Mountain cycling is one of the finest ways to enjoy nature. Changing your handlebars is a simple way to increase the quality and speed of your mountain bike journeys. This is why many mountain bikers like to add drop handlebars on their bikes.
Drop handlebars can be added to a mountain bike to answer your question. Purchase a new stem and brake cord to fit the mountain bike drop bars.
Drop handlebars provide additional hand positions, reduce wind resistance on descents, and allow a more comfortable climb over steeper terrain.
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Why A Mountain Bike Should Have Drop Bars?
Drop bars are handlebars that allow you to rest your hands on the top of the handlebars or beneath the bar itself, bringing you closer to the stem and head tube. Drop bars should be considered by anybody who enjoys off-road excursions, gravel roads, or two-track and dirt trails.
Adding drop bars to a mountain bike gives you alternatives when riding up hills. Drops lower drag force due to the generated aerodynamic effects, enabling quicker riding due to leaning forward, long-distance riding, and different gripping positions.
When you add drop bars to your mountain bike, you get a quicker, more intense ride that’s ideal for speed demons or folks who want to save as much energy as possible on lengthy rides.
How To Put Mountain Bike Drop Handlebars?
If you’ve finally decided that drop bars are the way to go and have found the perfect set, the next step is installing them.
If money is not a problem, going to a bike shop and having them repair it for you is considerably easier. However, if this is not the case, you must follow these instructions to install the drop bars and get started.
Before installing the drop bars, gather the necessary tools, cut the wires, and remove the mountain bike’s current plugs, gears, and brakes. After that, remove the present grips. Tape over the threads of the new drop bars and apply thread locker or lubricant to the faceplate bolt threads.
Check That You Have Everything You Need:
First, make sure you have everything you need to complete the assignment. The only thing worse than getting your hands filthy with bike oil is getting halfway through a task and realizing you left something important out.
For the new drop handlebars, gather a ruler, angle gauge, knife, scissors, wrench, torque driver, lubrication, and assembly compound. Even if you don’t wind up utilizing everything stated here, it’s better to be prepared.
Remove The Current Plugs, Shifters, And Brakes:
Before trying to remove the handlebar, ensure all components connected to it have been removed. Make sure there are no plugs, shifters, or brakes on the flat handlebar.
Cut The Wires And Take Off The Front Panel And Old Grips:
If you need to replace your bike’s wires, you may cut the old ones at any angle and use the measurements to fit the new ones appropriately.
The prior handlebar and stem may be removed by releasing the stem bolts. Because mountain bike stems, have a shorter standard length, a road bike stem must be used in combination with mountain bike drop bars to give appropriate reach to the hooks.
Apply Grease To The Bolt Threads On The Faceplate:
Your new drop bars must have a tight fit. It would help if you greased or locked the threads on your faceplate bolts. Parks Tool sells this medium-strength bike thread locking online, protecting your drop bars from rotating as you ride.
This assembly compound should be used at the stem end of your carbon drop bar instead of typical bar tape.
To ensure your safety, make sure your drop bars are securely fastened to your bike. Vibration from your bike’s loose handlebars may cause numb fingertips and make maintaining your grip difficult.
Attach Your New Drop Bars:
Before installing your new drop handlebars, slide the levers and lay your handlebars on the ground. Check to determine whether the levers are centered in this way.
The stem should be joined first; then, the drop bars should be tightened as you go. Afterward, wrap your handlebars before fitting your new connections, shifters, and brakes.
Wrapping Your New Handlebars:
The next step is to cover your handlebars with specialist cycling handlebar tape, as seen below. When you wrap them, you not only ensure that you have a firm hold on your bike while riding,
but you also keep all of your wires neatly wrapped out of the way, preventing your cables from being twisted and causing you to tumble off your bike.
Why Should You Put Drop Bars On A Mountain Bike?
Drop bars enable the rider to rest their hands on the top section of the handlebars or under the bar itself, putting them closer to the head tube and stem of the bicycle.
Anyone who likes riding off- road, on sandy roads, or on two-track and dirt roads should consider placing drop bars on their bikes.
There are several advantages to fitting drop bars on a mountain bike. When ascending tougher terrain on a mountain bike, drop bars provide the rider with additional options.
Drops help reduce drag by allowing riders to lean forward, ride for longer lengths, and give a range of gripping positions due to the created aerodynamic effects.
Try fitting drop bars if you want a faster, more intense ride on your mountain bike. These bars are great for speed demons or those who wish to save as much energy as possible when riding long distances.
Frequently Asked Questions[FAQs]
What About Mountain Bike Drop Bars?
Drops may be mounted on any mountain bike, but they should not be. Most mountain bikes, for example, have a geometry that could function better with drop bars since the reach is significantly larger.
Can Drop Handlebars Be Added To Any Bike?
The short answer is yes, but various complications occur, and the bike will run and act differently.
Conclusion
Mountain bikes thrive on various terrains and are also ideal for long commutes. However, in most instances, they are provided with flat handlebars, which may impair the speed and general efficiency of the bike.
Mounting drop bars on your mountain bike is the perfect way to deal with this problem. The method may be challenging at times, but it is surely doable.
I have provided you with all the information you need to install a new handlebar correctly. A quick read-through of these instructions should enable you to change your mountain bike’s handlebars to drop bars. Best wishes!
