Bicycle Upgrades

 Greetings friends,

This is a quick post and not so much an "I made it" kind of project, but a project nonetheless. I wanted to write it up, if for no other reason than to make a post and to review the items I purchased for upgrading my bicycle.

With summer finally making its appearance here in the PNW, I figured it was time to dust off the old bike, and go for some rides. My bike is an old 1986 Trek 1000 that came with standard drop bars and brakes when I bought it used. I found the brakes on the drop bars to be uncomfortably low, requiring me to move my hands down whenever I wanted to apply them. I decided that a straight bar would be better suited for my riding style (commuting and trail cycling).

I purchased a Nitto B2500 straight bar which although slightly heavier than the aluminum drop bars, is very sturdy and is much shorter in length, giving it an overall agile feel. For the new brake levers, I bought a pair of Shimano Tiagra BL-4700 levers. These brake levers are very simple and compact; a benefit of having my shifters on the down-tube of my bike meant I didn't need to buy brake levers with integrated shifters.

Installing everything was done in a matter of a half-hour, though I was sure to test the angle of the brake levers for comfort before tightening them down fully. Once I had the brake levers hooked up to the calipers, I took the bike for a spin down to our local used-bike store to buy some grip tape. I opted for tape both because I think rubber grips don't match the look of my bike well and because I like the feel of cork tape much better.

With that, the upgrade is done! I'm really happy with the overall look, and the function is even better. The straight bar allows me to sit more upright, and the unobtrusive brake levers are positioned perfectly for quick use. I often switch my grip from the ends of the bars to the center if I'm cruising on long stretches, and having a shorter straight bar means I don't have to move my hands nearly as far to access my brakes.

Thanks for reading,

Juju