirhgt now really isn't an option...

Any constructive input is appreciated!
 

Full Trucker

Frikkin newb!!!
Feb 26, 2003
10,484
7,531
Exit, CO
  1. Bigger 700c wheels for speed, for sure without question. And skinnier tires for less rolling resistance will make longer distances less effort. Comfort? That's probably more about making sure whatever you ride is fit well. My sense/opinion is that you can get away with a not-so-great-fitting mountain bike more so that you can a road bike, since you're often in and out of the saddle on a mountain bike more than a roadie.
  2. Having bars where you can switch your hand position throughout the ride I think is the key for comfort here, not specifically drop bars vs. flat bars.
YMMV.
 

Muddy

ancient crusty bog dude
Jul 7, 2013
2,032
907
Free Soda Refills at Fuddruckers
Drop Handlebar definitely are the more comfortable option, arms and hands relaxed/engaged. Removing constant grip to the ends of flat h-bar reduces lactic acid buildup.

Road sized tires are lighter, more supple than they appear and roll with much less resistance. Even the (larger) 42c Gravel sized tire will offer more tread patterns than a 1.9" trailbike tire and, require less power to get up to speed and keep rolling.
33c are UCI Cyclocross size limit, there's road tires by many brands up to 32c.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,941
13,135
Portland, OR
Years ago a bought a Motobecane CX to commute on and honestly love riding it. I upgraded the cranks and seat, then put big roadie tires on it. Even has a cyclometer.

It has flats on it because I am weird. It was cheap and I dig it.
 

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
Thanks for the replies!

I really like the idea of 700c wheels. There are some on Amazon that can be disc or rim brake and are under $200/set. That will help with adapting the brakes. Currently I have 26x1.25 tires, for what its worth.

I am running a carbon bar with bar ends(clamped just tight enough to not move). So maybe for now those will be fine. I need to get a different seat...
 
Last edited:

canadmos

Cake Tease
May 29, 2011
20,191
19,156
Canaderp
I know you said a new bike isn't in the cards, but have you looked for a really cheap used one? There are some on Pinkbike that are a few hundred bucks, which as long as they weren't left outside or ridden into the ground, should work just fine. And you'd probably end up with a much smaller headache than trying to make an old full suspension mountain bike work "ok" on the road.
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,232
20,016
Sleazattle
My favorite roadbike is currently my hardtail, at least for fucking around in the city. DHR/DHFs don't roll well, need to find some street tires that will work with 30mm rims.
 

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,827
13,063
My favorite roadbike is currently my hardtail, at least for fucking around in the city. DHR/DHFs don't roll well, need to find some street tires that will work with 30mm rims.
2.4 Ikons might work well for that.

edit: 27.5 or 29"?
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,630
5,443
Early 29ers were just road bike geo with big wheels weren't they? They were useless in the bush but should be fine on the road, non boost wheels are really cheap used too.
My dad's road bike is a flat bar with old MTB geo(70deg HA, 425mm reach) and it is quite fun to ride...........for a road bike.

Narrower tires and a reduction in rolling resistance has been knocked on the head, it's almost like saying a 26" tyre will roll better because it has a smaller contact patch than an identical 29er-
.
 

Muddy

ancient crusty bog dude
Jul 7, 2013
2,032
907
Free Soda Refills at Fuddruckers
All things being equal, being able to ride Road Handlebar will offset more discomfort than a typical trailbike handlebar. But, something from the mid-nineties will likely have a 4" HT and make difficult getting a riding position.
Could bolt up just the lowers from a Time Trial bike, controls are limited by space and those standalone are common on fixies.
Could also use super, super narrow flat bar and hold both arms more inline with the shoulders - something from 400- to 460mm fits most male upper body. That's likely the best option if the frame is built up similar to ninties proportion.
 

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
Small update. I have a set of 700c wheels that are disc or rim brake coming. Also some Continental 700x25 tires and tubes. I figure that I can put them on my old road bike and see how it is, and also adapt the brakes on my Stumpjumper (disc front is easy, and I can get V brake extenders for the rear).
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
700c will likely work on a 26" as long as the tires aren't too big.

Problem solvers made an adapter for canti to "high canti", looks like CHOINA allows you to do so now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183963954190?var=691654720674&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=691654720674_183963954190&targetid=934793863576&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9001878&poi=&campaignid=10829254506&mkgroupid=106068817905&rlsatarget=aud-622524042878:pla-934793863576&abcId=9300396&merchantid=101689931&gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WND2lrhkqBnx63KwBDpf99AmhcFviHXxJOiQadRsSDaH1LkVHnkGBHgRoCVvcQAvD_BwE

I have relatively narrow flat bars on my hybrid and a real road bike. I was always happy on flat bars until I got used to the road bike....it is SO much more comfortable for long distances, I can't even make sense of it. That being said, the effort to convert to drop bars is too high to do it for this bike.

Get yourself a taint-friendly saddle for your rides. I find you can get Cobb saddles for pennies on the dollar on ebay- they are heavy but designed for THICC TAINTS so you can wager that you'll be comfortable right off the bat. There's a Randee for $35 right now.

I suggest trying to swap this bike out for a real road bike if you get even remotely serious. I couldn't beleive the difference in speed between my roadie and my hybrid until I took the hybrid to work one day on the same roads I usually blast on the roadie.
 

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
Well, this is getting interesting. I had this old intense frame that got damaged enough that I didnt want to ride it hard in the dirt anymore. But for the road, I think it will be fine. PLUS, it has adjustable rear brake bosses, so I wont have to use a rear brake adapter.

The 700c wheels showed up, and they fit it perfectly.

Now to decide on a rigid or suspension fork, and flat or drop bars?

IMG_0486.jpeg
IMG_0484.jpeg
IMG_0483.jpeg
IMG_0482.jpeg
IMG_0481.jpeg
IMG_0480.jpeg
 

Attachments

Last edited:

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
Ive been working on this some. Yesterday I pieced together a cassette. Basically a road setup, but with a bailout gear. Cogs are 12,13,14,15,16,17, 20, 26, 34. I also got a bottom bracket with a slightly longer spindle so road cranks would fit. Then I shaved down the cage on an old XT front derailleur so it would work with the 52t chainring. I also mocked up the rear brakes, which will work out perfectly.

My buddy is calling this the worlds most expensive tweaker bike...LOL.
IMG_0504.jpeg
IMG_0503.jpeg
IMG_0499.jpeg
 
Last edited:

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
So far, other than the wheels and bottom bracket, everything has been from the spare parts drawer.
 

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,195
4,419
Amazing. Can't believe you're turning an old M1 into a road bike!
 

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
LOL. Sorry! I kinda forgot about it honestly, and then when I realized I still had this frame, Im glad I did.
 

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,827
13,063
It's this going to need a 150mm stem to feel vaguely comfortable for seated pedaling?
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
Fun project for a bar/coffee bike, but heading out for 60+ miles? :fie:

Some people can ride anything, and some people take pride in self-handicapping. And anyone who regularly rides on the road can tell stories about people on janky bikes dropping a group of supposedly-expert (or better) riders on $10K carbon wonder-machines. But still, the ergonomics on that thing are going to be pretty whack as compared to a decent road bike that fits properly.

Also, your buddy is not wrong.
 

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
I totally agree. My worst case is that I put all/most of the parts on an 80s Schwinn road frame I have. But like you said, its a fun project.
 

jebfour

Turbo Monkey
Jun 19, 2003
2,059
1,400
CLT, NC
This is the craziest thing I’ve seen in a while – someone building a road bike out of an M1. At first, I was asking myself “why doesn’t this guy just use the money he’s going to spend on parts and pick up a cheap road bike off Craigslist”. Now I’m more interested in what the end result is going to look like.
 

jebfour

Turbo Monkey
Jun 19, 2003
2,059
1,400
CLT, NC
That thing is awesome. You may have already mentioned it but are you going to lock out the rear shock somehow?

Also, you should wear full roadie "kit" when you ride that thing. I'm sure that would be a big hit with the "snobs" as they look in disgust, but funny as hell for you.