Rivendell Drop Bar Conversion - Which is Better?

In this vid I swap the alt-bars to drop bars on the Rivendell Sam Hillborne. I talk about the components I used and how it affected the handling of the bike. Support non-competitive cycling content - / pathlesspedaled
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[@danielcox9850]

Stem length plays such a important role. Talk about hoarding bike parts I'm beginning to get more stems than I know what to do with. Someone should create a stem co-op and we could all just pass them around till we find the right one!

[@thebr0wnhornet]

My favorite bike shop keeps a lot of take off parts and the owner let me go though a few and then refused to charge me just asked for my old one back

[@YoSpiff]

I also stock up on cheap stems of various sizes at swap meets.

[@joshuabrown9398]

Totally with you on that one, I had a short mtb stem laying about which i put on my gravel bike and now its much more comfortable for me

[@kevinryan873]

I’ve had a Sam for 12 years. Drop bars, bar end shifters. Use my Sam as a touring bike. 600 miles this summer going from Boston Ma to Buffalo NY. Will finish Buffalo to Astoria OR next Spring and Summer - 🦠 virus permitting. Love this bike for sure. Great site Russ. Thanks

[@bobqzzi]

I love your inveterate tinkering.

[@chesterthomas5093]

“Finger yoga” has become one of my fave cycling terms. Thank you!

[@TheZetman85]

What are does called? The shifter/levers? Tha look like butterflies

[@CaptainShiny5000]

Damn, those shifters are an awesome option for a conversion like this. With this I feel almost tempted to convert my trekking bike to road bars! Great setup!

[@thomasfunck1619]

Thinking of converting my Kona Rove, which is a size too large for me, to swept back alt bars (maybe with Jones bars), so this video came at just the right time! Thanks for the super informative content.

[@kimkrimson]

"varying degrees of politeness" 🤣 very diplomatic Thank you for the fun tinkering video

[@timearly6150]

Im a proud owner of a 1996 all rounder and its been through its share of bar changes but I still keep coming back to nitto drop bars. Just feels right for me. Such a beautiful bike from a wonderful company. Thanks for all your informative content. My wife has become interested in biking after she started watching your videos with me. Now we are waiting for the next batch of black mountain cycles frames due shortly so she can get her first road + bike.

[@trajtemberg]

The stock handlebar is super comfortable, unless you gotta go fast and/or have to face heavy winds, in which case you'll turn into a proper parachute.

[@panurgist]

Those Billi-bars looked extreme. Definitely play around with your setup. I have a Sam with Albatross and bar end shifters. It works beautifully for me. With the quill stem adjusting the height is trivial, I usually start the year with it a little higher than the seat and then drop it down as I loosen up. The small frame is what I would want for off roading but for on-road use with upright bars would want a larger frame or least less swept back bars.

[@bryannoguchi9984]

I've run the Nitto Noodle bars on my 48cm Sam from day 1 and love it. I put IRD thumb shifters right on top on either side of the stem and have been really happy with that set up, but I did go through a couple of stems before I found that shorter was definitely better for me. Thanks for doing this video!

[@MelvinHughesatp]

I used Bosco, Bull Moose, and Albatross bars on my 2011 57cm Hillborne but kept coming back to the Noodles that it came with. In the past few months, I have started using wide Spank Flare 25 degree bars with an Analog 50mm Discord Fingerling Stem (I've also used one of their 30mm w(Right) Stems.) I find drops on the Hillborne to feel more natural and comfortable, giving me more options for hand positions. The shorter Analog Stems put me a touch more upright than using a 70mm Nitto stem. But I find that with the shorter stem and wider, shallower bars, I am much more comfortable in the drops than I have been in years... Thanks for the comments on the Dia-Comp Wing shifters. Although I love friction shifting with Dura-Ace 9-speed barcons, with wider bars, they start being a hazard getting in out of the doorways in my house! I'm always looking for good alternatives just in case I decide to move away from the 1 x 11 I'm currently using.

[@toddschinell5198]

Yay! ENE Wing shifters! My favorite do-it-all easy shifter solution. I hope these become more popular, they are so useful. I actually like the way they look compared to brifters.

[@TheRickurb]

After watching this I think I’m going to try some droppers on my Romulus. Thanks for the push

[@MrGND123]

I ran Albatross bars on both of my Hillborne's for a couple years, on 120mm stems. But I'm back to drops as of several years ago. Nitto Noodle 46cm drops on the 58cm double top tube 2014 All-road/loaded road touring model and Soma Portola 56cm dirt drops on the 60cm single top tube 2009 model set up monstercross. It was great to see hear your thoughts on the two setups, Russ.

[@bjmihovk]

I JUST got an Atlantis on Tuesday built up by Riv with Choco bars and love it. I've never ridden a bike with drops, though, so I can't really say what I think about it. My other bike came with flat bars and a trigger index shifter, but I Riv'd it up by putting on swept back bars, cork grips, and a friction thumbie shifter...and on that particular bike (geometry is more similar to a Sam or Homer than the Atlantis) I did feel the steering to be a little jittery. But the Atlantis is such a longer bike that even with swept back bars for me steers like a Cadillac in a very good way (though I did hit a curb with my pedal in a parking lot yesterday as I was fine tuning the setup and positions!).

[@moustachemark]

I've occasionally been tempted to try some Albatross bars on my Hillborne, but I have a hard time believing anything can feel better than the Noodles I've currently got on it. Just a perfect setup for me.

[@johnnydoe66]

With the drop bars the Rivendell looks like a good old classic ten speed of the 70's I had as a kid. Granted it was way to big for me, but it opened the door for my love of long distance rides.

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

I love all the different configs!

[@SeanKeesler]

I switched from albatross to noodles to make my Sam a groovy random/light tourer. I agree that the ease of experimenting with stem length makes the threadless option appealing, but I just love the classic looks of a quill stem on this frame. I found that running a short stem (70 mm) with drops on this bike made me comfy for all day rides... But I tend to spend less time on the hoods and more on the ramps.

[@YoSpiff]

I have a pair of early 90's Suntour Accushift levers that are very similar to what you put on this bike. I hated them because of repetitive motion issues that affect my thumb. It just ached too much to schrunch up my thumb to use them. I still have them in my parts bin. Changed out to friction barcons. On your question of bars, I prefer drops because riding on the hoods keeps my wrists straight. I don't hold upright bars well and it causes numbness in my hands. My favorite drops have become the dirt drop style because of the way they splay outward and I have several kinds of Salsa brand dirt drops on my bikes.

[@spacejamgoliath]

Such a pretty bike with the drops

[@theparalexview785]

I considered swapping my early '90s hybridized MTB to drops, but switching to a lower and longer stem (125mm, swiped from an older road bike) made the albatross bars more versatile. But it's still tight clearance between the bar end shifters and knees on slow, tight turns

[@chriscrow4953]

I have an Atlantis with drop bars and I love it. With that said I’ve only run it with drop bars so what do I I know. I also have a truck bike with boscos on it and love that too, I think I just love bikes...

[@raymondgoodman9148]

I've got Dirt Drops on my Riv but am ready to go back to the original swept back vibe it had In '09 with Mustache bars. However, those are on my '63 Moulton, and are quite happy there. I'm torn between Bosco, Ablatross/Stache, or Bullmoose.

[@LostBoyScout]

I ride a Hillborne with 50cm Noodles (Simworks Sobars) on a short stem and love it as a setup. I'm curious to try Albatross on a long stem, probably 120mm, which would be 70mm longer than my drop bar setup! What a bike though. It splits its time between Babyshoe Pass for road and rando, and Ultradynamico Rosé for mixed terrain fun. Can't imagine a better setup.

[@kylehoover114]

I was alt bar elitist , I finally switched to drop bars, I finally decided on a crust Lightning bolt, just an excuse to buy another bike and I love it

[@paultaylorbikes]

I am honestly not ur biggest fan, but ur info is so useful. Much respect 😎

[@tmayberry7559]

Finger yoga the industrial road bike complex keep the terms coming

[@TimFitzwater]

I rode my friend’s with the swept bars and it felt really strange to me. I’m sure it’s something I could get used to but I’d probably go for the drops. I think you need some cushioned cloth bar tape though for the aesthetics! The black, modern tape isn’t doing it for me on such a handsome bike(I’m sure you used what you had around - just sayin’) 😎

[@ForeverDownByLaw]

I love the salsa bar tape, so cushy!

[@VincentTamer]

Those shifters look cool!

[@racerx8410712]

Rivendell's website has a wide variety of parts especially old school stuff. Their website has a lot of cool stuff apart from the bikes!

[@thelazyreconnoiter583]

While I’m a fan of regular 🧘‍♀️, bike based finger 🧘‍♀️really is best avoided. If you haven’t already ridden one, and I just happened to miss it, you might want to see if you can get a Surly Bridge Club in for review. I have one of the 27.5/2x bikes and completely dig it.

[@Korina42]

...for? 😉

[@johnschooley3631]

I have a sakuli. I bought it many years ago w a mustache bar, but converted to drops w bar end shifters after a year. I tour and found the mustache very uncomfortable with less variety of position changes.

[@davidcummings5826]

I have never found a bad time to be a bike part hoarder...

[@mmd680]

I love your channel... Keep-up the great work, thanks! I've never seen those shifters before, they look good for this type of bike. I'm looking at getting Sam Hillborne. Just curious what size frame were you riding? I'm 5-8 with 32" inseam. Thank again!

[@automat8]

Love the "cave of bad ideas"

[@Eric-Red]

Why is it drop bars just look natural on all bikes?

[@brianbechtol7329]

Looks like this drop bar set-up better suits your style.

[@robbchastain3036]

Thanks for showing us through this conversion, Russ, I like the shifters and the quill-to-threadless stem adapter. And now we need to know if a curly bar conversion will have you racing the Dirty Kanza anytime soon.

[@chrislonsberry1974]

Great video. I’m looking at buying the frame and fork when it becomes available. What would you think of the drop bar and your shifter set up with Cane Creek cantilever brakes?

[@pedaldriven417]

Drop bars and bar end shifters are my preference.But need a Sam hillborn with some mustache bars.🤔

[@sagehiker]

I am more a fan of the Bosco bars, or swept back. My back and hands like the more upright stance. As you say, it can be very subjective.

[@johnherzel718]

Rivendales are so good looking. I like the drop bars better than the sweeps, but I wonder what an old school DH bar would look and ride like? I have an old Salsa flared drop bar on an aluminum hardtail from the 90's with Shimano 105 levers and Paul's linkage V brakes (and bar end shifters - which I love and hate) the ride is addictive until the trail points down hill. I'm tempted to put a second brake lever on the flat part of the bar. Have you ever used them?

[@galootlovestools]

I’ve converted a couple of older 26” rigid framed mountain bikes to drop bars and don’t regret it. They make good gravel bikes with 2+ inch tires. My latest was an early 90s Giant Iguana frame with a relatively short top tube and 440mm chainstays. I had Crane Creek v-brake drop bar levers (Tektro 520s) so I went with v-brakes. I really like in-line cross brake levers and also had a set of Tektro v-brake cross levers, sadly no longer made. The bike handles well on gravel and flowing single track. On twisty, rocky, rooty single track the slower steering means I have to slow down. I’ve never liked riding the twisty stuff anyway because around here we have trees right up to the trails.

[@Korina42]

On the other bikes, how do you deal with the long top tubes + drops? Are you Michael Phelps? 😉 On mine I had to put on an 80mm stem and V-O Porteur bar to keep from being bent double.

[@michaelhotten752]

And what tire and wheel sizes are you fitting in these old MTB frames?

[@Korina42]

@@michaelhotten752 I have 26" x 2.15" Maxxis DTHs on my '92 RockHopper and love them; squishy, grippy, and no flats (so far).

[@galootlovestools]

Korina42 My other drop bar mountain bike is a 1993 Trek Singletrack 930 with a small frame and an effective top tube of 54cm. 56cm would be too long. I have compact 42cm bars on it with 75mm reach and 125mm drop. That bike has an alloy Nashbar ATB quill stem on it (no longer made), the stem has a 40 degree angle. I put a Blackburn mountain rear rack on that bike and commuted on it to my job site for several years.

[@Korina42]

@@galootlovestools Sounds great! I have a 1995 730 and I love it.

[@hondasaurusrex6998]

Ha some one loves Velo Orange! Also check out IRD Racing. Drop bars baby!

[@festus76]

AWhy not use Moustache Bars and get the best of both worlds? I LOOOOOOVE the ‘staches on my 1992 Bridgestone RBT with a Dirt Drop. I’m curious now how they’d be on my Sam in place of the Albatross Bars.

[@SCOTT-vm5nj]

What do you think about swapping out my stem and bars for more comfort on my Cosmic Stallion? I bought the bike in a kinda rash move, thought it would be “cool” and it is, kind of (now I’d rather have a Rivendell) what to do?? I’m an old guy with not too good wrist, so really need the comfort, more uprightness. Thanks for comments! Cheers, Scott

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Sure. Stem would make a difference.

[@chrislukes9037]

@3:34 I'm less sure about /sketchy/ descents (if you mean like bordering on MTB technical), but I'm surprised you thought the swept back bars might be better for /steep/ descents. I do try to move my weight toward the back of the saddle on steep descents, but I also like to get my center of gravity lower too; one of my bikes has (Rivendell-popular) Nitto Albatross bars, and it's never felt as comfortable on fast descents being so high "on top" of my bike vs. "in the bike" like being in the drops allows.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

For sketchy descents id rather be behind the steering axis than in in front of. Similar to mtb position.

[@tomordr]

I might have missed it but how did the front end compliance feel after the swap? My guess is less compliant and a harsher feeling ride

[@TheRickurb]

Front loading would have mellowed out the front end also. I know they call it a country bike, but I consider these Rivs Rando

[@Pizzapartydad]

Would you consider reviewing those pedals?

[@tmmartin]

You also swapped the Brooks B17 for something lighter, blacker, and less leathery! Was that just to match the speedier aesthetic?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

No. I don’t like B-17s with certain bars.

[@marksadventures3889]

Do you turn into an Elf or Hobbit using the above bike?

[@dougcohenmiller]

Wizard.

[@UraletsVzgliad]

So what if use 25 mm drop bar? I have such and it is good.

[@jimbo4203]

I think it's cooler looking

[@bobbyindrabuwono1918]

nice bike, what size are the tires?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

650b x 48

[@florentfournier7017]

So if I heard well, you kinda answered a question I was about to ask you when I first watched the Dia Compe shifters vid : Dia Compe VS Geneval. Would you trade completely all Geneval for the Dia Compe (which you seem to like more) or would you still recommend the Geneval for some specifics uses / users...? I'm trying to figure out a way to convince me to go on drop bars with an easy- access + retro-feel shifters and was hesitating between the two options.. Thx in advance if you find the time to answer :)

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I like the shifting and charm of the DCs better. But if you want/require index shifting then the Gevenalle are the way to go.

[@florentfournier7017]

@@PathLessPedaledTV thank you 😊

[@peterforde9513]

Now try mustache bars, the best of both worlds.

[@markhall8561]

What brand of handlebar bag you have here?

[@johnbarber1824]

Those Riv bars are way too swept back. The V.O. Left Bank bar is a better alternative -- shorter, to keep weight on front wheel, & cheaper too.

[@joshuabrown5057]

What is the weight of the bike?

[@hh____h-w2r]

Are those levers Tektro RL520?

[@Blueyes3131]

Cool Cool

[@harmerc313]

Which model of tektro levers are you using here?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Long pull version.

[@tshen2476]

Randomly, is that a wool hoodie?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Alpaca

[@johnwelch557]

Drop bars are much more comfortable and provide best control for me.

[@highlyreg]

Please re-wrap with the off-white tape! The black tape just doesn't look like the riv it was

[@miker6270]

Maybe I missed it but what’s happening with your polyvalent?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Nothing. Still have it.

[@miker6270]

Path Less Pedaled I’m building one up now. Just waiting on my wheels.

[@medina1440]

what is the tire clearance on the sam h

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

650bx 48’ is the max

[@bfinoradin]

Drop bars? Russ what are you lookin to win the Tour de France?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKKQlKCsocSagdk

[@bfinoradin]

Path Less Pedaled 😂