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I would like to convert flat bars of my MTB (old one: ATX 770 Giant, 7 speeds cassette with Deore DX derailleur and 3 chainrings crankset with probably DX as well) to drop bars, for touring purposes (I do not want STI shifters, and even less rapidfire system).

I am running into the following problem:
- Are Dura Ace downtube shifters compatible with the MTB derailleurs? If yes, how can I possibly set them up on the bike?
- OR would you think Deore XT thumb shifters somehow mounted on the drop bars are best (I guess it could be a bit tricky on a 40cm wide drop bar, with the necessary front light mount and handlebar bag mount)?
- OR do you think this is all silly and I should get a proper touring bike?

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    I always vote for the new/next/additional bike.
    – zenbike
    Jun 28, 2016 at 23:02
  • We have a wide range of questions on why you shouldn't do this (the geometry generally changes in an unfavorable manner). Are you using the existing drivetrain or upgrading that as well?
    – Batman
    Jun 28, 2016 at 23:35
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    I'd vote a proper touring bike as well. If you do it anyway, you might look into either indexed bar end shifters or a set of friction shifters similar to these: smile.amazon.com/dp/B007QMJH86 mounted near the ends of the bars similarly to bar ends.
    – renesis
    Jun 28, 2016 at 23:58
  • I was looking at some drop bar bikes at the big box store and was surprised to see twist grip shifters mounted on the tops of the drop bars. They were about 1 inch away from the stem. The rest of the bars were taped in the conventional method. The ultimate mixing of road and mtb components.
    – mikes
    Jun 29, 2016 at 1:47
  • @mikes sounds like the ultimate BSO made of whatever was cheapest. Shimano Revoshift is pretty much the lowest priced shifter about.
    – Criggie ♦
    Jun 29, 2016 at 4:43

1 Answer 1

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I think it's silly and you should get a touring bike. However, if you run Dura Ace with those derailleurs, the front derailleur will work like normal. For the rear derailleur, you'll have to give a little slack and instead of pulling it straight out to pinch, you have to bend the line to a 90 degree angle and then pinch. If you have more questions, check out Sheldon Brown's website. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

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  • You are totally correct in your statements, but we try to not answer duplicate questions.
    – Criggie ♦
    Jun 29, 2016 at 4:42
  • @Criggie: then maybe you could point at the other questions? I could not find any on that.
    – Lucile
    Jun 29, 2016 at 6:27
  • @Lucile bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/38960/… or bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/28603/… or bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/8577/…
    – Criggie ♦
    Jun 29, 2016 at 6:52
  • @Criggie: I know those. Geometry, tires.. (all that, I am not asking) and the closest I could find was actually the mention of end-bar shifters and STI (which I don't want).
    – Lucile
    Jun 29, 2016 at 6:56
  • @Manda: I know the website, and read the articles about shifters/derailleur compatibility. The different cable routing is an option, but I would rather not use that. Now I could not find much information on the XT thumb shifters, even on that website
    – Lucile
    Jun 29, 2016 at 7:16

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