Thorn Audax

I bought this second-hand from a colleague in 2008 for a tour from Biarritz to Barcelona, via the Col du Tourmalet and the Col d'Aubisque.

Climbing Col d' Aubisque by Sparkes

When I got home it got Middleburn chainrings, a new set of bars and levers, a front rack and a cream powdercoat.

http://vimeo.com/8934095

It also got a nice fitting session, thanks to Scherrit.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2010/feb/12/bike-fitting

Then it went on a tour of Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia, getting battered by the airline, then another ride in upstate New York, getting battered by the airline, and a few thousand miles of commuting, getting battered by me.

It's in quite a tired state now, but I think I'm going to fit some swept-back bars, mount those drop levers sideways (will that work?) fit the bar-end shifters on the downtube mounts (will that work?), add some flat pedals and mudguards, and have a nice beater/tourer/pub bike/hauler.

Bump, I meant to reply to this.

Drop lever sideways - they are designed to be on a curvy bit of bar, I don't think they'd work on a straight bit but if the section of bar you want to fit them to is curved I can't see why not. You might find them a bit far out though?

This said, fitting the shifters to the downtube mounts (I can't see that working, but dunno) seems like a step down in terms of practicality - hoods and drops seem perfectly practical for a beater/tourer/pub bike/hauler, no?

I'm pretty sure you can fit barends onto downtube mounts. I can't find it now but I seem to remember seeing a picture of it on this here forum.

you could use 'stash bars, they are designed to work with drop bar levers, I think - but then the levers will be at the furthest point forward on the bar. I've always fancied a set up like this:

What's a good set of flat bar levers for Mini Vs then? I admit that downtube shifting will be a slightly backward step, but I want an upright bike. Would use Paul's Thumbies (and brake levers, too) but they're too pricey for a beater bike.

You can use bar end shifters on the down tube braze ons, but you need the other bits that may be very difficult to source. A set of dt levers will only cost a few quid, so it's not worth trying to use what you have for the sake of it. That said, Paul thumbies would, even at £49.999, be worth it to keep the gear changing on the bars.

These things; http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/paul-mountain-thumbies-bar-end-gear-lever-shifter-mounts-222-mm-band-on-shimano-version-prod24619/

For flat bar brake levers, a pair of low end shimano jobs are fine.

Re brake levers, there are some nice, light, and cheap tektro ones. I'll find a link.

The only issue with them is if you want to use MTB-style pod shifter things. Because there isnt loads of room underneath. Even then they are still usable, but it you were doing that then MTB ones would be better.

Re shifters: I'm getting my bike back this weekend and will be swapping the cheap 9 speed MTB trigger shifter out. They're tatty looking but work fine - bought them for cheap (£5-15 from memory) so I'll just sell them on for the same.

Sparky, somewhere in the depths of the current projects thread there are some good photos of a bike tilover built up which has drops mounted on the bars in the way you are thinking of. Looks good and tilover finds them very functional apparently.

Oh, here we are, moustache bars as t-4003 suggested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcutting/7719070380/

Just get some all in one mtb brake and shifter units? or those new microshift thumbies.

The only thing with those Microshift ones is that they're still expensive and limited to just 9 speed. With the Paul thumbies, admittedly you have to buy the shifters bit as well, but you have future options on switching them. For eg, the new DA bar ends are 10 speed, as opposed to 8, or 9 speed.

Here are the tekro brake levers.

... I guess this is a stripped one:

http://www.petracycles.co.uk/fl540-brake-levers-silver-p-93492.html?source=googlepbs&currency=GBP&language=en

they did make them in silver, they're just not easy to get hold of

Strong caustic soda solution + great care + goggles + gloves = silver!

I'm pretty sure you can fit barends onto downtube mounts. I can't find it now but I seem to remember seeing a picture of it on this here forum.

you could use 'stash bars, they are designed to work with drop bar levers, I think - but then the levers will be at the furthest point forward on the bar. I've always fancied a set up like this:

I highly recommend this style of handlebar, it's much more comfortable than a drop bar if you never use the drop.

Here's an example of the Bridgestone which is almost identical to your Audax bar the 26" wheels.

I'm selling this Thorn, if anyone's interested?

could be if it's a 570, out now, will check back tomorrow

570mm seat tube?

How tall are you? Are you selling the whole bike or just the frameset?

Whole bike. I'm 6' 2" but the frame's a touch smaller. I'm at work tomorrow so can measure it up and post exact dimensions.

Cheers, I'm vaguely after a frameset but I think this will be on the small side for me.